We see a lot of questions on cost around here, and I figured it would be useful to just share our and our family’s direct personal experiences on this issue with concrete examples in hopes that others will do the same and help us solidify our overall understanding.
My dh works at a ccrc high rise that doesn’t provide memory or nursing care. During his interviews, he was encouraged to view the residents (or the “members” as they call them, as if they were on a cruise ship. Which is that the members or their families are expected to provide aides for ADLs, cognitive decline, etc. They only have 20 beds for al, whose residents not only must keep paying their bill but now must pay double to move to one room in which there’s an actual al staff to check up on you every couple of hours.
The latest to join the membership club paid 600k for a 2bd condo that now carries a $9,500 monthly “hoa” that gets them weekly housekeeping, access to the very nice library and pool. They have in house restaurants comparable to four star restaurants where a filet mignon is 25 bucks vs 45 and where you don’t have to tip. However, it’s not free food. If they’re relying on it, that’s another $1,500.
Mom and dad paid $6500 a month 10 years ago in AL for both of them in a 1 bedroom, with dad needing highest level care.
Mom paid $6700 a month for a suite in Memory Care Assisted Living in 2022 which was a smallish room and bathroom. All services were included but incontinence supplies were extra. Meds, doctor bills, phone and personal items were extra too. Again, in the greater Denver metro area.
Super expensive no matter what.
I guess they don’t see a lot of Medi-Cal residents in there, do they.
California: $6500/mo board & care with private room, never more than six residents at a time. Everything provided: Adjustable bed, comforters, dresser, nightstands, recliner, lamps, all toiletries needed for bathing.
(Walking in and seeing my mom's hair styled, wearing a crown, surrounded by balloons, flowers, and gifts from "her girls" on her birthday: Priceless)
Beautiful newer home, very modern, open kitchen to great room, high ceilings with lots of natural lighting, three full baths with walk in showers, one being a roll in, nice decor, wood plantation shudders, backyard with outside patio and string lighting, and always extremely clean. State reports and unannounced inspections pass with flying colors. Three home cooked meals per day plus snacks and all laundry services included. Manicures and polish every Sunday as needed or desired. Owned locally and owner is always in there making sure things are running smoothly. Two aides and a supervisor (divides her time between two homes) during the day. One med tech always on duty. Staff frequently texts with photos and videos and have answered the phone within three rings 100% of the time day or evening.
Increase of 3% expected in January of each year and one-on-one is extra (it’s in the contract but not in front of me at the moment). The 1:1 is considered dedicated 24/7 with resident 100% of the time.
Same company provides in home services at $38/hr base with 4/hr minimum.
California rates vary a lot. Dh’s ccrc is in Silicon Valley. Were it in the Central Valley, it’d be probably half that.
I use her income to pay for a sitter (I have 3 private sitters who come on different days as needed). Maybe 16 hours each week at $20/hour = $320 per week on average.
I use her income to pay for her toiletries, depends, pads, her clothing as needed, a portion of the grocery bill, etc. All of that is maybe $400 / month.
So it costs roughly $1700 / month to care for my mother with most of that being sitters to give me a break.
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