Tennessee Adult Cares Homes
The low cost of living in Tennessee helps make it a desirable location for seniors and retirees. The mild climate and beautiful scenery also appeal to aging adults. The state ranks high for senior care and housing, and the healthcare system is premier in the United States. As people age it is common they may require care at some point. Adult care homes may be ideal for a senior who can no longer manage their health and safety in their own home, and may need care. Some people refer to all senior care under the umbrella of retirement home or nursing home. Adult care homes are neither. Tennessee adult care homes are an excellent housing option for aging adults because they offer private residencies in a home-like environment.
Tennessee has numerous cities where people may receive excellent healthcare: Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Franklin, Clarksville, among many others.
- Tennessee Adult Cares Homes
- More About Adult Care Homes
- What care and support does an Adult Care Home provide?
- Laws and regulations for adult care homes in Tennessee
- How much do adult care homes in Tennessee cost?
- How to pay for adult care homes in Tennessee
- Common terms that differentiate levels and types of senior living:
- Questions to Ask
- Resources and links related to Senior Living and Care
- Search other states for Adult Care Homes
More About Adult Care Homes
Tennessee adult care homes may also be referred to as residential care facilities or assisted living facilities. Laws and Regulations in the state operate the same for each.
Typically, adult care homes are private residences that provides a home-like setting for 4 or more residents, depending on the licensing requirements in that county. The Adult Care Home provider generally provides meals, housekeeping, and some limited activities. Residents may require very light assistance or may be more dependent with several care needs; it is best to ask individual locations for their specific policies and services they are licensed to perform.
Adult care homes are found in normal residential neighborhoods. You may drive past one each day on your commute. As you look for adult care homes in your community, it is good to know the other terms/names you may hear:
- Residential care home
- Adult family home
- Board and care home
- Adult foster home
- Nursing Home (although this is an outdated and not an accurate term for this level of care)
There are other care and senior living options aside from adult care homes and nursing homes.
Common terms that differentiate levels and types of senior living:
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)- typically include independent living, assisted living, residential care and skilled nursing services all on one campus.
- Independent Living Communities – provide residents a setting without the burden of home ownership. Residents commonly live in fully equipped private apartments or cottages from a studio to large two-bedroom units.
- Care Home or Adult Family Care Home- are private residences in a home-like setting that provide care services to a smaller more limited number of residents (typically 5-12 residents, depending on each state’s regulations).
- Assisted Living- provides housing and supportive care in a community setting, but the residents do not require 24-hour nursing care.
- Memory Care- a care setting for residents with memory loss or confusion. The community typically has a “secured” entry for residents that may wander. This care can be provided in different care settings depending on the state licensing requirements.
- Skilled Nursing is state licensed to provide a safe, therapeutic environment for people who require rehabilitative care 24 hours a day.
What care and support does an Adult Care Home provide?
Similar to a nursing home, residents receive 24-hour care all in a single-family environment. And in addition each home has an operator who may employ additional caregivers to support with the care of residents. So they make ideal homes for loved ones who require individualized care while allowing residents the preferences and choices to honor their independence. And for safety operators must be licensed in their state and participate in on-going training. Staff must have hands-on experience providing care for the population they intend to serve, as well as on-going training.
Caregivers may assist with activities of daily living and additional care needs, including:
- Personal care
- Housekeeping
- Activities
- Group meals
- Mobility
- Behavior management
- Eating
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Personal hygiene
- Cognitive support and redirection
Laws and regulations for adult care homes in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Health, Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities, licenses assisted care living facilities and residential homes for the aged.
The state licenses and administers a family home for adults program for up to five adults who are frail, disabled, or victims of abuse, through the Department of Health Adult Protective Services Program. In addition, the Department of Health licenses adult care homes (ACHs)-Level 2 for five or fewer adults.
Services in adult care homes
Caregivers in adult care homes are responsible for supervising residents; providing care services, personal care, behavioral health services.
All services must be documented in a written plan, outlining all services.
Medication
Adult care homes monitor medication intake, restricting access to medications. They may assist in administering medications or monitoring self-administration.
Food/Meals
Federal dietary guidelines are in place to establish how and when meals and snacks are prepared. each resident will receive meals and snacks according to their dietary needs.
Staffing
Staff incudes managers, caregivers and assistant caregivers. All staff must be trained and capable of performing all care and services. There is no required staff to resident ratios in place in Arizona. Sufficient staff must be on hand to perform all necessary care services. At least one caregiver must be on premises and awake at all times a resident is in the home.
How much do adult care homes in Tennessee cost?
It becomes common knowledge as you search through care options for your aging loved one, the large discrepancies in costs. Adult care homes are no exception. The good news is adult care homes are generally half the cost of a nursing home and adult care homes can be less expensive than assisted living. But they will not have the same amenities and variety of activities. The average cost of assisted living in Tennessee is $4,125, and nursing homes are nearly $9,000 a month for care.
- Costs for adult care homes fluctuate depending on your geographical location.
- Expect to pay between $1,700 per month to $4,000 per month, on average.
- Costs are affected by the care requirements of your loved one.
How to pay for adult care homes in Tennessee
You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.
The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.
Medicare – NO:
- Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
- People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
- Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.
Private pay – YES:
- Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
- Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
- Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.
Medicaid – MAYBE:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
- Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
- Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
- National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
- The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
- If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.
Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:
Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.
- Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.
Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:
This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.
- There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
- A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
- If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.
Questions to Ask
Finding an assisted living community, can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:
Resources and links related to Senior Living and Care
Eldercare Locator is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Search other states for Adult Care Homes
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