Frequently Asked Questions
What is assisted living and who is it for?
General Info
In general, assisted living refers to a residential community where seniors have their own apartment with access to programs and amenities aimed at keeping seniors social and independent for as long as possible. Residents decorate their new home however they want. This is very different from the hospital-like setting found at a nursing home. Assisted living communities are for seniors who can no longer thrive living alone, but do not require the skilled nursing services provided in a nursing home. Seniors who move to assisted living may need assistance with managing their medications, getting in and out of bed or getting showered and dressed. They may also be looking for nutritious meals or social activities and neighbors to combat the isolation they were experiencing prior to a move. Assisted living allows seniors to age in place, offering a range of care and programming options often including Memory Care. When completing a cost analysis, it’s easy to forget about the social benefits an assisted living community can offer, such as clubs, entertainment and group activities, transportation to medical appointments, local events and shopping areas, and therapeutic programming aimed at slowing cognitive decline.
Pet Policy
At Orchard View we know that pets are important to the health and happiness of our residents. We welcome pets at Orchard View under the following guidelines:
Are the costs of assisted living tax deductible?
Some or all of your costs may be tax deductible
Questions often arise about the cost of assisted living and whether any of those costs are tax deductible. While you should speak with a tax professional for advice specific to your situation, these four basic principles concerning tax deductibility of assisted living expenses can help you navigate through your filing questions:
#1: personal care services may be deductible
According to the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), “long-term care services” may be tax deductible as an unreimbursed medical expense on Schedule A. Qualified long-term care services have been defined as including the type of daily “personal care services” provided to assisted living residents, such as help with bathing, dressing, continence care, eating and transferring, as well as “maintenance services”, such as meal preparation and household cleaning.
#2: ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES MUST BE MEDICALLY NECESSARY
Residents seeking tax deductions for their services must qualify as “chronically ill”. This refers to seniors who need assistance with two or more activities of daily living or who need constant supervision because of a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
#3: YOU NEED A PERSONAL CARE PLAN
In order to qualify for a deduction, personal care services must be provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner. In assisted living communities, the service plan can meet this criteria.
#4: DEDUCTIONS MUST BE ITEMIZED
In order to take advantage of deductions, a taxpayer must be entitled to itemize his or her deductions. Additionally, long-term care services and other unreimbursed medical expenses must exceed 7.5% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income. (Generally, a taxpayer can deduct the medical care expenses of his or her parent if the taxpayer provides more than 50% of the parent’s support costs.) For some assisted living residents the entire monthly fee might be deductible. For others, just the specific personal care services would qualify for a deduction. Speak with an income tax advisor to get clarification about your personal situation.
What are the payment requirements and what do they include?
what services would incur an extra CoST?
In most assisted living communities the basic monthly fee covers most of what is necessary to live comfortably, including an apartment, two to three meals per day, utilities (heat, air-conditioning, electricity), maintenance, weekly housekeeping and laundry of bed linens. Also included would be 24-hour staffing and all of the community’s organized programs for social, fitness, cultural and educational pursuits. Help with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing and grooming, as well as medication assistance, will be available but may or may not be included in the basic fee. If it is not, it will be available as an extra fee, either in a package or on an hourly basis. Transportation to medical appointments and recreational trips, personal laundry service, beauty salon services, and escorts and reminders for meals and activities may also be available at the community. These services may be covered in the monthly fee or they may incur extra charges.
Is a deposit required?
Deposit information coming soon
Is the monthly fee a set rate?
WHAT CHANGES SHOULD I EXPECT IN MY BILL MONTH TO MONTH? Most assisted living communities have a month to month 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. Be sure to ask how a community structures their pricing and exactly what services are included in each level of care. Also, ask when you can expect the cost of care to increase. Keep in mind that most assisted living communities will increase their fees every year on average by 4 to 5%. Ask what their increases have been for the last few years to get a good indication what to expect when your one-year lease is up for renewal.
What can I expect from the experience of living at Orchard View?
VISITATION policy DURING COVID 19
At Orchard View, nothing matters more than your health and safety. Watch for more details coming soon about our Covid policies to help our residents healthy and thriving.
Amenities
• Incredible views of temple and mountains • Shopping within walking distance • Spacious studios and one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes • Large, accessible bathrooms with walk-in showers • Movie theatre and chapel • Beautifully-maintained grounds with courtyards, walking paths, and gardens • Fireplaces • Grand piano for resident play and enjoyment • Premium TV access • Well-stocked library and discovery learning center • Well-equipped fitness and wellness center • Walk-in spa tub for warm soaks • Professional beauty salon/barber shop • Dog grooming and kenneling • Entertaining billiard and game room • Fruit orchard
activities & events
Bingo • WII sports • Group exercise classes • Walking clubs • Gardening clubs • Book clubs • Life history development • Lectures and continuing education class • Art classes • Field trips and excursions • Jewelry making • Live music and karaoke • Music therapy • Pet therapy • Spa days—self care • Family history classes • Humanitarian projects • Movie nights • Crafts • Mini Aviary • Fly Tying
Services for everyone
24/7 care staff and security monitoring • House physician and RN available at all times • Individual pendants, emergency call and fire safety systems • Healthy and delicious meals served all day • Daily activities, programs and events • Housekeeping services • Laundry services available on each floor • Local transportation services • Sunday church services
assisted living services
Health assessment and personalized care plans • Assistance with continence care, bathing, and personal hygiene • Dressing and grooming assistance • Escort to meals and activities • Wellness and hydration checks
memory care services
Intimate home-like setting • Secured doors and outdoor courtyard • Trained caregivers and 24/7 assistance • Custom-designed therapeutic activities • Family member support group