Tennessee Assisted Living

The state of Tennessee legally terms assisted living as assisted living facilities. The Tennessee Department of Health through the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities is the licensing body for assisted living facilities (also known as ACLF) and Residential Homes for the Aged. If any assisted living home decides to provide services for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s, they have to abide by specific and separate regulations. Residential care homes provide only limited personal care and overall protection for the aged resident. Assisted living homes can provide a higher level of personal care if they choose to.

As your parents age, one of the significant decisions you may have to make is to decide the best assisted living facility in your state to move them to as they age. You will have to consider many options, such as the best location, cost, service offered, and terms of care. If you live in Tennessee, you can have a rest of mind knowing that the best senior living facilities reside in the Music state.

There are many reasons why families may decide to entrust their aged loved one in an assisted living in Tennessee. Aside from being a senior living friendly state, older adults have access to one of the best senior care options in the country. Those looking for the best care that suits the health challenges of their loved ones can be assured that they will have access to their preferred care options at an affordable rate. Before you decide on which assisted living to tour this season, There are some of the things you should evaluate in an assisted living facility in Tennessee.

Assisted Living Services in Tennessee

As the health needs of your aged parents evolve, you should expect their care needs to change as well. Before deciding on the best senior living option for your loved one, it’s advised to estimate their future health care needs and how the community can meet these needs in the long and short run. Ensure you review the range of services offered by different assisted living communities and evaluate the extent to which they can help meet the challenges of your aged loved one. If your parents need more health and wellness programs such as senior-friendly exercises and yoga, these should be your primary focus when touring any assisted living in the state. The safest thing to do in such circumstance is to make a list of the primary care needs of your parents, then compare them to the services offered by various assisted living communities.

Also, evaluate the extent of care offered and the amenities provided. If you do well to consider these factors, you will find the perfect community easily.

The following are some of the services offered by many assisted living facilities in Tennessee:

• On-site medical care
• Transportation
• 24-hour staff and security
• Emergency systems
• Medication management
• Meals and dining
• Housekeeping
• Personal care
• Social and recreational activities
• Health and wellness programs
• Laundry service

For you to know more about the kind of services provided by any facility, it’s essential to book a tour with them and inspect their amenities yourself. It also allows you to ask any questions bothering you about the quality of care and the qualification of their staff. You can also check online reviews about the community. Residents themselves or their family members usually write these reviews. But you mustn’t rely only on these sources.

Cost and Payment Options for Assisted Living in Tennessee

Statewide, the cost of assisted living in Tennessee is roughly $3,920 every month. This is below the national average, which is currently $4,000. This is a base-rate that does not include memory care, Alzheimer’s care, Physical Therapy or Speech Therapy. These are only a small number of extras that can be accrued. Should the health of the senior deteriorate or a negative health event occur, there may be additional per month charges for specialized health care and security, often requiring a move to one of the nursing homes in Tennessee. Memory care may require the senior is moved to a lock-down assisted care center, so that if they are a flight risk, they are protected from danger.

The least expensive cities for assisted living in Tennessee are Clarksville, Morristown, Chattanooga, Memphis and Jackson. The range for those cities is $3,018 to $3,585 per month, and this is still below the national average which makes Tennessee quite affordable. The most expensive assisted living communities are in Kingsport, Nashville, Davidson and Knoxville. The range for those cities is $4,037 to $4,500 monthly. These cities cost above the national average but not enough to deem them unaffordable at their base-rate with no aforementioned extra care.

Currently, in the state of Tennessee there are no waivers that will pay for assisted living or anything apart from skilled nursing care. If there is a challenge in paying for assisted living care in Tennessee, you may want to be proactive in the search for alternative supplementation.

Assisted Living Apartment Unit Requirements in the State of Tennessee

For every single occupancy assisted living unit in Tennessee, there must be a minimum of 80 square feet provided excluding bathrooms, alcoves, closets, free-standing wardrobes, foyers, locker areas, door swing area or any recessed or protruding areas. Living room and dining room areas must be large enough to safely accommodate all residents. Seniors must be able to move freely and safely with or without ambulation assistance equipment. In the dining area, 15 square feet will be provided for each assisted living unit resident.

There is a two-bed maximum allowed for each assisted living apartment unit. The toilets, sink, bath or shower units can serve up to 6 residents.

If there is new construction, each new Tennessee senior living facility structure must comply with the international building codes and the National Fire Protection Code or NFPA. They must also follow several other codes such as the U.S. Public Health Service Food Code.

List of Assisted Living Facilities in Tennessee:

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