Planning, Preparation Make Assisted Living Affordable

Any anxieties that senior citizens have about trying to afford an assisted living community can be easily dispelled with the appropriate planning -- and a variety of available payment options. As with any major life-altering event, seniors must diligently plan for their long-term care, said Peggy Mathews, administrator at Marymount Place in Garfield Heights.

“Assisted living truly is affordable,” Mathews said. “There also is a wide range of financial support options for seniors. There is the Ohio Assisted Living Waiver Program, Veterans Administration benefits, and long-term care insurance.”

Ohio's Assisted Living Waiver Program pays the costs of care in an assisted living facility for certain people with Medicaid, allowing the resident to use his or her resources to cover room and board expenses, Mathews said. VA benefits for assisted living facilities are among the most overlooked veteran disability benefits available to wartime veterans and their surviving spouse, she added.

“Current residents of an assisted living facility who have exhausted private resources also may be eligible for Ohio's Assisted Living Waiver Program,” Mathews added.

Rates at Marymount Place start at about $70 a day – less than the cost of a hotel room, Mathews said. Costs for assisted living generally range from $2,000 to $4,000 per month and vary depending on the size of the living area an older adult chooses, and the amount of care needed, she added.

“Marymount Place – and assisted living in general -- provides older adults with an option to a nursing facility care that is less expensive and less restrictive,” said Suzanne Nall, RN, LNHA, and Executive Director of The Village at Marymount.

Assisted living is a viable option for seniors who are struggling to live at home alone.  Marymount Place residents enjoy the home-like setting of the facility as well as the personal support services they receive daily. They receive three chef-prepared meals each day, as well as housekeeping, laundry, and transportation services.

Residents are never at a loss for something fun and exciting to do at Marymount Place -- the activities calendar always has something for everyone to enjoy.

“I am blessed to remain vibrant and to enjoy life at Marymount Place,” said Marymount Place resident Rita Nejman.

If you would like to tour Marymount Place and stay for lunch, then you can contact Mathews at 216-332-1716 to schedule your visit. See for yourself the active lifestyle you can enjoy at a price you can afford.