These startling statistics have created new challenges for senior health care providers, who predict that by the year 2005, nine million people will need long-term care. As a result, the increasing needs of this growing senior population have created a variety of new living options for our growing and changing senior population.

Many assume health among the elderly has improved, because as a group, they are living longer. Others hold a different view and see the growing elderly population as frail and dependent. The truth, however, lies somewhere in between. Seniors are living longer as the result of advanced medical technology, but seniors who are living longer find themselves faced with limiting illnesses or conditions resulting in the need for varying degrees of assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, managing financial affairs and medication management, to name a few.

Long gone are the days when the only alternative to living at home or with your children was going to a nursing home. Today, seniors and their caregivers, who often times are their adult children, are demanding more in the way of choices, services, and quality lifestyles.

Choices today include active retirement communities, assisted living facilities, adult family homes and state of the art skilled nursing facilities. Some long-term care providers offer all levels of care on one campus. These facilities are often referred to as Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Because the choices can be overwhelming, decisions for where to look should be dependent upon the level of care needed to safely support and enhance an individual’s functional ability, as well as the individual’s financial status.

Retirement Communities typically are for individuals who are independent and able to care for themselves, but looking for a more carefree lifestyle with fewer responsibilities for home maintenance, yard work, housekeeping etc.

Assisted Living facilities, the newest living alternative in the long-term care continuum, are the least known. Still confused with nursing homes, Assisted Living facilities offer independent living apartments with the security and availability of 24 hour nursing on site. As the name implies, Assisted Living facilities can offer a variety levels of assistance for people who need help in managing their confusion, or assistance with medication management, bowel and bladder control issues, bathing, dressing grooming, etc. Information gained through a nursing assessment, completed at the time of admission, will determine what level of care is most appropriate for each individual.

Costs for assisted living facilities depend on the size of an apartment and the assessed level of care required. Quoted prices for Assisted Living facilities typically include three chef prepared meals a day, utilities, cable, housekeeping, maintenance, linen service, activities and transportation to and from medical and dental appointments. Other services such as beauty /barber shop, personal laundry services and room service may be available for an additional fee. Some facilities also offer physical, occupational and speech therapy services as well as fitness programs on site. Social Work services may also be available to help deal with the mental/emotional needs of the residents and work with the families as they transition their loved ones into a new living lifestyle.

As recently as 10 years ago, people who currently reside in Assisted Living facilities were living in nursing homes. With the growing elderly population, it became increasingly apparent that many individuals didn’t require the higher level of care that nursing homes provide. As a result, the concept of Assisted Living was born.

Adult Family Homes are usually personal residences that become licensed to provide care for individuals who are not able to completely care for themselves. Meals, activities, transportation and nursing consultation and assistance are provided in a home like atmosphere with a smaller group of residents. Again, costs for Adult Family Homes are based on level of care and typically charged on a monthly basis.

Nursing homes, sometimes referred to as Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), offer a high level of care and become necessary when individuals are no longer able to be safely cared for at home, in Assisted Livings or Adult Family Homes. Unfortunately, Nursing Homes/SNFs, continue to battle a negative image, which in many cases is unfounded. New technology, stricter regulations and closer scrutiny of patient care have significantly improved nursing home care.

It is important to note that coverage for these types of living alternatives vary. Medicare will cover short-term nursing home placement, but does not cover Assisted Living facilities. Medicaid on the other hand does cover nursing home care, Assisted Living and Adult Family Homes, but some facilities will not accept Medicaid due to very limiting reimbursement. Many Long Term Care policies will cover Assisted Living and Nursing Home care for either a certain length of time or for a certain dollar amount per day. Individuals need to check their insurance polices carefully and ask a facility up front what type of coverage they will accept before pursuing the various living choices.

Because of a longer life expectancy, many individuals may experience some or all of the above alternative living environments. Choices can be overwhelming as seniors and their families begin to look for the most appropriate setting for themselves or their loved ones. It is important to take the time to visit various facilities to insure they can meet individual needs and to make sure they provide quality care. The Internet provides a wealth of information as new websites are created each day that provide very good information on how to choose a good facility and what to look for. Two excellent websites are: Totallivingchoices.com and carescout.com.

For its size, Kitsap County offers an excellent variety of living options for seniors.

(Editor’s Note: Barbara Pearson is Director of Marketing for Encore Communities. She can be reached at Claremont East Retirement Apartments, (360) 377-1717 or bpearson@web-o.net.).