Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions, Expertly Answered
The following list of frequently asked questions is about assisted living and personal care, retirement living, and services for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory loss. We hope this answers any questions you may have.
If you still have any, please feel free to contact us.
What is assisted living or personal care, and why might it be a better option than in-home care?
Assisted living and personal care are much like in-home care in that both offer non-medical support. Both provide services such as assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, grooming, and dressing), transportation to medical offices and shopping, medication reminders, and meal preparation.
Working with an in-home care agency is the best way to find an in-home caregiver, because they usually take care of the business side, such as criminal background checks of employees, providing insurance, managing payroll taxes, and maintaining support and training of the caregiver – all things an individual’s family would be responsible for if hiring a caregiver through a private hire or referral agency.
Likewise, assisted living/personal care communities handle business matters and address other concerns, including opportunities for social experiences.
Heritage Senior Living communities can also be cost-effective for residents and their families because of our ability to serve residents as a community.
What is long-term care?
Long-term care describes the diverse range of options available to seniors who are no longer able to manage the full range of daily activities on their own. Sometimes a person’s needs may be met in an independent living community, where the primary focus is on community living and social opportunities, with the added support of meal preparation, housekeeping, maintenance, and transportation.
Similar to independent living, assisted living and personal care communities share the aspect of socialization, but also include support with daily activities (grooming, mobility, etc.) and medication management.
Outside the Heritage Senior Living family of communities, there are other types of long-term care with various options, such as in-home care, home health care, adult day health care, skilled nursing facilities, board-and-care homes, and palliative and hospice care.
Are all assisted living/personal care and retirement living communities alike?
No. Personal care and retirement living communities vary greatly, even within Heritage Senior Living. We’re proud that each of our communities is unique and a reflection of its locale.
We believe that unique people deserve exceptional communities designed with them and their desired environment in mind. This holds true for everything from the building’s architecture to the food choices served to the residents who call each community home. We strive to offer the best personal care and retirement living services in each Heritage Senior Living location.
What is necessary for the care of people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia?
One of the most important aspects in the care of a person with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is a properly planned environment. At Heritage Senior Living, you’ll find communities that have a separate and secure neighborhood for memory care residents.
Though we want all of our Heritage Senior Living communities to feel like home, memory care interior decorating is both a science and an art. It’s important to have bright, warm, and even lighting, as well as carpeting and flooring without busy patterns.
Special care and attention are important for residents in memory care. With our specially trained staff, we carefully plan our staff-to-resident ratio and activities programs to ensure that our residents’ individual needs are met in a structured and secure environment.
Are new residents required to pay an entrance fee when moving into a Heritage Senior Living community?
In our communities, there is no entrance fee. Most of our communities only require a small community fee. However, this fee does vary by community, so please check with the community of your choice for more information.
Can I bring my own furnishings to my apartment?
Yes! This is your home, and you should have all the comforts and furnishings to which you’re accustomed. Heritage Senior Living residents enjoy decorating their apartments and entrances to add a unique personality to their homes.
Is there ample privacy in the current accommodations?
Heritage Senior Living offers a variety of floor plans, including private or semi-private accommodations with attached baths. With the exception of those living in our secure memory-care neighborhoods, residents have their own keys and may come and go as they please.
What meal programs are available?
Each community’s full-time culinary staff freshly prepares selections daily. Heritage Senior Living offers varied and seasonal menus. Plus, unique dining occasions make mealtime memorable. Many Heritage communities also have a café, with complimentary nutritional snacks and beverages available 24 hours a day.
What options are there for activities?
Each Heritage Senior Living community has a full-time Director of Resident Life who designs and executes a calendar of events that provides residents with plenty of opportunities for cultural entertainment, ongoing learning, spiritual development, creativity, and socialization, seven days a week.
Do Heritage Senior Living communities allow smoking?
We are sensitive to the health needs of all our residents, so Heritage Senior Living communities are designated non-smoking. Some of our communities offer designated areas where residents and guests can smoke.
Can I bring my pet to Heritage Senior Living?
We know that a pet can be an important member of the family. Most Heritage Senior Living communities allow residents to have pets in their apartments for a nominal, one-time fee. Be sure to check with the community in your area.
Is there access to an emergency call system?
Heritage Senior Living’s spacious apartments are all equipped with emergency call systems.
Is there access to a full-time, licensed nurse?
Each Heritage Senior Living assisted living/personal care community employs a full-time, licensed nurse as a Resident Services Director who oversees all aspects of care services including assessments, medication assistance and communication with family and physicians.
Is there access to transportation and is it wheelchair accessible?
Heritage Senior Living communities offer accessible transportation services and are designed to be wheelchair accessible, ensuring residents with mobility needs can move safely and comfortably throughout the community and to nearby destinations.
Where Care & Community Come Together
At Heritage Senior Living, every moment reflects thoughtful care, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging that goes beyond the everyday. Discover how our communities create an environment where people feel at home.