McHenry County Senior Housing Options by Brandon Schwab

INDEPENDENT LIVING Is typically the next step once a senior or the family of a senior realize it is unsafe for mom or dad to live alone. You may have seen "Golden Girls" TV Show which was a great example of independent living enviornment. The idea is live independently within a community of others in the same situation. This extra layer of safety is there in case of an emergency happens. Cost of these type of apartments start at $1500 per month. Typically they include very little beyond basic utilities and space to move in your loved ones belongings. McHenry Villa is a place to consider if this option located 3516 West Waukegan Road, McHenry, IL 60050, (815) 344-0246www.McHenryVilla.com HOME CARE Staying in your home for as long as possible is very common thought among seniors. This can be accomplished through the use of home care companies such as Visiting Angels, Brightstar Home Care, among others within the community. They offer services ranging from companion care on an hourly basis (typically 4 hour minimum) starting at $22 per hour all the up to live in services which is invoiced on a daily basis starting at $265 per day. This industry is getting regulated by the government more and more so we anticipate the home care companies merging or raising rates. REHAB FACIILTY A Rehab Facility is often where the hospital will discharge patients from hospitals that cannot or should not go directly home. Here the team of nurses and thereapists will work with patients on a temporary basis (typically 45 days) to recover from a surgery or an accident prior to going home or another location. They do not offer long term housing options. Daily rates start at $250 to 500, sometimes these costs are absorbed by Medicare or your insurance provider. ASSISTED LIVING Assisted living builds on the above independent living option by adding 24/7 monitoring from a Certified Nursing Assistant. This is a great option when you or your loved one needs more health care services not found at the independent living level. Price points start at $3500 per month and go up to $6,000 per month depending on bedroom configuration and caregiver to resident ratio. Please note the lower caregiver to resident ratio the higher quality care and higher cost. A common caregiver to resident ratio is 1:12 up to 1:20. A lot of these locations have ala carte items that are added on in addition to the base cost. In McHenry County there is options to choose from including: -Sunrise of Crystal Lake with 58 beds Phone 815 444 6600 -Bickford of Crystal Lake with 56 beds Phone 815 477 4200 -Fox Point of McHenry with 97 beds Phone 815 385 9840 -Three Oaks Assisted Living with 83 beds Phone 847 516 6016 (Ask for Joy) -Hearthstone Village of Woodstock with 74 beds Phone 815 338 2110 -Fountains of Crystal Lake with 135 beds Phone 815 455 8400 NEW SHARED HOUSING ESTABLISHMENT- In the same licensing catagory as Assisted Living there is a smaller version called Shared Housing Establishment in Illinois. In other parts of the country they are called Residential Care Facilities (RCF) or Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE). This option is NEW for Illinois however in other parts of the country such as Florida or California they are very popular for a variety of reasons including cozy home setting, 24/7 CNA supervision, 3 home cooked meals per day, housekeeping, security and low caregiver to resident ratios (max of 1:6). Illinois has 25 of these throughout the state compared to Florida having 2,800. McHenry County has only one Shared Housing Establishment available in McHenry County. Costs start at $4500 and go up to $6000 per month. -Shepherd Residential Care of Ringwood (Northern McHenry) with 7 beds Phone 224 333 6247 website www.ShepherdSeniorLivingHomes.com

MEMORY CARE- Some common diseases such as Alzheimers and Dementia are treated at Memory Care Units such Fox Point Manor in McHenry or Autumn Leaves in Crystal Lake with 36-40 beds each. These locations are specifically designed for seniors with wandering risks and memory loss. The staff is trained specifically to handle caring for seniors with memory loss. Costs vary but typically start at $6000 per month Fox Point Manor of McHenry- 40 beds Phone 815 385 9840 Autumn Leaves of Crystal Lake- 36 beds Phone 815 459 7800 HOSPICE CARE Hospice care can visit any of the above locations to care for a senior. They can visit their own home, assisted living, shared housing establishment, or memory care unit. This service is to facility the comfort while concluding the final chapter of life.