Missouri Assisted Living

Deciding on the best assisted living facility in Missouri for an aging loved one or yourself can be pretty challenging. However, Missouri is a great place to consider for retirement, thanks to its closeness to nature. It is a state that is blessed with lots of rural areas and is perfect for anyone looking to cut back on living standards, especially during their senior years. This is because the cost of living in Missouri is significantly lower than the national average, particularly the housing costs.

Assisted living facilities are readily available throughout Missouri for seniors that need assistance with their activities of daily living and who are excited to socialize with other elderly adults in The Show-Me-State. As the state name indicates, you are encouraged to tour the assisted living facilities to identify the quality of senior care services, the compassion of the senior caregivers, the individualized attention the assisted living facility’s team devotes to each senior resident, and the importance of encouraging independence. In order to support the elderly adults retain their sense of dignity, the senior caregivers encourage the elderly adults to maintain their motivation and to continue to remain active.

So, if you want to learn more about Missouri’s assisted living facilities, benefits, costs, and more, you have come to the right place.

Cost and Payment Programs for Assisted Living in the State of Missouri

Missouri is a midwestern state in the central United States and is one of the most affordable places in God's own country. The state may just be among the most affordable place to retire in the United States. Statewide, assisted living average cost in Missouri is impressive compared to both the national average of $4,000 per month and the other states that begin with a $3,000 range. Assisted living for the state of Missouri begins at an average of just $2,844 per month, per senior care unit. The least expensive city is Joplin and it averages at $2,215 per month, which is substantially under both the state and national average. The most expensive city of Des Peres has an average cost of $5,388, which is around $1,400 above the national average of $4,000. None of the aforementioned costs include memory care in Missouri, as this type of care is the most expensive, whether it is provided in stand-alone assisted living facilities or in those that specialize in dementia care. Evidently, Missouri is extremely affordable when it comes to assisted living costs and it is no wonder that many older adults look to this state when the time comes for assisted living.

There is currently no Medicaid supplementary care available for direct support with assisted living costs in Missouri. There is, however, a Medicaid waiver that will pay for personal care in an assisted living environment. This supplementary waiver is called SNC or Supplemental Nursing Care waiver.

It is important to keep in mind that most, if not all waivers will pay for assisted living room and board. They are meant for the personal care of the senior living in the facility. This does take some weight off the expense but there is another point. You may be able to get room and board paid by a waiver that most states have for disabled, blind and otherwise incapacitated persons. They do, however, have stringent requirements attached.

Assisted Living Amenities in Missouri

Seniors who need thoughtful caregivers, access to local activities and healthcare will benefit the most if they stay at an assisted living facility in Missouri. The assisted living facilities support the elderly adults with a variety of daily needs, which may include:

• Laundry services
• Chronic disease and medication management
• Housekeeping duties
• Meal services
• Transportation
• 24-hour staffing to guarantee safety

Senior-Friendly Activities in Missouri

The assisted living facility will escort the Missouri elderly adults on joyful excursions to the abundance of rivers, lakes, and streams. There are ample opportunities for fishing, boating, sightseeing, and even swimming. Swimming is a wonderful way for elderly adults to continue to exercise and remain active. Missouri also has lots of state parks for the elderly adults to walk around, enjoy an afternoon picnic, and to sightsee the greenery.

Fresh and delicious foods

Seniors need to consume healthy organic foods for proper nutrition. The Missouri assisted living facilities tend to support the local economy and obtain their fresh organic ingredients straight from the farms cultivated by local farmers.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit the assisted living facilities in Missouri, and you will not regret the decision to help your elderly loved one enjoy aging in place.

Assisted Living Regulations in Missouri

In the state of Missouri, Assisted Living is termed Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) and Residential Care Facilities (RCF). The licensing for these facilities is overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Division of that department is Division of Licensure and Regulation. There is a section for long term care regulation. There are some regulatory differences within the two types of Missouri senior living facilities, even though a single group of regulations is responsible for governing both assisted living types.

Differences Between ALF’s and RCF’s for the State of Missouri:

• ALF’s: Assisted Living Facilities in Missouri are deemed as any structure that is not an RCF (Residential Care Facility) and is not a nursing care facility or skilled nursing care facility. It will provide 24-hour care and protection that is not memory or Alzheimer’s care to the senior care residents. The residents may not be related in any way to the owner. The medical care is to be under the direction of a physician.
• RCF’s: In residential care facilities, all residents must be able to ambulate on their own and the scope of care is much more limited as compared to Missouri’s assisted living facilities.

For both types of assisted living facilities – residential care facilities as well as assisted living facilities, all senior care apartment units must have a minimum of 70 square feet of living space. This space does not include closets, bathrooms, alcoves or any recessed portion. This includes, in some states, the door swing area as well. This is so that in the minimum required space, assisted living and residential care residents are able to move freely and avoid falls and injury.

A maximum of four senior care residents are allowable in each assisted living unit in Missouri.

List of Assisted Living Facilities in Missouri:

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