When to move to Supportive Living Facilities

Supportive Living Facilities (SLF) are basically assisted living communities that are subsidized by the State of Illinois. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services oversees the program which provides services that are usually not covered by Medicaid including personal care needs, medication reminders, laundry assistance, activities, transportation, three meals a day, and outings. When a senior has around $100,000 or less in total assets, and they need supportive services on a daily basis (bathing, dressing, etc), this is a good time to think about Supportive Living as an option. SLF’s are typically around $4000 per month for all of the services listed above. The senior will privately pay their monthly rate, and once their assets are spent down to $2000, the State will take the seniors’ Social Security check, and leave the senior with $90 per month.The community will assist in applying for Medicaid on behalf of the senior. The senior does not change apartments. Simply, the way in which the care and support for the senior is funded is the only difference.Often, we encounter families who may choose to use home care services at home, or continue to have their senior loved one reside in a private pay senior living community, but our message to them is to NOT run out of funds before moving to a SLF. Some SLF’s want private pay funds for a certain amount of time before they will allow the senior to go on Medicaid once funds run out. If the funds are exhausted while using home care services at home, or while privately paying a senior living community that does not have Medicaid on the campus, you are running the risk of not being able to get into a SLF at all. Even some campuses that have private pay assisted living, but have skilled nursing Medicaid as the financial “safety net”, require 18 months to two years of private pay funds before they will allow someone on Medicaid to reside on their campus.Once your senior loved one has about $100,000 in total assets left, give Senior Living Experts a call. We can walk you through this process, and make sure that you are considering the timing involved when it comes to moving your senior at the right time, with the right amount of finances. Do not run out of funds without first being in the proper level of care, at the right time, and at the right type of community.