Oregon Assisted Living

Of all the states in the United States, Oregon has one of the most distinct geographical regions. From the Cascade Mountain with its beautiful, rugged scenery to the mild climate and natural beauty, The Beaver State remains an excellent place to be. This is why a lot of retirees are attracted to the artistic and cultural communities there.

And the serenity of the region has made it possible for Oregon to be home to a vast array of assisted living facilities. So, retirement in Oregon can be worthwhile for many seeking places for their elderly loved ones.

Cost and Payment Options for Assisted Living in Oregon

Statewide, the average monthly cost of Oregon assisted living is $4,593, and it is almost $600 above the national average of $4000. This is a base-rate that does not include any specialized care such as Oregon memory care, Alzheimer's care, post injury or stroke care. Memory care will be from $835 to over $1,000 more monthly, so when planning, you need to know several things. Understand where the senior that is seeking a senior care facility is in terms of their health. First, you will need to determine if they are ambulatory (can move around by themselves) or not. They may be ambulatory, but the mind may be showing some signs of dementia. In this case, some extra financial planning is suggested to be able to afford the cost of care.

The least expensive assisted living communities can be found in Eugene, Albany, and Salem. The range is $4,025 to $4,360 per month for those facilities. The most expensive areas for assisted living in Oregon are in Portland and Corvallis, that range from $4,825 to $5,390 monthly. The cost of care is much higher here than many other forms of senior living in Oregon that require lower levels of care, and can get to more than $1000 over the national average, which may be a burden for some families to afford.

The Perks of Staying At An Assisted Living Facility In Oregon

Many assisted living facilities in Oregon provide a wide variety of services to make seniors live out their days in comfort. The elderly can participate in social activities and also take advantage of health and therapeutic services. 

Assisted living facilities are peppered all over Oregon, and each one provides lots of assistance to seniors with everyday tasks and personal care. The staff are friendly, and the environment is exceptionally welcoming.

Here are some benefits of getting your aged loved ones to stay in an assisted living facility in Oregon:

Extracurricular Activities for Seniors

Seniors, especially those who love an outdoor lifestyle, will enjoy the view of the breathtaking mountain ranges, ski resorts, and hiking trails in Oregon from their assisted living facilities.

Your aged one will enjoy the assisted living facility outtings to the beautiful views of Cascade Mountain, Blue Mountains, Coast Range, etc. If they are strong enough to engage in mild physical activity, then they should enjoy walking through the fantastic Japanese Garden in Portland.

Mild Weather

The Beaver State is renowned for its moderate and temperate climate. This means that senior citizens do not usually have to deal with frigid temperatures or scorching heat at any time of the year. This is good news as your aged one will not be forced to endure harsh weather conditions in any way.

Moreover, severe weather conditions such as hailstorms, tornadoes, etc. are infrequent in Oregon. So, your loved one can make themselves at home right here!

Is it Safe to Be in Assisted Living In Oregon?

You have nothing to worry about in regards to the safety of your loved one in Oregon. The seniors will be constantly surveilled 24-7 to ensure safety and security. The seniors can also comfortably attend assisted living facilities’ excursions to festivals or events or even stay outdoors, and their security will never be compromised.

Each one of Oregon’s 2,000 licensed assisted living facilities is set up for seniors who need healthcare or access to attentive caregivers. Residents of any of these facilities can expect to get a lot of loving care and assistance with laundry, housekeeping duties, meal services, transportation as well as 24-hour staffing.

For seniors with memory-related ailments such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other such conditions, they can take advantage of any of the assisted living memory care facilities in Oregon. They will not only identify each senior’s issues, but also provide top-notch customized care.

This way, residents can get through each day without getting flustered or agitated as a result of memory loss. So, be assured that your loved ones will be closely monitored 24/7 for the utmost safety.

Requirements & Regulations for Assisted Living Units in Oregon

Assisted living in the state of Oregon is called Assisted Living Facility or Residential Care Facility. The licensing body is Oregon Department of Human Services, specifically, the office of Licensing and Regulatory Oversight, which also oversees retirement homes in Oregon. There are two types of residential care in the state of Oregon, as follows:

1. Assisted Living Facilities
2. Residential Living Facilities

There is one distinction between the two types of facilities. An assisted living facility in the state of Oregon must have everything private, such as bathrooms and living units, with stricter capacity requirements. A residential living facility can have shared rooms and bathrooms with another set of rules; however, the licensing is the same for both types.

If the assisted living facility or residential living facility has memory care, there are separate licensing and regulations for that. They must have something called an endorsement for dementia care. There are also separate physical structural requirements for Oregon assisted living facilities.

Oregon assisted living and residential care facilities must adhere to strict building requirements. If there is a newly constructed assisted living facility, they must have no less than 220 feet of pure floor space for a resident. This does not include bathrooms, closets or any recessed structures, lockers or alcoves. If the facility in question is a renovated assisted living care facility, 160 square feet of pure floor space need to be provided to a resident.

In a Residential Care Facility, the requirements are somewhat different, as the living quarters are a bedroom only. The other areas of living are shared. The bathrooms must be accessible and away from the common areas. When there are bedroom units, the door has to open onto an indoor area. The space must be a common area that is climate controlled. And no resident should be able to or have to go through another senior’s bedroom to get to a bathroom or any common area. This seems a bit confusing, but the requirements are necessary since residential care facilities in Oregon are dormitory-like senior living centers.

It’s always good to speak directly to the assisted living or residential care home prior to making any decisions and asking as many questions as possible when the types of home are many.