How can I afford a Care Advisor?

Anyone can afford an Assisted Living Locator Care Advisor. That’s because we are paid only when we help you make a decision about your senior’s living location and we are paid by the location you choose. And because we only receive payment when you’re paying the Care Community directly, we’ll also put you in touch with your state’s social service network to make sure that you receive the proper state support in the event that you are unable to pay for senior care and housing yourself.

What can a Care Advisor help me with?

An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor specializes in knowing your senior housing and in home care options, but via their referral network they can connect you with state resources in the event that you need to consider state resources to finance and secure senior housing, as well as a wide variety of specialists who focus on some aspect of the senior services industry- Eldercare Attorneys, Financial Specialists, Real Estate Agents, Downsizing Specialists, Home Health Experts, and just about any other senior service need you can think of.

Who is my Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor?

Glad you asked. This site gives you a number of ways to find your local Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor. Pick one and we’ll either get them on the phone, or make sure that they contact you in a timely fashion. Click here to get to our Care Advisor page.

How are Care Advisors trained?

Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors are vetted for the right set of skills before they ever even buy a franchise. Once they do, we provide comprehensive initial training and a 13 week “in community” onboarding process. We ask all Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors to become Certified Senior Advisors, a nationwide accreditation program that provides additional industry specific knowledge. Care Advisors also participate in continuing education provided by us and provided by local senior oriented industry associations to ensure that they understand the latest tools, techniques and industry rules and regulations to help you navigate the senior experience.

What does a Care Advisor do?

An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor spends time at each of the communities and homes in your local area. They understand how well the community is performing against state standards and they understand what the community is good at- in short, they understand what isn’t in the community’s glossy brochure. An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor networks to ensure that they have a broad array of qualified resource team members that they can call on to help deal with challenges beyond senior housing and care, which is their own area of expertise. And Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors spend time with families and seniors. They can’t help if they don’t know and understand you and your family. Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors have a structured way to identify important needs that you and your senior have, which they then use to match you to the best community choices or the best members of their resource network that can meet your needs.

Who is Assisted Living Locators®?

A franchise business based in Arizona, with local owners and operators across the US. Our Care Advisors bring problem solving skills and compassion to your local senior community, and we supply the training, processes and industry knowledge they need to provide you with the help you want.

Where are your Care Advisors located?

Everywhere. If we don’t have a Care Advisor yet in your local area, we’ll find you an affiliate advisor who can help. But every month we train more Care Advisors to meet the growing needs of seniors in every community across the US. You can find your local Care Advisor by using the tools on this website. And because we are nationwide, we can help you in your town or in towns all across the US.

When should I contact an Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor?

Since Care Advisors understand the entire range of living options available to seniors, any family with a senior over 55 can benefit from their expertise. Use us to understand your independent living options if your senior wants more time for leisure pursuits after 55. Use us especially when you are concerned about the safety or health of your senior loved one. And it’s critically important that you reach out to us if your senior is in the hospital or rehabilitation facility so that we help you navigate the immediate next health care and housing steps that must be taken, giving you a voice in how the health care and insurance systems in your state manage your senior’s needs.

Assisted Living In Grand Rapids, MI

Find local care advisors

Find the Best Assisted Living Near Grand Rapids, MI

Seniors in Grand Rapids, MI, may be considering moving into an assisted living facility to receive extra assistance with tasks of daily living, or if they’re unable to live independently. This guide offers a look at assisted living fees in the Grand Rapids area and information about different options to pay for accommodations. We also touch on what you or your loved one can expect from an assisted living community and how a local Grand Rapids senior care advisor can help determine the best accommodations for your needs.
Choosing the right assisted living facility for your loved one can be difficult, especially if you don’t live in the Grand Rapids area. Fortunately, a senior care advocate nearby can help guide you through the entire process, including arranging for virtual tours.

Your Grand Rapids, MI Senior Living Advisor

Tom Carabellese

Serving Grand Rapids, including; Kent, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, Ionia, and Montcalm counties

Meet Advisor 616-425-2244

Finding the right senior living community or care option for your loved one can be stressful and confusing. I’m an expert on senior living communities in the Grand Rapids area and will help you through the entire search process—discuss your needs and concerns, visit properties, and answer all your questions about cost and options.

Meet Advisor 616-425-2244

What is the Cost of Assisted Living in Grand Rapids, MI

The average cost per month for Grand Rapids assisted living facilities is $4,828, although the fees of each community can vary. A Grand Rapids, MI, local senior care advisor can help you and your family find ways to pay for assisted living costs.

A good starting point to determine how much your loved one can contribute to the cost of long-term care is to tally up their monthly expenses. Include the cost of rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation costs, groceries, household maintenance, and discretionary spending. This gives you an idea of how much they can pay for assisted living accommodations. Many communities include meals, utilities, internet, and limited transportation in their monthly fees.

Grand Rapids assisted living properties can help people who are unable to live independently, offering assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs), including:

Selecting appropriate clothing and dressing
Grooming and bathing
Personal care, like trimming nails, shaving, or putting on make-up
Escorts to activities or mobility assistance
Help preparing meals, eating, and cleaning up

Assisted living facilities balance each resident’s desire for as much independence as they can manage while offering assistance where needed. If your loved one can perform many ADLs without help, they’ll enjoy the same level of freedom in the assisted living community. However, should their needs change, staff members are on hand night and day to lend a hand.

Deciding to help a loved one move into an assisted living facility can be hard for many families. Some people find it helpful to monitor their loved one’s ability to care for themselves independently, in order to determine the right time to have a conversation about the transition. If you aren’t sure whether an assisted living facility is suitable for your needs, a senior care advisor in Grand Rapids, MI, can help you examine your long-term care options.

What Should Every Senior Know About Living in Grand Rapids, MI?

Grand Rapids is located along the Grand River, just east of Lake Michigan. It’s a popular place for retirees who enjoy the water, with fishing and boating opportunities on the lake. As one of the largest cities in the state, Grand Rapids also offers plenty of big-city amenities. Michigan doesn’t levy a tax on social security and offers deductions on other forms of retirement income, which many seniors on a budget may appreciate.

Grand Rapids Weather & Climate

Michigan winters can be cold and snowy, and Grand Rapids is no exception. January lows drop into the teens, and the city receives an average of 64 inches of snow each year. Summers, however, are quite nice, with July high temperatures reaching into the low 80s. June, July, and August are considered the most pleasant months of the year.

Local Hospitals & Notable Medical Care

Grand Rapids seniors have plenty of options for medical care, including Mercy Health St. Mary’s hospital and Spectrum Health, an integrated medical system with two hospitals providing emergency care and several primary care and specialist providers.

Transportation

Interurban Transit Partnership administers The Rapid, Grand Rapid’s public transportation system. This is a fixed-route bus system with stops throughout the city and its suburbs. Seniors may be eligible for reduced fare passes.

Arts, Culture & Recreation

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, featuring a tropical conservatory and pieces by Rodin and Henry Moore, is a popular destination for people who enjoy being outdoors. Boating and fishing are popular pastimes here, as well. The Grand Rapids Art Museum features works by Michigan artists and rotating exhibits.

How Do I Pay for Grand Rapids, MI Assisted Living?

You or your loved one may have more options to pay for assisted living in Grand Rapids than you realize. Your local senior care advocate can help you locate benefits you’re eligible for and help your family better understand assisted living fee structures.
Options to pay for an assisted living property in Grand Rapids, MI, include:

Veteran's Benefits

The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs provides the Improved Pension Program, which can cover some or all of the costs for assisted living care. Military veterans and their dependent spouses may be able to access this benefit and find out more details and how to apply at their local VA Center.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance is a plan for seniors to cover the costs of an assisted living facility. If your loved one participates in this type of insurance, then their monthly assisted living fees may be covered. Be sure to ask your loved one if they participate in such a plan, and contact the issuing carrier about the specifics of the plan’s coverage.

Home Equity

Homeowners who have paid off their home, or a substantial amount of the mortgage, may use the equity built up in their home to pay for assisted living accommodations. Ask your local Grand Rapids, MI, senior care advisor about using home equity to pay for long-term care.

Medicare

While traditional Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) don’t pay for assisted living, an optional Supplemental Medicare plan may cover some aspects of long-term care.

Medicaid

Michigan Medicaid offers a Medicaid Waiver to pay for long-term care, including assisted living accommodations. The program is intended to help seniors avoid nursing home care. It’s called the MI Choice Waiver Program, and it’s open to adults who meet certain income and asset criteria.

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Care assessment tool

Access our free senior care assessment tool, which can help you evaluate the specific needs and requirements of you or your loved one. By answering a series of questions, you’ll receive personalised recommendations and insights to aid in the decision-making process.

Take the Assessment

FAQ About Assisted Living in Grand Rapids, MI

Many Grand Rapids assisted living communities allow residents to keep pets, and some may even offer outdoor areas where residents can take a pet for a walk. Your senior care advisor can help you check the regulations about pets for your top favorite assisted living facilities.

Residents in assisted living typically have their own private apartments or condos. Some communities may have “companion suites,” where close companions may share a larger apartment. The apartments may be arranged in a neighborhood-like setting, with shared community spaces and a dining area where residents can socialize with one another.

An assisted living property offers help with personal care and activities of daily living, but not medical care. While some facilities may have a nurse on staff, residents typically receive medical care elsewhere. A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility, provides 24-7 medical care and supervision, in addition to assistance with ADLs.