When it comes to navigating senior living, understanding your options and deciding the best course of action for you or a loved one’s needs can be tough. Here, we highlight the differences between assisted living, home care and Upside+, a new premium service that provides additional support to help older adults age in the right place.
Assisted living facilities are for older adults who are no longer able to live independently and perform activities of daily living. These are individuals who are in good health but need some assistance with everyday tasks, whether that’s medical or personal care. Residents of assisted living facilities need help performing a range of tasks, from managing their medications, eating and housekeeping to bathing, grooming, socializing and getting around. Those with Dementia may still be suitable for assisted living, as many of these facilities offer a memory care unit. Assisted living facilities include a dining area that provides residents with three daily meals, as well as snacks. Those who are able to cook may do so in their own private apartments that include a kitchenette. Social activities, such as bingo, holiday parties, movie nights and exercising groups, also are available. Staff, which includes medical professionals, at assisted living facilities check-in with residents multiple times per day and are available 24/7 for standard care, as well as emergencies. This level of care allows family members to oversee their loved one’s care without needing to manage it on a daily basis.
The cost of assisted living varies greatly by facility, but the national average is $3,750 per month for a one-bedroom apartment with a private bathroom. Residents of assisted living facilities pay privately. However, some communities may allow residents to use Medicaid, VA Aid or long-term care insurance to help offset the costs. One of the major downsides to assisted living is that, oftentimes, residents are paying for services for which they are not taking advantage. If someone who lives in an assisted living facility can manage their own medications, cook their own meals or does not want to participate in the available social activities, they are still paying for those services. This is a very standardized approach to senior living that does not offer options for personalization depending on where someone is in their aging journey.
Home care is available for older adults who need help performing activities of daily living or are recovering from an injury or illness. Those who utilize this type of service hire a caregiver, who comes into the person’s home to care for them. This allows the older adult to receive one-one-one, personalized care and continue to live in their own home as independently as possible. In-home care offers flexible options depending on the type of care an individual needs, from 24/7 to several hours every day to a couple of hours a few days each week. One of the benefits of home care is that it provides a lot of flexibility depending on one’s needs, from managing daily tasks (housekeeping, bathing, grooming and eating), enhancing the safety of the home and providing therapy or rehabilitative services to short- and long-term nursing care for those suffering from chronic illnesses or recovering from an injury, illness or hospital stay. On the opposite end, management of the caregiver requires regular, ongoing family involvement and need to plan for backup if a caregiver is unavailable.
Like assisted living, home care can be very costly. The cost also varies greatly depending on the level of care required. The national average for standard in-home care is $25 per hour. Someone who needs several hours of daily care could pay $1,000 or more per week for care. Home care is primarily covered by private pay. However, if the care is prescribed by a doctor, Medicaid, Medicare or another source, such as health insurance or veterans’ benefits, may cover a certain amount of home care to help offset the costs.
Upside+ is a new, revolutionary way for older adults to enjoy an elevated, independent lifestyle. This 3-Tier Support System gives Upside members the option to take advantage of an extra layer of services without the stigma or cost of traditional senior living options.
Older adults who choose Upside+ to live in a luxury, multigenerational apartment complex in a unit that is completely retrofitted to fit their needs and managed by Upside. Upside Members enjoy the traditional benefits of an Upside membership, such as access to an Upside Manager, Papa Pal visits and maintenance-free living, as well as a variety of additional services tailored to their individual needs, including:
Upside+ bridges the gap between existing senior living options by avoiding strict housing situations and a standardized approach to care for older adults. This type of individualized support is for the 90% of individuals who are not ready to move into a traditional senior living environment. It is the key to living completely independent with amenities not available in a traditional senior setting.
Not only do members benefit from daily check-ins from a CNA who gets to know them personally, but they also interact regularly with their Upside Manager, a dedicated personal concierge who can help them with everything from making appointments and managing their social calendar to technology and apartment maintenance. This allows family members to have peace of mind knowing their loved one is interacting with people on a daily basis who truly care for them, know them intimately and are dedicated to helping them live their best lives.
The goal is for members to grow older with Upside with easy access to resources and support that evolves with their needs. This, in turn, helps them age in the right place outside of a traditional institutionalized setting.
Upside+ membership makes home care accessible and affordable by combining its already vast menu of offerings with on-site CNA visits, care management, free services and individualized options. That means members do not pay for any services for which they do not enjoy themselves. Upside consolidates all of its members’ expenses, providing them with one conveniently itemized bill at the end of each month.With premium living options, flexible services and easy management, Upside+ gives older adults the freedom and care they want and deserve. Contact an Upside Advisor today to take the next step to enjoying an elevated, independent lifestyle.
Upside Corporate Headquarters
6365 NW 6TH Way, Suite 200
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
