Assisted Living Utah Blog

Some of the activities that you can expect from an assisted living facility would surprise you. Many people have hear of the Wii. Residents love this interactive game which allows them to golf, bowl, and a host of other games. Typical activities in a day might start with morning exercises and then some card playing. Then they typically do a scenic drive at least 1-2 times in a week where they’ll drive up the canyon to see the changing colors. Other days they might go out to Ice Berg to get a shake or go out to a movie with a small group. Usually once a week there is transportation provided to go shopping to WalMart or Target (depending on residents’ choice). In the afternoon there is typically entertainment from someone playing the piano, singing, or playing some other instrument. Cooking demonstrations get out a very good portion of the residents where they can try great recipes and mingle with their friends of the community.
For more detailed advice, visit us at AssistedLivingUtah.com. Don’t hesitate to call us either. We do not charge you anything for advice and we don’t try to sell anything to you. I guarantee it. Call (801) 492-4115 or toll free (866) 979-9989. You can also email us at Admin@AssistedLivingUtah.com.

Locations for Alzheimer’s care in Sandy, Utah are in abundance. There are more options for Alzheimer’s care in Sandy, Utah than there is total in Utah County. There are three assisted living communities that offer services for elderly people with Alzheimer’s in or near Sandy; i.e. The Stratford at Willow Creek, Alta Ridge Alzheimer’s Community, and Canyon Creek. Each of these communities is built to care for residents with Alzheimer’s with wandering behaviors. The building will be secured so that a code is required to enter and exit. This is a huge safety factor considering residents with Alzheimer’s could easily wander out of the community and be a danger to themselves. These three communities are licensed as assisted living type II. They can care for any of the residents’ ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living such as dressing, bathing, transferring, etc.) and they have the option of sharing a room typcally or having their own private room. Staffing ratios will usually be much better in a community for Alzheimer’s as compared to regular assisted living. For more specific information about Alzheimer’s community in your area, call us at any time. Our services are extremely valuable and free. We can be reached at (801) 492-4115. We look forward to servng you and your loved one.

If you are trying to find the best assisted living community in Utah for your situation, you need to know what your options are. You need to know what the criteria is for assisted living, you need to know what the different options cost so that you can determine if your financial resources are adequate for the time period you need the service, and you need to know which community is closest and/or has the service that you need and want. Too often, I have families come to me with questions that should have been answered months and years ago. For example, two days ago I received a call from a distressed lady who had been caring for her parents in her home. Her mom is “brittle diabetic” and her father’s dimentia is progressing rapidly. She is is stressed out and to the point that she is frustrated with her father’s behavior, her mom needs some peace and quiet in order to heal properly from a recent injury, and she (the daughter) is not enjoying her relationship with her parents as much as she was before having to care so much for their needs. She is becoming exhausted. Finances were definitely a concern although she still wanted to look into assisted living options. I put her in contact with a smaller community since they are inexpensive when compared to larger communities. I also spoke to her about a company that provides home health and hopsice. It’s a company that I’ve used as an administrator in my assisted living community and have had nothing but the best service and care for my residents. Because her mother is brittle diabetic and receiving insulin, she qualifies for home health and this allows a registered nurse to come to her their home, take the blood sugar as needed each day and then provide insulin as needed as well. They can potentially provide a C.N.A. to come in and help with showers a few times a week and offer other valuable services that are all covered by Medicare. Options were given, choices were made, and she is now able to get some relief and assistance in this stressful time her life. Prior to our conversation, she had no idea that these options were even available. At AssistedLivingUtah.com we are happy to share the years of experience in assisted living and in the healthcare industry with those that are in need of the information that will save time, money, and stress.

One of the best options for Assisted Living in Orem, Utah is either of the three Bee Hive Homes of Orem (Bee Hive Home I, Bee Hive Home II, or Bee Hive Home III). Owner, Randy Cottle, exudes confidence and integrity the moment you meet him and is someone you will feel confident in caring for your loved one. Bee Hive Homes of Orem are unique in that they are smaller in size (9-16 beds) and are much less costly compared to large communities (generally saving you over $750 each month). Multiply this by twelve months and you’re saving thousands of dollars in your assisted living costs. The home-like setting is ideal for families who don’t want their loved one lost in a crowd or the intimate feel that’s unique to a small community. Bee Hive Home of Orem fit right in with the local, residential community and are not situated in busy commercial areas, which adds to the home-like atmosphere. The services and amenitites that you’ll find in this Orem assisted living community are exactly what people look for when searching for the right assisted living facility for their loved one. Call us for more details about assisted living in Utah at (801) 492-4115 and get free information about VA benefits and other benefits for elderly people living in assisted living.

While the other companies are just salespeople, here at AssistedLivingUtah.com we have the hands on experience of actually being the executive director/administrator of both assisted living in Utah and in skilled nursing. We have personally helped over hundreds of people looking for the healthcare facility that meets their needs. With our personal experience here in Utah, we have contacts like nobody else that can help you get the VA benefit to help cover the costs of assisted living in Utah, point you in the right direction on how Medicaid works in assisted living. We are also the first website on assisted living in Utah that provides a very comprehensive listing on assisted living communities in Utah and it’s growing. You’re able to view photos, pricing, amenities, and services that each of these communities offer in the comfort of your home on your own time. Also, unlike other companies, not only do we not charge you, we actually give you a $200 Cash Card as a thank you for using our services. We are reimbursed by the facilities that we work with for providing this service to their future customers. We can answer questions by phone, email, meet in person, whatever is more convenient for you. We do have the answers, we do have the resources, and again we do have the experience that you’ll want from an advisor. Call us today at (801) 492-4115.

In Utah, there are two different types of assisted living communities; i.e.
assisted living type 1 and assisted living type 2. Assisted Living type 1 allows the licensed community to care for residents that require assisted with no more than two
ADL’s. If the resident requires more assistance than this, they would require a type 2 facility. In Utah, a type 2 facility may help with all ADL’s if necessary. I recommend that if you think your loved one is going to need more assistance within the next few months or few short years, you should seriously consider moving him/her into a type 2 facility. Otherwise you will have to move them again sooner and it may be even harder on them trying to get used to another place, routine, staff, friends, etc.
So how do you know if a Utah facility is licensed as type 1 or 2? You can simply call the facility and ask or you can visit the State of Utah’s website. For more specifics, call us at (801) 492-4115. We do not charge anything for our services.

Assisted living is a great field to work in. If you enjoy being around your grandparents, you’ll love working in elder care field; especially assisted living. Is it hard work? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Every minute of it. I used to work at a bank going through college and it was great job, but if I had known that I could have worked in this industry as at the front desk or as a server in the kitchen, I would have done it in a heart beat. The residents in assisted living are so grateful for the smallest act of kindness shown to them.

The pay is not very lucrative as an employee in assisted living; however, the benefits outweigh this. Working in an assisted living community in Utah is the best because the local community is so involved and willing to serve the residents of all communities. Having worked outside of Utah, I can attest to the validity of this. The employees are more caring, harder workers, and better skilled at what they do. As an administrator, staffing has been much easier to deal with in Utah.

As a C.N.A. in assisted living within Utah, usually you work an 8 hour shift (whether it’s AM, PM, or NOC/Night). A.M. shifts run from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. usually. The PM shift goes from roughly 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and the NOC shift typically runs from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the next day. Assisted living communities are open 24/7 so yes, there are times that C.N.A.s have to work on a holiday (which is typically compensated very well) and yes, weekends are often required at least once to twice per month.

The days fly by and we laugh with the residents, we cry with the residents and their families, and yes, we do see residents that pass away in assisted living. In assisted living type II, we are usually able to care for all resident needs and rarely have to send them to a skilled nursing facility. So we grow attached to the residents and it’s hard for us when we lose someone that we’ve come to love and serve so much. For those that are good employees, you most likely have to pick up the slack for the "not-so-good-employees." Meaning, if someone calls in sick often, you’ll be asked to pitch in and cover the shift to make sure the residents get the care they need and deserve.

All in all, it’s a great industry to be in. The baby boomers are here and coming so there will always be plenty of work to go around. Life as an employee in assisted living in Utah is great.

Finding the best assisted living facility in Salt Lake City, Utah is often difficult with so many options. It’s important to keep in mind that since there are so many options, it’s important to have someone who knows what the options are and who can provide you with the needed information to make such an important decision. Salt Lake City, Utah offers assisted living facilities with services from dressing, bathing, medication management, alzheimer’s care, activities, transportation for elderly, home health agencies, etc. At AssistedLivingUtah.com, we offer Utah’s free guide to assisted living. We have professionals who have worked in the Salt Lake area in the assisted living industry and who know what the options are (and the best options). There are several assisted living communities throughout the Salt Lake Valley and we know who they are, what services they offer, and we can save you time, money, and headache. Many people know of one facility that may be on a main street that they pass each day, but they may not know of one that is just across the way that might have services and pricing that cater’s to their unique needs. Let us guide you through the process and help you know and understand what options you have. Call today and speak to one of our professional care advisors - Call toll free at (877) 979-9989.

Finding the right assisted living community in Sandy, Utah is a quest of hundreds of people living in Sandy. Either looking for themselves or more commonly, for their parents. In Sandy alone, there are six assisted living communities, i.e. Alta Ridge Alzheimer’s Community , Alta Ridge Assisted Living , The Stratford at Willow Creek , The Wentworth at Willow Creek , Atria Senior Living, and Sunrise of Sandy. Each of these assisted living faciliites is licensed as a type II facility which means they can care for residents who need assistance with all ADL’s (bathing, dressing, walking, etc). Right on the boarder (literally) of the city of Sandy are three other assisted living facilities (also known as communities), which are The Wentworth at Draper, The Wentworth at Cottonwood Heights, and Canyon Creek Senior Living. All but two of these facilities that I’ve mentioned so far offer alzheimer’s care for residents that have wandering behaviors and require a secured facility. So, if you live in Sandy Utah, Cottonwood Heights Utah, Draper Utah, Midvale Utah, or any other city in Salt Lake Valley or near Salt Lake City, you have several options when it comes to finding the best assisted living facility for you or your loved one. By using our free services, you can get better information to make the best decision. So call us today at (801) 492-4115. We’re here to help.

The question that will Medicaid or Medicare pay for your stay in an assisted living facility in Utah is common. The answer is simple. Medicare will not pay for assisted living, but Medicaid can. Let me explain how Medicaid can pay for your assisted living costs. In Utah, there is a program that was called Flexcare (recently changed names to New Choices Waiver). In my humble opinion, I would much rather have my parent in an assisted living facility as opposed to a skilled nursing facility. I’ve worked in both and assisted living is almost always more homelike and less like a hospital. Having said this, how do you become eligible for the New Choices Waiver? First of all, you would have to already be eligible for the Long-Term Care Medicaid program and you have to be in a skilled nursing facility for 90 days. Once you are on the Long-Term Medicaid program in the skilled nursing facility, you would contact a representative from New Choices Waiver (again, this is the program that pays for assisted living. It’s like a branch of Medicaid) so they can assign somone from their department to meet with you and get the paperwork complete for the application and assess whether or not you are eligible medically. Once you are on the New Choices Waiver program, you and the case manager from New Choices Waiver would look for an assisted living facility that has a bed available for this program. Depending on how full their building is, this will determine whether or not they will accept you. If they only have a couple beds available, they will often keep those apartments for someone who will pay privately since it would make them more money; however, if they have several rooms available, they would most likely be willing to have someone come in on the New Choices Waiver program. So will there be any cost to you? Of course (as always). This cost is negotiated between you and the facility. Basically, the New Choices Waiver program pays for the “care costs” and you have to pay for the room and board. This amount is typically anywhere between $400 and $800, but it could vary from this as well. This is just typically what I’ve seen in my experience. For the best contacts to Utah’s Medicaid and New Choices Waiver, contact us.

For more detailed advice, visit us at AssistedLivingUtah.com. Don’t hesitate to call us either. We do not charge you anything for advice and we don’t try to sell anything to you. I guarantee it. Call (801) 492-4115 or toll free (866) 979-9989. You can also email us at Admin@AssistedLivingUtah.com.