Choosing a Senior Living Community
With thousands of assisted living/senior living communities located across the country, and over 100 located in Louisiana, how does a person choose the best senior living community for themselves or a loved one?
There are many options to consider when selecting a senior living community. But an important starting point is to know that all assisted living communities, in Louisiana, are required to be licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health, as Adult Residential Care Providers (ARCPs). These licensed ARCPs are regulated and surveyed by the Louisiana Department of Health. Its also important to know that Louisiana's Senior Living Communities not all alike, not a one size fits all, and can vary in range of care and services offered. ARCP/Senior Living Communities are not Nursing Homes.
Anyone considering senior living should tour a few communities to see which one is the best for them or their loved one. During the tour, there are many aspects to consider. Some of those aspects are listed below.
Notice: LALA does not provide tax advice, and the information provided herein should not be construed as such. Due to the complexity of the applicable laws, we recommend that everyone consult with a tax advisor to determine how these rules may apply to their specific tax situation.
There are many options to consider when selecting a senior living community. But an important starting point is to know that all assisted living communities, in Louisiana, are required to be licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health, as Adult Residential Care Providers (ARCPs). These licensed ARCPs are regulated and surveyed by the Louisiana Department of Health. Its also important to know that Louisiana's Senior Living Communities not all alike, not a one size fits all, and can vary in range of care and services offered. ARCP/Senior Living Communities are not Nursing Homes.
Anyone considering senior living should tour a few communities to see which one is the best for them or their loved one. During the tour, there are many aspects to consider. Some of those aspects are listed below.
- Location of the community.
- Should it be in the city, the country, or somewhere in between?
- Do you want grass, trees, a pond or a pool to look at and relax around?
- Should it be in an area that has public transportation or does the community offer transportation?
- What specific types of care and residential services are offered by the community.
- The physical layout of the building and grounds of the community.
- The physical layout, including size, of the residential apartments and common areas.
- The cost of the rent and services of the community.
- The "feel" you get when you actually visit the community.
Tax Resources for Senior Living Care
Senior living costs can be very expensive for some individuals, but did you know that some of those costs may be tax deductible? The determination on whether senior living costs are tax deductible come down to whether or not the services provided meet a medical need. Per IRS requirements, medical expenses are deductible for individuals who itemize their tax deductions if the expenses are more than a certain percentage of their adjusted gross income.
Individuals may include medicals expenses, costs of meals, and lodging in a long term care facilities if the principal reason for being there is to get medical care. However, if the reason for being in a long term care facility is personal, then the individual may not include the costs of meals and lodging, as then only the medical expenses or nursing care expenses are deductible.
In order for meals and lodging portions or assisted living expenses to be tax deductible, the resident must be considered “chronically ill.” This means that a doctor or nurse has certified within the last 12 months that the resident meets one of the following:
Individuals may include medicals expenses, costs of meals, and lodging in a long term care facilities if the principal reason for being there is to get medical care. However, if the reason for being in a long term care facility is personal, then the individual may not include the costs of meals and lodging, as then only the medical expenses or nursing care expenses are deductible.
In order for meals and lodging portions or assisted living expenses to be tax deductible, the resident must be considered “chronically ill.” This means that a doctor or nurse has certified within the last 12 months that the resident meets one of the following:
- Is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (ADLs: toileting, eating, dressing, bathing, continence, transferring) without “substantial assistance” from another person for at least 90 days, “due to loss of functional capacity.”
- Requires “substantial supervision to be protected from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment (e.g. dementia/Alzheimer’s).
To learn more about these and other tax requirements and deductions, please refer to the IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, that can be viewed online at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf.
Notice: LALA does not provide tax advice, and the information provided herein should not be construed as such. Due to the complexity of the applicable laws, we recommend that everyone consult with a tax advisor to determine how these rules may apply to their specific tax situation.
Staff
Chief Executive Director
Sharla Aloisio
admin@mslala.org
mobile (337)577-2024
Education and Engagement
Katie Pesson
events@mslala.org
mobile (337)254-8267
Member Communications
Madelyn Dugas
assist@mslala.org
mobile (337)577-9830
Sharla Aloisio
admin@mslala.org
mobile (337)577-2024
Education and Engagement
Katie Pesson
events@mslala.org
mobile (337)254-8267
Member Communications
Madelyn Dugas
assist@mslala.org
mobile (337)577-9830