FAQs

The cost of assisted living is based on the type and features of the apartment and the services needed by each resident. Monthly fees cover rent, utilities, dining service, housekeeping, personal care, and many other services and amenities. There may be additional charges for items such as guest meals, room service, special recreational events, transportation, and personal laundry. It can be hard to compare apples to apples, because assisted living communities charge differently for personal care and ancillary services.

Most people pay for assisted living with their income from social security and pensions combined with their savings, including the proceeds from selling a home. Long term care insurance is widely used to offset the cost of assisted living. Medicare and other health insurance plans and HMOs will NOT pay for assisted living services.

Typically, you get most of what is necessary for your loved one to live comfortably in the basic monthly fee. This includes three meals per day, utilities (heat, AC, electricity), maintenance, weekly housekeeping and laundry of bed linens, organized programs for social, fitness, cultural and educational pursuits, and 24-hour staffing. Help with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing and grooming, as well as medication assistance, are available at an additional fee.

Transportation to medical appointments and recreational trips, personal laundry service, beauty salon services, and escorts and reminders for meals and activities are also available. These services may be included in the monthly fee on a case-by-case basis.

Typically, residents pay directly for Cable TV, internet and telephone service for their apartment home (although more and more communities have free WIFI throughout the building). Residents pay for their own personal toiletries, health and beauty aids, hairdressing, clothing, medical care, medications, incontinence supplies, and dry cleaning. Medication management and incontinence help are not included in the basic fee but can be added as needed.

Hillside Terrace Senior Living has a year-long lease that residents sign, just like renting an apartment. The base monthly fee will be a set amount outlined in the lease, but the total monthly cost depends on the fee system used to calculate personal care where your family member lives. Also keep in mind that most assisted living communities may increase their fees from time to time to keep up with the cost of living.

Costs may vary by the amount and kind of personal care assistance included in the service package, by the size, location and special features of the apartment, by geography, and by the company. Some companies charge more than others, perhaps because they need to maximize profits for stockholders, or they have a large corporate headquarters with more overhead.

Hillside Terrace charges a Community Fee of $2000. This fee covers the cost of the health assessment. Additionally, you may be asked to pay the first and last month’s rent and sometimes a security deposit upon signing your lease agreement.

Your supplemental health insurance benefits will cover some of your expenses while living in assisted living like physical therapy and prescription costs.