Assisted Living Facilities: Filling Beds in Hard Economic Times
Assisted Living Facilities are private pay organizations where fees can cost $6,000 or more per month.
They are not skilled nursing facilities and are unable to provide care to residents with complex nursing or medical needs.
In order to fill empty beds, assisted living managers may stretch, in terms of promises they make to families, as to the level of care their facility is equipped or competent to provide.
It may be difficult for a family to place a loved one in a nursing home when they believe that an attractive assisted living facility is willing to accept the patient. However, it is the quality of care that is critical not the quality of the ambiance.
So beware of promises made by assisted living admission representatives and inquire of your loved one’s treating physician about the level of care necessary before making this important decision.
Yes, economic times are tough but elderly care is something one simply can't scrimp on. Assisted living facilities need to take a proactive role by hiring a 3rd party marketing company or directory service to actively seek out those who still ARE willing to pay for assisted living care services.