FAQs

Q. Does Medicare or Medicaid cover Independent or Assisted Living costs? 

A. Medicare does not cover the cost of Assisted Living. Medicare primarily covers medically necessary services whereas Assisted Living provides non-medical care such as daily living activities. However, Medicare Part C (Advantage) may offer additional coverage for certain services. Medicaid is a state-funded and administered program that may cover assisted living costs for low-income individuals; eligibility and coverage vary by state. 

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Q. How do you help me determine the right type of care for my loved one?

A. Retire & Refine will assess individual needs, and consider such factors as medical conditions, mobility issues, cognitive abilities, and physical limitations for ADL (see common terms and acronyms, below)

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Q. What types of placement services do you offer? What are the options? 

A. Retire & Refine specializes working with CCRCs - Continued Care Retirement Communities which are also referred to as "Age in Place" communities. These communities offer all levels of care in the same community. We also work with Independent and Assisted Living communities and AL residential homes and Memory Care communities. Some communities offer short-term care as well as Respite care.

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Q. How do you convince parent(s) to move into assisted living? Full-time home care is so expensive.  

A. Imagine yourself in your parent's position. Moving isn't easy. Giving up decades of memories, and the familiarity of home is hard. Retire & Refine Consulting can help you plan a strategy, facilitate communication and even offer to meet with your parents at no charge to assess their situation. We have a free comprehensive (Request yours today!) "Family Caregiver's Transition Guide" that will walk you through when it is time for your parent(s) to move. Sometimes when a 3rd party like us is involved, they usually decide to "just take a look" and end up falling in love with a community.

 

Q. How much does assisted living or memory care cost?

A. It varies from state-to-state, even county-to- county in the same state. Costs are usually based on a fee for rent and sometimes additional fees for care, based on how much assistance is needed. There are typically 3-5 levels of care at Assisted Living/Memory Care communities. Amenities, Location also play a part in cost as does the size of the apartment/studio. Expect to spend at least $4500/mo in lower-cost areas. We take your budget into consideration and will find the best communities within your budget.

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Q. When is the right time to move into a senior living community?

A. Typically seniors move into Independent Living communities (most of which also offer Assisted Living and Memory Care) when they no longer want responsibility for home maintenance, and the safety risks that could entail. They also want to enjoy the resort-like amenities these communities offer. When a senior is having difficulty with daily tasks such as bathing, cooking, remembering to take medication, it may be time for in-home care or moving to an Assisted Living community. An important factor to consider is social isolation. Do you or your loved one have a strong social circle and family support? If not, moving into Assisted Living will give you back your independence and you will make friends for a lifetime. 

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Q. What are the benefits of working with a placement service?

A. Retire & Refine provides expert guidance with compassion. Finding a new home is filled with emotional and logistical challenges. We take care of all the research, vetting out communities specifically tailored for your individual needs. We have insider knowledge that you can't find on the internet. We will be with you on your community tours - we are a liaison between the sales manager and you. We don't sell - we advocate for you. We negotiate the best deals on your behalf. We also handle paperwork, provide resources and referrals for services ranging from estate planning and elder care attorneys, estate sale providers, moving services, home care services and much more. Our job is to save you time, navigate the sometimes confusing world of senior living/care, and alleviate the stress of finding the right home for you and/or your senior. Our senior placement services are at no cost to you. 

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Q. What types of concierge services do you provide? What are the costs?

A. Retire & Refine Consulting provides a wide range of concierge services to seniors in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. Assisting with client's move (packing/organizing/decluttering/securing a moving company), securing home health care, accompanying seniors to medical appointments (patient advocate/notetaker), family facilitator, companionship and more! Fees vary depending on the type and complexity of service. A set fee can also be arranged for certain services instead of an hourly fee. We work to accommodate individual needs and budgets. Retire & Refine is fully insured with a professional liability policy.

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