North County Offers Abundant Senior Living Care and Housing Options

By Cathy Ellis, Senior Living Placement and Consulting

Have you ever wondered about why there are so many different senior housing options?  Here's a brief breakdown on the different types of care facilities and what differentiates them. The good news is that there are a lot of options in North San Diego County!

55+ APARTMENTS - no care or meals are available. Apartments that cater to the 55+ population, no meals are included, but they usually have a recreation room and may have some scheduled activities. Check Your local Housing Office for a list of affordable options or get on a list for subsidized housing if you income qualify. You cannot be eligible for special rates if you do not have an application on file. 

IN-HOME CARE - averages $22.00 an hour, or up to $15,000.00 a month for 24 hour care. In-Home Care companies provide caregivers that come to your own home. You can contract with them for care from 2-24 hours per day.  Be sure to ask about whether they perform criminal background checks and about their training requirements.

Month to Month Retirement Residence Housing Options  

INDEPENDENT LIVING There are retirement communities that provide meals and housekeeping services, but are not licensed to operate as an assisted living facility.  You must contract with an outside In-Home Care company separately if care is needed. The Independent Living facilities are not set up to take care of anyone who has dementia or is a wander risk.

INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED LIVING also known as an RCFE-Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Licensed by The Department of Social Services, they provide meals, housekeeping, activities and care. They usually cannot accommodate someone who is a wander risk. They come in all shapes and sizes at different price points.

INDEPENDENT, ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE RCFE This full service model can accommodate all assisted living types including memory care for a person who may wander because they have a secured memory care unit and specialized memory care training for staff.

MEMORY CARE ONLY RCFE This type of facility has security, activities and dementia care training specialized for persons with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.

6 BED RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME-RCFE An ordinary residential house that is licensed to operate as an assisted living facility.  You have 1-2 caregivers for 6 residents, but they may be lacking in food and activities choices compared to larger facilities.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY-CCRC You pay an upfront fee to have the right to live at the community, they are usually upscale resort-like communities.

SKILLED NURSING FACILITY Licensed by the Department of Health Services, they accept private pay, Medicare or Medi-Cal.  Medicare will only pay for your stay if you have rehabilitative potential and only after a qualifying hospital stay which is usually 3 midnights. You must have a physician’s order and a skilled medical need to reside in a skilled nursing facility.

COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING The Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing is the agency that inspects all licensed Assisted Living/Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly aka RCFE.  All RCFE facilities require a Physician’s Report and a TB Clearance prior to admission.  All staff working in assisted living facilities must have a Department of Justice and FBI Clearance.    www.ccld.ca.gov

Feel free to contact me 7 days a week if you would like more information. www.cathyellisconsulting.com. 760-696-3542 or cell 949-412-1288. San Diego and Orange Counties.