Your retirement years should be enjoyable, fulfilling, and precisely what you imagined. Although paying for assisted living is frequently a concern among potential residents, money shouldn’t keep you from the quality of life you deserve. That’s why our assisted living community in Huntsville, TX, accepts numerous payment methods and can walk you through a financial worksheet to ensure you have access to the life you desire.

Contact Sundale Senior Living today to speak with our Executive Director, who would happily answer your questions.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

The cost of assisted living varies based on location, floor plan, amenities, and level of care. Sundale offers several floor plans, world-class amenities, and need-based assisted living services in Texas at various price points.

Although the monthly cost differs from one resident to another, each individual receives the following benefits and an opportunity to thrive in retirement:

  • Apartment-style living
  • Engaging programs
  • Medicine management
  • Data-driven monitoring of residents
  • Outdoor courtyards
  • A vibrant community lifestyle
  • Nutritious, chef-inspired meals
  • On-site beauty salon
  • Transportation services
  • Emergency call pendants
  • Housekeeping & laundry services
  • Concierge services
  • And more.

Paying for Senior Living

There are several ways to pay for assisted living – probably more than you initially thought. When you choose Sundale, you can combine any of the following methods to cover the monthly cost:

You can pay for assisted living out of pocket, whether that be through personal savings or from family contributions.
Potential residents can pivot an existing life insurance policy toward living expenses or utilize a “life settlement” where a third party’s premiums cover the cost.
Those with established long-term care plans can designate payments toward living expenses, which can go directly to the community or to a beneficiary who then pays the community.
Reverse mortgages allow you to cash out your house’s available equity, whether in full or a series of monthly payments that then transfer to the assisted living community.

It’s important to note that each payment method listed above has specific requirements and criteria. Read our blog post on the topic – How to Pay for Senior Living – to learn more.

Veterans Benefits

Former active service members and their spouses can apply veterans benefits to their residential care. If you or your spouse has a service-related injury or diagnosis, your veterans benefits can cover assisted living.

Additionally, if you or your loved one is a disabled service member and your income is below a predetermined amount, you can leverage Aid and Attendance benefits. To learn more about veterans benefits through the United States Veterans Administration, read our blog post, How to Apply for VA Assisted Living Benefits.

Medicare, Medicaid, & Assisted Living

Although Medicare and Medicaid help cover health care costs, they don’t apply in several situations. In Texas, Medicare doesn’t cover senior living expenses, and Medicaid only applies to a specific type of community with stringent requirements.

Since the Medicare government program typically covers short-term services like hospital stays, home health care, and other related programs, the long-term nature of assisted living makes it ineligible for coverage. On the other hand, Medicaid was created for those with limited financial resources. As a result, eligibility is also limited, and communities accepting the program have a select number of designated living spaces for qualifying residents.

The Cost of Assisted Living vs. Staying at Home

Older adults and their families often believe staying home costs less than moving to an assisted living community because they’ve secured affordable rent or paid off their mortgages. Although lower rent and paid-off mortgages do equate to lower monthly costs, assisted living communities provide several amenities and services within a single payment that would be considered additional if living at home.

Each homeowner or renter’s costs differ, but older adults living alone likely also have the following expenses:

  • Property taxes & utilities
  • Food & groceries
  • Transportation
  • Home maintenance
  • Lawn & yard maintenance
  • Housekeeping
  • TV & internet
  • Home security
  • Safety measures
  • Entertainment
  • Home care & private help
  • And more.

Even though the cost of assisted living in Huntsville, TX, may seem high at first glance, it’s comparable to what you’re already spending and includes much more. Check out our blog post – Comparing the Cost of Senior Living vs. Staying at Home – to learn more.