Assisted Living in Missoula, MT

Missoula Montana: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask

Located in the northern rockies and surrounded by valleys of green, Missoula Montana is perfect for peaceful adventures. The sights are stunning at every angle and you can’t underestimate the mountain air. Missoula has a lively music scene and is known for its cultivation of art and education. Expect great food, live music and creativity at every turn.

Table Of Contents

Missoula Montana: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask
About Assisted Living in Missoula
Considerations when looking for care in Missoula
Cities Near Missoula
Pricing and How to Pay
Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Missoula

About Assisted Living in Missoula

Assisted Living Homes are licensed as a Personal Care Home in the State of Montana. There is a wide range of options from help with personal care to almost nursing home care. They can vary widely on services offered. Some homes specialize in providing services to people with physical impairments, while others may target services to the elderly or the cognitively impaired.

Facilities can be as small as five residents or have over one hundred residents. The majority of Montana Assisted Living/Personal Care Homes are licensed for less than 20 residents. A facility may be owned by a family and operated from a modified personal home or can be part of a large Corporation with a modern hotel feel. The choices vary with the goals and values of each provider. Services center around your daily living needs such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, taking medications and someone to watch out for you.

Considerations when looking for care in Missoula

Missoula’s population is 74,882 with over 10 Personal Care Homes within the area. The weather is seasonal and mountain climate. The hot season is from June 18 to September 10, with an average daily high temperature above 76°F and the coldest season is in January, although periods of subzero air occur occasionally in December and February.

Assisted Living Communities near Missoula, Montana

Click Here For Full Search Results: Assisted Living Communities Near Missoula, Montana

Cities Near Missoula

Lolo – 10 miles south of Missoula
Clinton – 17 miles south east of Missoula
Arlee – 27 miles north of Missoula
Alberton – 29 miles north west of Missoula

Pricing and How to Pay

Multiple factors influence the cost of assisted living in Montana. Many of these factors depend on the type and level of care you need. The average cost of assisted living in Montana is around $4,450 / month. The level of care a person requires will impact the cost of assisted living, but where you live also matters.The cost of assisted living ranges from a low of $4,150 in the Great Falls area to a high of $4,650 per month in the Missoula area of Montana.

It is important to take your time when exploring payment and coverage options.

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:

Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting What is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
And finally (there is a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the executive director, head nurse, lead activities director and even the chef or janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.

Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Missoula

Providence St. Patrick Hospital

500 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802

Community Medical Center

2827 Fort Missoula Rd, Missoula, MT 59804

Resources and Links – Montana

Montana Office on Aging The Aging Service Bureau is housed in the Senior and Long Term Care Division under the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The office is responsible for the administration of the Older American Act through the ten Area Agencies on Aging.

Area 2 Agency on Aging is an Adult and Disability Resource Center providing information and assistance to elderly individuals and adult individuals with a disability. They connect individuals to needed services, provide counseling on long term care needs, help with applications for assistance to various programs and help develop programs to meet the needs of local residents. Area 2 serves those in Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Yellowstone, Caron, and Big Horn.

Area 5 Area Agency on Aging is an Adult and Disability Resource Center providing information and assistance to elderly individuals and adult individuals with a disability. They serve those in Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Madison, Powell, and Silver Bow.

Missoula Aging Services Missoula Aging Services provides a wide array of programs and services for older adults, people with disabilities and those who care for them. As a one stop shop, comprehensive services and referrals are available (both an Area Agency on Aging and an Aging and Disability Resource Center). Programs include homemaker and respite services, hospital to home transitions, retirement services, personal consultations, help with Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security, transportation assistance, Meals on Wheels, liquid supplements, congregate (group) meals, farmers’ market coupons, veteran directed care, caregiver support groups, companions for older adults, hundreds of volunteer opportunities, certified local ombudsman (advocates), onsite resource library, community classes (Medicare workshops, training for caregivers, balance improvement), elder abuse prevention, and statewide Medicare fraud prevention.

Area 8 Agency on Aging It is the mission of Cascade County Aging Services to promote an enhanced quality of life for a diverse population of older adults residing in this community by providing a comprehensive and coordinated system of services such as information and assistance, Senior Medicare Patrol, State Health Insurance and Assistance (SHIP), congregate and home delivered meals.

Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource 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.