Assisted living is a wonderful but expensive option for elderly people. We look at how to get into assisted living with no money.
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Assisted living is an excellent option available for the elderly who do not want to reside alone at their homes but do not need a clock attendant. Unfortunately, these assisted living houses are created with the sole purpose of earning revenue.
Thus, it may become difficult for seniors with no money to reside in these residences. The prices for these assisted living houses lie anywhere between $2000 and $5000 monthly, which may be a great deal of money for some seniors.
However, such seniors have good news, as they can get help from insurance payments, financial assistance programs, veteran benefits like CHAMPVA, and much more. But for many people, it can be not very clear to sort out the programs they are eligible for and what all these programs cover.
Though the financial assistance programs available for elders vary from one state to another, some programs are available throughout the country. The need remains only to identify the methods and programs to draw the financial resources for your assisted living.
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What are Assisted Living Costs?
The cost of residing in assisted living depends upon the facilities offered. Also, different aspects influence the price. These include the service requisites demanded by the residents, the residence’s size, and the facility’s location.
The services offered by a facility such as personal care, dining and food, classes, outings, housekeeping, and transportation also affect the cost.
Facilities offer an option to the residents to either pay for an all-inclusive service arrangement or on an ala carte basis.
As per the all-inclusive arrangement, residents need to pay a one-time fee for all the services offered, and as per the a la carte basis, the residents pay for the services they use.
Financial Assistance programs for Seniors with Little Money
Some private and public resources lend a helping hand to low-income seniors to afford services at assisted living. Remember, every facility is different, and they have other payment options as well. Thus, it is advisable to talk to the facility to know about the assistance programs they accept.
Section 202
HUD Section 202 program is designed for seniors above the age of 62 years seeking subsidized housing options. The said program covers both assisted living and independent environments.
Well, this is a program that has been designed exclusively for seniors. And deals in properties that nonprofit organizations own.
The program is designed to offer housing options to seniors and individuals suffering from disabilities. The communities under section 202 provide services for supporting such seniors, including transportation, fitness programs, therapy, nutrition support, housekeeping, and dining.
The Federal government funds the program, which is then distributed among different nonprofit organizations to build affordable housing options for seniors.
These nonprofit organizations also receive rental assistance funds that permit them to remain solvent while receiving fewer rent contributions from the residents.
A person above the age of 62 years and qualifies as per the HUD standards may easily apply to reside in these assisted facilities. The seniors need to apply directly to the facilities they are interested in.
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Veteran’s Benefits
As the name suggests, the program has been designed for veterans and their spouses who qualify for aid from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Though the Department of Veterans Affairs will not pay the veteran’s rent, it will cover the assisted living facility’s services.
The benefit provided by the program is known as Aid and Attendance, which is a monthly payment based on the needs. This payment is additional to the veteran’s pension that is enough to cover the long-term care.
However, it is essential to note that the veteran or the spouse can only avail of the Aid or Attendance benefit or the housebound benefit but not both at the same time.
Here are the eligibility criteria for the veteran to be covered by the Aid and Attendance program:
- The veteran should earn a countable income either at or under $22,577 yearly.
- The veteran with a spouse or a dependant should earn an income at of $26,765 or less annually.
Also, a veteran needs to meet the given below criteria to qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefits:
- If the veteran needs help with activities concerning daily life, such as dressing, eating, bathing, etc.
- If the veteran is residing in a long-term care facility because of mental or physical issues.
- If the veteran has a visual impairment to a severe extent.
- If the veteran is bedridden.
To avail of the benefits offered by the Aid and Attendance program, the veteran should contact the state’s Pension Management Center. The veteran can also contact the local, regional benefits office. The reason is that the eligibility criterion can vary as per the state. Thus, you should contact your local VA benefits office to seek whether you qualify or not. You may also need evidence of your difficulties in the form of a physician’s report.
Medicaid
There are many types of Medicaid programs that can offer financial assistance to seniors with assisted living options. The two main programs which come under Medicaid are Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and 1915 Waivers.
These waivers are available in 44 states and are expected to reach every single state. Though many states offer Medicaid benefits for assisted living, these advantages may differ from one state to another. Some states only cover personal care requisites, while some states have strict regulations on the assisted living benefits.
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Non-Medicaid Assistance
These non-Medicaid assistance programs also differ from one state to another, offering various benefits per different qualifying standards. Some states provide money to the seniors which they can use to pay for their assisted living services.
While some states have their own assisted living options, they offer these services to the recipients at much less cost than private assisted living options.
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Social Services
Social security will not pay directly for the assisted living facilities but can still benefit the recipients. The seniors who are eligible for the benefits can use this money to pay for their assisted living options.
Also, if the state government comes to know that a beneficiary is residing in assisted living, they increase the beneficiary’s money. Thus, it is always advisable to contact one’s state social services office to know about these benefits in detail.
Final Words
The decision to reside in assisted living is not entirely dependent upon the cost. Many other factors also come into play. However, it is always beneficial if the cost aspect is covered through some financial assistance programs.
There are ample subsidized housing facilities designed especially for the seniors to lend them a helping hand in seeking an affordable yet perfect-for-staying assisted living facility. The need remains only to identify such programs and make use of them.
There are many government offices that can offer information about these assisted living options and the programs concerned.
