There are several options when it comes to senior care in Massachusetts. Making the right choice can seem like a daunting task, but knowing the needs of your loved one and family members will steer you in the right direction once you understand a bit about each form of care. Below you will find a little information about some of your options and what you can expect to see for care costs in The Bay State.

Skilled Nursing Facilities
Also referred to as nursing homes, rest homes, and care homes, skilled nursing facilities provide around the clock nursing for residents who require continual care. Nursing care may be needed for short or long term physical or mental disabilities. Personal care help typically includes eating, bathing, toileting and dressing, but the kind and amount of nursing the home provides can vary.

The Cost of Skilled Nursing Facilities:
In a 2013 Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth, the median daily rate (the mid-point between the highest and lowest fees) for a semi-private room at a nursing home in Massachusetts was $345, accumulating to $125,925 a year. The median daily rate for a private room is $365, or $133,225 per year. The cost of nursing facility care has grown about 4% over the past five years.

Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities offer alternative living arrangements and have on hand a support staff for adults who need help with daily personal care, such as dressing, medication reminders and eating, but who do not require the medical care provided in nursing homes. They may be an independent care facility or part of a nursing home or retirement community. Most often, residents have their own apartments. Recreational activities, housekeeping services, and transportation are typically offered.

The Cost of Assisted Living Facilities:
Genworth found the median monthly rate of a single occupancy room at assisted living facilities in Massachusetts to be $4,950, or $59,400/year.

Adult Day Services
Seniors who need assistance and supervision throughout the day, as well as companionship, may attend an adult day care. Adult day services also provide a type of respite care for family caregivers while they are at home, running errands, or at work. Day care may be attended for either social reasons or with health purposes in mind. Seniors register to attend during business hours on a scheduled basis, which may be 5 days a week or less. Services can include education, exercise, recreational activities, meals, medical care, health screenings, counseling, and more.

The Cost of Adult Day Care:
The cost of MA adult day health care services is about $60 a day ($15,600/yr.). In Massachusetts the maximum daily rate was $85, though the maximum in the USA is $210/day.

Home Care
The goal of home health care is to help seniors live independently for as long as possible. Aides enter the home, providing needed services in the comfort of a loved one’s own living space. They may be companions, homemakers, personal care attendants, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, etc. who are employed to perform various duties. A wide range of services are covered with home care, ranging from grocery shopping to help with mobility. Other services might include cooking, cleaning, help with bathing and dressing, administration of medication, supervision,  companionship, respite care, hospice support, hospital discharge care, and more.  Care plans are customized to the short or long-term needs of the client. MAS Home Care also specializes in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
Individuals who receive home care are able to prolong their time at home and reduce the risk of hospitalization. They are able to remain in close contact with their family members, often times living with one of them if necessary. For others, home care means they can stay on their own and continue to have the independence they desire. When a medical problem does arise, individuals who receive home care have been shown to heal faster.

The Cost of Home Care:
Home health care is one of the most economical choices in the state. Throughout Massachusetts the median hourly rate is $24, with the minimum being $19/hr and the maximum being $37/hr. The annual cost will vary based on the number of hours an aide is needed. Genworth estimated a 44 hour week to cost about $55,370/year. Home care service rates have only increased about 1% over the past five years, allowing clients to budget accordingly.

Knowing When You Need Help

Have you noticed the following in your loved one?

• Changes in eating habits (including loss of weight, lack of appetite, etc.)
• A decrease in attention to personal hygiene
• Inappropriate behavior
• Increase in physical limitations
• Disinterest in former hobbies
• Mishandling of finances
• Forgetfulness
• Other behavior that seems out of character

If so, it may be time to discuss care options. Contact MAS Home Care to learn more about one of the best and most affordable senior care options available. Call our MA office today for your in-home assessment at 508-459-2424.

MAS Home Care provides in-home care services throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.