Assisted living facilities are an ideal option for seniors that are looking to receive a measure of aid in order to go about their day to day living. The scope of this particular service is pretty wide, as it can stretch from preparing daily meals and helping them take medication to driving them around to handle various errands during the day. It should also be noted that these special services are not just reserved for those that need help completing various activities for daily living. Indeed, assisted living is a terrific option for those that want a break from having to handle home maintenance and would prefer to spend more time on enjoying the leisurely life of a retiree.

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The cost of assisted living in San Antonio

Assisted living residents in San Antonio pay slightly more here in comparison to the national average, according to the 2015 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Assisted living prices annually check in at $47,100, which is slightly more than the nationwide average annual cost of $43,200. This cost translates to a monthly charge of $3,925 and a daily charge of $129.

The cost of assisted living makes the services a competitively priced alternative for seniors that don’t want to continue to keep tabs on a home yet do not need skilled nursing care. San Antonio assisted living is just a bit higher than home health care services, which annually cost $45,760. The price tag also represents a potentially substantial savings for nursing home care, considering the annual average cost for that particular service is $52,000 for a semi-private room and $73,000 for a fully private room.

For qualified veterans and their spouses, further assisted living savings may be obtainable via the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit, which can otherwise be known as the A&A Pension Benefit. This special benefit can provide a veteran up to $1,788 per month, a surviving spouse up to $1,149 per month, or a couple up to $2,120 per month. Furthermore, a veteran with a sick spouse that applies for the program is eligible to receive up to $1,406 per month. The process to qualify for the A&A Pension Benefit is relatively simple.

Eligible veterans or surviving spouses of eligible veterans must show the need for help with activities for daily living, otherwise known as ADLs. Some of these activities include bathing, cooking, dressing, medication management, leaving the house for errands and appointments, and grooming. With that being said, seniors do not need to demonstrate that they need help for all of these activities. Aid and Attendance funds can assist in paying for ADL services in numerous places, such as an assisted living community, skilled nursing home, or within the confines of the senior’s own home. For those that are interested, it should be noted that the application process could take several months from beginning to end, but retroactive payments are sent upon the program’s approval.

What is San Antonio assisted living like?

While each assisted living facility operates with the endgame of providing a secure and dignified living experience to each of its residents, they bring about this endgame in different manners. The distinctive characteristics in this regard are somewhat dictated by the personality and culture of the neighborhood they are located, from the historic Midtown area to the bedroom communities that are found within the city’s Uptown Central area. Typically, these different characteristics particularly manifest themselves through a series of a la carte services in addition to services that are included within the residents’ monthly fees.

What’s included in assisted living?

The following services are most often included with room and board:

• Private living quarters. While they can be as large as a multi-bedroom space the size of a small house, they are usually a studio or 1-bedroom apartment.
• 24-hour supervision and security. This includes on-call nursing assistance and on-site security.
• Emergency call systems in each living space, which can be used to summon help if necessary.
• Basic utilities. These include items like water, electricity, and natural gas.
• Daily meals and snacks. These are often served restaurant style in a main dining area.
• Housekeeping and laundry services. This typically includes a weekly cleaning and linens change.
• Wellness and fitness programs, ranging from modern programs such as yoga to more traditional elements like an on-site gym.
• Medication services, including reminders to take scheduled medications and refills.
• Shopping and transportation aid. These are typically provided on a routine basis and usually involved trips to local grocers, medical centers, and retail shops.
• Social and recreational activities. Some of these activities include movie nights, game nights, holiday parties, and field trips to points of interest such as the River Walk and the McNay Art Museum.

What may be available for an extra fee?

Some communities may also offer additional on-site perks that residents can pay extra to utilize. Typically, these perks can include private transportation, personal laundry service, beauty salon services, and massage sessions.

The continuum-of-care option

Additionally, many seniors look for an assisted living service known as a continuum of care, which essentially describes a facility that can provide accommodation for residents regardless of what their specific need may be. Residents in these particular communities typically don’t have to deal with as many big moves should their health or daily needs shift, and they will also remain in a familiar setting even if their health dictates that they have to move to a different building within the facility’s complex. Prices on continuum of care do fluctuate based on the actual service that is needed.

Resources, volunteer opportunities and points of interest for veterans

The Texas Veterans Commission provides help to the state’s numerous veterans who need guidance figuring out the VA benefits system. Additionally, veterans can pay it forward by volunteering to help fellow retired vets determine their benefits.

San Antonio is famously home to The Alamo; one of the most famous battle sites in the country. The city is also home to several other points of interest that veterans can enjoy, such as the Army Medical Department Museum on Fort Sam Houston and the Hangar 9/Edward H. White Museum, touted as the country’s oldest museum devoted to the Air Force.