Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Placement Agency and how long does the process take?

Placement is the term used when a new home needs to be located for someone who may need extra care or help. This may either be permanent or temporary (respite care). We have the ability to do emergency placements within a matter of hours. We evaluate each situation and work to accommodate your time-line. Usually the process takes 3 to 4 days for a placement.

We help families and seniors understand their senior living options and find high-quality, affordable long-term care. We start with an assessment of each client’s needs, determine what senior resources may be required, then find the best pre-screened senior care options to match their requirements. We also schedule tours of the communities, and provide follow-ups to ensure that all needs and expectations are met after the transition. We offer a full complementary referral service to families and seniors.

How much does it cost to use your your agency?

We NEVER charge for our services. It doesn’t matter how much time we spend with you. This includes tours, phone consultations, evaluations, and assessments. It’s always FREE of charge to clients. Our costs are covered by the community partners that are ultimately selected.

When should we talk about contemplating a change?

If your loved one is NOT adequately working perform most of the activities below consistently and safely without assistance, assisted living may be an appropriate alternative.

Managing money (i.e., writing checks, handling cash, keeping a budget)
Managing medications (i.e., taking the appropriate dose of medication at the right time)
Cooking (i.e., preparing meals or snacks, microwave/stove usage)
Housekeeping (i.e., performing light and heavy chores, such as dusting or mowing the lawn)
Using appliances (i.e., using the telephone, television, or vacuum appropriately)
Shopping (i.e., purchasing, discerning between items)
Extracurriculars (i.e., maintaining a hobby or some sort of leisure activities)
Bathing (i.e., able to bathe without assistance in cleaning or getting into tub or shower)
Toilet Use (i.e., able to use the toilet and clean oneself afterwards)
Control or continence of urine and bowels (i.e., able to wait for the right time and the right place)
Dressing and grooming (i.e., able to button a shirt, choosing appropriate clothing)
Moving about (i.e., able to move in and out of a chair or bed, walking)
Eating (i.e., able to eat without having food to mouth assistance)
If your loved one requires 24 hour care or supervision and you cannot provide this 24/7 help.
If they need help with activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, taking medications, eating, walking, issues with toileting; and you cannot provide this help around the clock.
If they are afraid to be alone and you cannot be with them everyday.
If they cannot manage their finances or their judgement is impaired. Having past incidents or tendencies of senior fraud or personal hardships.
Your loved one needs 24 hour care or supervision.
Their short or long term memory is impaired.
They have an increasing need for help with dressing, bathing and other personal care.
They are afraid to be alone.
Their ability to reason or judgment is impaired.
They are increasingly becoming isolated from social activities.
They have unsteady gait or fall often.
They are no longer able to cook, clean or shop without assistance.
They can no longer manage finances.
Those needing temporary placement.

Does the change in living arrangements have to be permanent?

No. Actually placement is appropriate for many situations, and doesn’t always mean a permanent change in living arrangements. If the need for care is permanent then placement is planned for a long-term situation. In addition, many clients seek respite placement, which means temporary (typically under 30 days). This respite placement can allow for a patient to recover or rehabilitate, OR respite care can give a primary caregiver a break, allowing for them to tend to their own health issues or recoup from the stress associated with being a full-time caregiver.

Why use a placement agency versus doing it myself?

Our online search tool is customized to encompasses retirement, assisted living, skilled nursing, board & care, room & board, and adult living facilities. You could easily spend 100 hours in your search for a facility or residence for your loved one, and still never match what we can produce in a few hours!

Will you take the family to see first-hand a variety of facilities?

Absolutely! Our online database tool mentioned above is one of a kind, but that’s only the beginning of a successful placement! The next step is to take you to see life at each one. Ultimately, we recommend, but the final decision is yours.

What is all-inclusive?

All-inclusive pricing is the monthly rent that includes all the care needed to take care of your loved one. Individuals are not charged extra for care services i.e. medication management, dressing, bathing, queuing etc. In the decision making process it is important to understand how each prospective community structures their apartment rates and costs for care.

What are the options for senior living?

Independent Living (IL) – Also called retirement apartments are not required to be licensed if they only have independent options (no assisted living.) You may contract with an outside company for “In Home Care” if you need help with activities of daily living such as showers, dressing, toileting or medication management, IL communities may offer meals, activities, transportation, security, housekeeping and emergency response systems, etc. Additional services such as a beauty salon or laundry services may be purchased for a fee.

Assisted Living Homes/Adult Care Homes (ACH) – Required by the state to be licensed. These are private homes for up to 10 adults. Services include housekeeping, meals, 24 hour supervision, assistance with personal care, medication administration and activities. Specialized dementia care is available in some homes. In most cases, less expensive than an Assisted Living “community” or “center” because they have less residents and therefore less amenities offered.

Assisted Living (AL) Community or Center – Licensed, apartment setting with meals, transportation, housekeeping and laundry services, 24 hour supervision, administration of medications, assistance with personal care. More than 10 residents. Many amenities offered and the type and frequency varies by community. Specialized dementia care may be available.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) also called Rehab – Licensed residential health care facility offering ongoing nursing care. Three levels of care may be offered: Intermediate care, Skilled Care and Dementia/Secured care. Most people go to a SNF to rehabilitate after a hospital stay or illness. In this case it is a temporary stay and is paid for by insurance and is for a specified amount of time based on progress. If you have very high care needs and are on Medicaid, then you may qualify to live in a SNF in their “long terms care” area. In most cases you would be discharged from a SNF back to your home, to IL, AL or an ACH. If you’re not on Medicaid and live in a SNF in long term care, then you would pay out of pocket. Most people do not do this because the average cost is $200/day AND UP.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) – Licensed and offers a full continuum of care ranging from IL/Retirement apartments or villas to assistance with personal care in AL apartment, to long-term care in a SNF. They are specifically designed to allow residents to receive all of their care needs on the same campus. Types of contracts available vary.

Memory Care (MC) – Licensed. Most of the larger communities have a Memory Care (also called Dementia or Alzheimer’s) unit on site. In many cases, but not all, this is a secured unit or wing in a building. There is also the option of a Free Standing Memory care unit that is a secured building. We will go over these options carefully to ensure the safety of your loved one if you are in need of Memory Care.

What, if any, financial assistance if available?

Most communities are private pay only and are not covered by your medical insurance. All communities will accept a Long Term Care Insurance policy. (This is a plan that you have purchased, paid premiums over the years and they pay you a benefit after you private pay for a specified amount of time).

What should my loved one bring when moving in to the facility?

Most places are unfurnished, so you should bring enough furniture (not too much) to be comfortable. Small sofa, favorite chair, pictures for the wall, memorabilia, photo albums, bedroom furniture, etc. We can discuss this in detail with the community and they may offer a suggested pack list that will help you to downsize and make the most of your new space.

What about pets?

Many senior living options are pet friendly. If bringing your pet is important to you then I will help you select a pet friendly location. In most cases small dogs are welcome, but there may be breed or size restrictions. Most facilities that are pet friendly have a common area for walking and playing with your dog. Cats and birds can also be accommodated provided you take care of them and clean up after them.

Will Medicare/Medicaid cover any of the costs for living in a senior community?

In most cases, the cost for personal care at an assisted living, personal care home, or independent living community is covered by the family. In some cases, Medicaid can pay for a long-term care community if the individual meets financial need requirements and health care needs assessment. Long-term care insurance plans will also pay towards assisted living communities and personal care homes.

Do you work with seniors in all income levels?

YES! we are committed to helping seniors and their families find the help and resources they need. If the person in need has a very low income, there are appropriate senior housing options available. We provide information and referrals to community-based organizations serving seniors and disabled adults. If the person(s) in need is a veteran, or non-divorced widow of a veteran, there may be funds available to offset costs. Please reach out to us for any need or question.

Can we tour various senior communities?

YES! We’ll assist with scheduling and accompanying each client on tours of prospective living options. Some families choose to tour on their own. We would then assist in scheduling of tours and provide feedback to help the family make an informed decision. We strive to be very personal with our clients and hold their hand through each process they are going through. Yet, we adjust our level of involvement to what makes each family feel comfortable in the decision-making process.

Which senior community will be the best choice for my family?

The decision of moving into a senior living community is life-changing for the individual as well as the family. It requires an investment of time, research, and legwork. Several factors will come into play in making a decision: the senior’s abilities and needs, location, cost, services offered, and more. Understanding a community’s philosophy of care and internal regulations is also important. Some tasks vital to the decision-making process include comprehensive interviews with community representatives, personal tours of the residences, gathering of feedback from residents and/or their family members, and more. The Right Move Senior Resource is here to help guide, inform, and make sense of all of the options with a goal of making sure everyone involved is comfortable with the decision made.