FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Answers about how senior placement works, what it costs and each type of senior living.
What is the senior placement process?
Step 1 – Call Transitions Senior Care and speak with a Certified Senior Advisor® who will help coordinate and manage your transition from start to finish. On the initial phone call, we begin with a needs assessment, which helps identify the communities that will best meet the needs and preferences of the client/family.
Step 2 – Following the needs assessment, information on matched communities is sent to the client/family for their review and feedback. Each community on this list is a thoughtful and concentrated choice that best matches the assessment of needs and preferences in Step 1. All recommended communities have undergone a conscientious evaluation to make sure they are well-suited for recommendation.
Step 3 – Once the client/family has reviewed the additional information, Transitions Senior Care schedules in-person tours of the preferred communities. Virtual tours can be scheduled upon request. The virtual or in-person tour will be scheduled to accommodate the availability of the client, community, and Transitions Senior Care.
Step 4 – Following the tours, and once a decision on a community is reached by the client/family, Transitions Senior Care collaborates with the community to organize the move and ensure that the paperwork is in place, and can point you to resources for downsizing and moving. Transitions Senior Care acts as a liaison between the client and community to ensure a smooth, seamless transition.
Step 5 – After move-in, Transitions Senior Care checks in to help with communication, advocate if needed, and make sure the client is getting settled into their new home.
What does this service cost?
Transitions Senior Care is a senior placement service that is free for clients/families. Transitions Senior Care is paid through the marketing budget of the community chosen by the client/family.
Colorado requires referral agencies to disclose how they’re paid. See how our service is paid for.
What is Independent Living?
Independent Living is simply any housing arrangement designed exclusively for older adults, generally those aged 55 and older. Housing options vary widely and can be apartment-style living, townhomes or individual, freestanding homes. In general, such housing is friendlier to aging adults and often more compact, with easier accessibility and no maintenance or yard work to worry about.
Want more information? See this guide from HelpGuide: Independent Living for Seniors.
What does Independent Living offer?
While residents live independently, most communities offer amenities, activities, and services. Often there are recreational centers or clubhouses available on site to give residents an opportunity to connect with peers and participate in community activities such as arts & crafts, holiday gatherings, continuing education classes, or movie nights. Independent Living communities may also offer amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, and even a golf course, or other clubs and interest groups. Other services offered may include onsite spas, beauty and barber salons, daily meals, and basic housekeeping and laundry services.
Who qualifies for Independent Living?
Because Independent Living communities are meant for older adults who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living, most do not offer medical care or nursing staff. You can, however, hire in-home help separately as needed.
How much does Independent Living cost?
Costs vary by community, apartment size and the services included. We’ll share current pricing for the communities that fit your needs.
How do you pay for Independent Living, retirement communities and senior apartments?
Personal funds: retirement and savings, Social Security benefits and pensions, and annuity payments.
Housing Assistance (HUD) – for low income, affordable housing.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Seniors (aged 65 and older) and individuals who are blind or disabled who have limited income and assets may be able to receive SSI benefits to help cover the costs of basic needs like food, clothing and shelter.
Medicare does NOT cover any cost for Independent Living, senior apartments or retirement communities.
How do you know when you are ready for a transition to an Independent Living community?
Answer the following questions:
How easy is it for you to maintain your current home? Is it difficult for you to connect with friends and family? How easy is it for you to get around? How is your health (and the health of your spouse)? Do you require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)? Dressing, showering, meals, etc.?
Continuing care
Continuing care questions
What are Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)?
If you or your spouse are relatively healthy now, but anticipate significant health problems down the line, you may want to consider a CCRC. These communities offer care ranging from Independent Living to Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing within the same community. The benefit of this type of community is one relocation for the individual, with a continuum of services available at the same location.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living Communities provide meals and support staff to assist the individual with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, transfer assist, and laundry among other activities.
What do Assisted Living communities offer, and how is your level of care determined?
Assisted Living Communities offer a room or apartment, as well as healthcare and medication management, monitoring and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The amount of assistance and size of rooms/apartments vary greatly. Some Assisted Living Communities are “all inclusive”, meaning you are assisted with care based on a medical assessment completed prior to move-in. Others have a tiered payment schedule dependent on the medical assessment. Eligibility is based on an individual’s level of care.
How much does Assisted Living cost?
Assisted Living Communities generally charge a one-time entrance fee or community fee upon signing a contract that holds your place in the community. The monthly fee covers the room or apartment, and care is priced based on the assessment completed by the community prior to move-in.
The resident Agreement outlines all costs, from the entry fee, to the monthly base fee to the optional services fee. These fees are regulated by each individual community, not by the state.
We’ll share current pricing for the communities that fit your needs.
How do families pay for Assisted Living?
Private pay is the most common way to cover the cost of Assisted Living. There are some other considerations that may help reduce the cost of Assisted Living for an individual:
Long-term care insurance – The amount of coverage and conditions vary.
Tax deductions – If you pay out of pocket for Assisted Living, you may qualify for a tax deduction. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Reverse mortgages – A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner to convert some of the equity in his or her home to cash. Please consult an attorney or mortgage consultant for more information on this option.
Veterans benefits – Eligible veterans and surviving spouses on a VA pension may qualify for an added monthly payment called Aid and Attendance (VA).
Medicare does NOT cover the costs of Assisted Living (Medicare).
What is Memory Care?
Memory Care is defined as a type of Senior Living that provides intensive, specialized care for individuals with memory issues. Many communities have designated buildings or separate quarters for dementia and Alzheimer’s individuals.
What kind of care do Memory Care communities provide?
Memory Care staff is specially trained to respond to the unique challenges associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s residents. These communities offer a secured environment and focus on routine and normalcy for activities of daily living, while providing specialized services including meal reminders, escorting to meals and activities in the community and amenities geared toward cognitive support.
How much does Memory Care cost?
Memory Care is usually priced as a monthly base rent plus care costs, which depend on the individual’s needs as determined by an assessment performed by the potential community. Care costs are in addition to the base rent. We’ll share current pricing for the communities that fit your needs.
How do Memory Care residents pay for Memory Care services?
Most people pay for Memory Care through Private Pay and/or Long-Term Care insurance. Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans generally will NOT pay for room and board or personal care at an Assisted Living community, although they will pay for medical care the community provides.
Eligible veterans and surviving spouses on a VA pension may qualify for an added monthly payment called Aid and Attendance (VA). Some communities accept Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for residents who qualify; the eligibility rules are detailed, so ask us for resources to assist you.
Skilled nursing
Skilled nursing questions
What is a Skilled Nursing Community?
A Skilled Nursing Community (also known as Convalescent Home or Nursing Home) is an in-patient (on-site) rehabilitation and medical treatment center staffed with trained medical professionals 24/7. These communities provide medically necessary services of nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and audiologists.
Individuals may need a Skilled Nursing Community in the long term because of a need for a higher level of care on a frequent basis for chronic medical conditions, or in the short term following an injury or illness.
As more seniors choose to age in place, home health agencies have responded by offering skilled services provided by licensed nurses or therapists in client’s homes. When prescribed by a doctor, these short-term skilled care services can be covered by Medicare, some private health insurance policies, Veteran’s Benefits and long-term care insurance policies. Utilizing a home health care provider enables a senior to receive highly effective medical treatment while remaining as independent as possible in their own home.
How much do Skilled Nursing Communities cost?
Costs vary by community, room type and how the stay is paid for. Medicare may cover a limited stay after a qualifying hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care (Medicare). You can compare skilled nursing communities on Medicare’s Care Compare.
Still have questions?
Talk with a Certified Senior Advisor®. Tell us what’s happening, and we’ll help you work out the next step.