Assignment Overview:

• If you go to this Example Destination Page you’ll see there is some content at the top of the page and then a lot more at the bottom. This is referred to as top block and bottom block content. This is what we’ll be rewriting/creating.

Top Block Content:

• 
• Goal is to write 75-200 words per destination to replace the existing content (see example above) by using 3 to 5 of the data points in the “assisted living top of page content” tab on this spreadsheet.

Bottom Block Content:

• Goal is to write 1600-1725 words per destination page using the existing content on the “assisted living bottom page content resources” tab on this spreadsheet. This content is a list of FAQ questions that we’ll rewrite to make original and localize to the specific destination.

Process works like this:

• Each page will rewrite a different set of questions from the “assisted living bottom page content resources” tab. This is so every page looks different. The client provided a matrix here, to show you which questions to cover for which location.
  • One section every page will cover is the “What services are available?” shown on row 3 of the matrix. It says to refer to the “services and amenities list” tab. Just pick some of the services and create some generic content about them.
    • For instance:  “Assisted living facilities offer a wide range of services including complimentary transportation, visiting specialists and offsite activities”.  
• You will you need to localize the following:
  • Cost information
  • Information about inspections and ratings info for assisted living in each state
  • Resources for seniors for each destination, based on external data from assistedliving.org and other websites
  • Any cultural and history features of the destination
• Throughout the content, they would like to include CTAs that show people how they can use their resources.
  • For example:
    • “For more ideas about how to finance your move to senior living, contact A Place for Mom to talk to a Senior Living Advisor today”
    • “The process of choosing the right assisted living community can be overwhelming, but there are resources that can help. Call A Place for Mom today — we can help save you time and money and make sure you make the right choice.”

Format Recap:

• URL of destination page you’re writing for
• Page Title: Assisted Living near [City Name]
• Top Block Content:
  • Enter content here (75-200 words consisting of 3 to 5 of the data points from here.)
• Bottom Block Content:
  • Enter content here – (per the matrix tab for your destination), 1600-1725 words separated with headers for the different questions being answered. Include a few CTA’s within the content for bigger sections – see examples to show what I mean.
  • Finish with a  paragraph with the header: About Senior Living in [City Name]
    • Include cultural/historic features of destination (could look on Wikipedia)
    • Include the number of assisted living options available (see row 24 on the test sample matrix tab)
    • Resources for seniors for each destination, based on external data from assistedliving.org

Tone/Voice:

• Our target audience are the adult children of seniors who need to make a change in the way they live, whether that’s hiring home care, moving in to a senior apartment or assisted living. For this reason, we do not want to make direct statements about who will be receiving care. For example, when writing about assisted living we would not say “You will love living without the burdens of home maintenance.” Instead say “Your loved one will appreciate no longer having the burdens of home maintenance.”
• Use Senior Living Advisors or Advisors. “They have over 550 Senior Living Advisors who live and work across the U.S. and Canada.”
• A Place for Mom is North America’s largest senior living referral service. We are paid by our participating communities, therefore our service is offered at no charge to families. OK, to say “free to families” or that our services are available at “no additional cost to families.”
• It’s important to advise but not promise or recommend. For example, we can say that skilled nursing includes medical support, but we cannot say it will include medical doctors on site. For memory care, we can say it may include special programming but we cannot say all caretakers have received special training. And our Senior Living Advisors provide a list of options based on the specific needs of individuals, but they do not make recommendations.

Legal Watch Words and Phrases to Avoid

• “APFM recommends” or “recommendations”
• “Services are 24/7”
• “best senior care” or “right senior care” as these statements suggest something we cannot promise.
• “Always”
• “Reimbursed” (use “paid”)
• Screening/monitoring partners (rather, we “verify initial license information if state licensing is required, and perform annual license reviews and state violation audits.”)
• “Authorized or unauthorized partner”
• APFM is a “voice for the partner” or “voice for the caregiver”
• “Invaluable services” (we prefer “helpful”)
• “Ethical services”
• “Advisors live in the region they serve”
• “Accountable services”
• “We protect families”
• “Guaranteed services”

• Save the article as the page name.
• Please put A Place for Mom in the email subject line.

https://www.aplaceformom.com/assisted-living/florida/fort-myers

Assisted Living near Fort Myers, FL

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Finding the best options for assisted living in Fort Myers can be a challenge. With so many choices for seniors, making the right one for your family can seem overwhelming. Working together, we can help you gain peace of mind. Our free service includes a local Senior Living Advisor dedicated to matching you with a tailored list of hand-picked communities that meet your needs. We provide you with full details and pricing, scheduling property tours and move in support. There’s no cost to you.

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Assisted Living in Fort Meyers

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living facilities provide housing and care to seniors who need some help with daily tasks like taking with medications, eating meals and keeping up with home maintenance. Assisted living communities come in all shapes and sizes, so touring them is the best way to figure out which one is best for you or your loved one.

What Services Are Offered in Assisted Living?

No one assisted living facility is like another. At a minimum, assisted living provides independently minded seniors meals and snacks, help with things like bathing and dressing, and a wide range of activities such as wellness programs, social events, outings and field trips and much more, all in a safe and secure environment among people their age.

What Are ADLs?

If you are researching assisted living, you’ve probably come across the acronym ADLs, which stands for the Activities of Daily Living. These include:

• Bathing and showering
• Toileting
• Dressing
• Feeding (but not meal preparation)
• Continence
• Functional mobility, which includes getting in and out of a bed or chair

Developed in the 1950s, ADLs assess an individual’s overall health and function. In general, older adults who can manage ADLs on their own but who are considering a move to senior living may be better candidates for independent living.

If you have questions about what care type is the best fit for your loved one, contact A Place for Mom. Our Senior Living Advisors can answer any questions you may have about assisted living, independent living, memory care, life plan communities and more.

Assisted Living Vs. Nursing Homes

The term “assisted living” was first used in the 1980s to describe a new kind of residential living for older adults that was notably different from more traditional nursing home models. Assisted living is designed for people who need some help with some daily activities but who still desire a certain level of independence and who want to live in an apartment-like setting such as a studio or a one-bedroom apartment. Many assisted living communities offer a full calendar of activities and events and provide multiple meal options to cater to different tastes and needs, including restaurant-style options. Small pets are often allowed.

In contrast, the hallmark of nursing homes is that they provide skilled nursing care. They are designed to meet the needs of seniors and others who have medical conditions that require 24×7 medical attention. Meals are generally served in a central dining hall and residents live in private or shared bedrooms. Some nursing homes also offer short-term rehabilitative care. Nursing homes today are also called convalescent care centers, nursing centers, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities. Because they offer more support, nursing homes are more expensive than assisted living facilities.

Both skilled nursing and assisted living facilities may offer memory care, which is specialized support for people managing cognitive loss. In fact, 40% of the people who live in assisted living in the state of Florida are currently living with some form of dementia, according to the National Center for Assisted Living.In general, people living with the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia are best served by assisted living facilities while people living with later stages of dementia require the medical care of a nursing home.

What Is Assisted Living Like?

While every community is different, here are a few characteristics that most assisted living communities share:

• They offer different levels of care, sometimes at different price points.
• They provide different living options, from studios to one-bedroom apartments.
• Many allow residents to bring their own pets, including birds, cats and in some cases smaller dogs.
• They cater to different backgrounds, cultures and interests. Some communities, for example, are faith-based, while others are multilingual, with activities and dining options to match. Still more are designed for retired military or college alumni and are even located on or near campuses.
• They may offer accommodations for couples as well as individuals.
• They range in size. Some communities have as few as 20 residents, while others many have more than 200.

With so many options to choose from, finding the right place can feel overwhelming. Our Senior Living Advisors can help. They live in the communities they serve. When you talk with a Senior LIving Advisor, he or she will ask a few questions to better understand what you are looking for, what your budget is and what special needs your loved one may have. Best of all their advice is free.

When Is It Time to Consider Assisted Living?

If you are asking this question, chances are good that it’s time you learn more about senior living. Here are a few other indications that assisted living might be right for both your loved one and their family.

• You are concerned for your loved one’s safety.
• You are concerned they aren’t eating properly.
• You worry about them leaving the house alone.
• You notice they are spending less time with family and friends.
• You receive a phone call or note from a neighbor who is concerned about them.
• You observe that your loved one may have trouble remembering people’s names or using a familiar technology like their mobile phone or TV remote.

If these or other signs are troubling you, take action. Contact A Place for Mom and talk to a Senior Living Advisor today. They can answer your questions and help you figure out next steps. Best of all, their expertise is free!

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings

Florida provides families with excellent access to its assisted living inspection and ratings records. Based on our state-by-state review of state records, Florida’s assisted living regulation and inspection system is one of the most transparent in the nation. To find the records of an assisted living facility in the greater Fort Myers area, go to the FloridaHealthFinder.gov site and search by facility type to find inspection reports, licensure data, fines and actions assessed against the facility, availability of nursing staff, an emergency power plan summary and more.

The state of Florida requires that all new assisted living residents have a medical examination within a month of move-in to determine an individualized care plan. The state also mandates a minimum number of weekly employee hours based on the number of people who live in a facility to ensure care plans can be accommodated.

10 Things to Look For When Touring an Assisted Living Facility

The best way to figure out if an assisted living community is right for your loved one is to visit one — or better yet, four or five of them! Here are a few things to take note of when you tour:

1. Does the staff interact with the residents?
2. Is the residence clean, odor-free and well taken care of?
3. Is there a process in place for assessing the needs of a new resident?
4. Can residents arrange for transportation if they need it?
5. Are the staff professional and courteous?
6. Are there specific visiting hours or are guests welcome at any time?
7. Does each resident have a care plan in place?
8. What happens if a resident’s needs change?
9. Is there an emergency plan in place in the event of a natural or manmade disaster?
10. Do the people who live there remind you of your loved one?

For more tips on what to look for while touring an assisted living community, download the Assisted Living Residence Checklist.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Fort Myers, Florida?

According to the A Place for Mom Senior Living Cost Index, assisted living in the city of Fort Myers, Florida, averaged $3,782 in 2018. That’s slightly more than it cost in the greater metropolitan area during the same time period, which averaged $3,772, but more than the Florida state average of $3,644.

The Senior Living Cost Index is based on what A Place for Mom customers paid when they moved into senior living. It is the only price database of its kind. By providing this information, families can learn how much they might save in different parts of a particular metropolitan area or even a neighboring state.

Ready to learn more? Visit the Senior Living Cost Index interactive map to find out what costs are in your area.

How to Pay for Senior Living In Fort Myers, FL

How to pay for assisted living is one of the most common questions families have when they meet with one of our Senior Living Advisors. Here are some of the most common funding sources for senior living:

• Personal income or savings. If a senior does not have enough saved to pay for long-term care, it’s common for families to pool funds to make up the difference.
• Home equity. Many times, seniors sell their homes to pay for senior living. In some instances, a bridge loan may be available to help cover the cost of moving while the home is readied for sale.
• Long-term care insurance. This special kind of insurance is designed to pay for senior care expenses. Some policies may cover other expenses that can be incurred during the transition to assisted living, such as hiring a case manager or care coordinator.
• Veterans benefits. Many seniors have served in the military and may qualify for support. Because many benefits go unused, it’s worth it to check to see if your loved one or his or her spouse might quality. For more information, go to va.gov or download our Guide to VA Benefits and Long-Term Care for more details.
• Sale of a life insurance policy. There are several ways to use life insurance to fund senior living based on the kind of policy you hold. Consult a life insurance or financial advisor to learn about whether this option might work for your situation.

Many families assume that Medicare can help pay for assisted living, but it can only cover short-term care. For more information, go to www.medicare.gov

Understanding Assisted Living Costs

Assisted living costs vary widely from community to community, so it pays to do your research. Here are a few factors that can impact how much you pay:

• Type of residence
• Size of apartment (studio, one- or two-bedroom apartment)
• Types of services needed
• Geographical location
• Location of the community
• Level of luxury

Assisted living communities often charge a flat rate that covers many basic services, with additional fees added on for special services. Other communities will charge a fee for each service, known as a la carte payment, so that residents only pay for the services they use. Typically, the monthly base rate covers only rent and meals, with care charged separately. Entrance fees and deposits are also often required. Fees and rates vary by community, so it’s important to ask communities you are exploring aPlease lbout their costs and services.

For more information about assisted living costs and fee structures, contact a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom.

About Senior Living in Fort Myers, Florida

With its low tax rates and tropical weather, the state of Florida is among one of the most popular places in the United States for seniors. The greater Fort Myers area offers more than 20 options for families looking for assisted living, many of which offer multiple levels of care in one location. Known for “the MIllionaires’ Club” — Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone all owned winter residences in Fort Myers — the area today is well known for its sensational beaches, many golf courses and as the spring training ground for the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida offers a wealth of resources for seniors and their families.

https://www.aplaceformom.com/assisted-living/virginia/richmond

Assisted Living near Richmond, VA

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Finding the best options for assisted living in Richmond can be a challenge. With so many choices for seniors, making the right one for your family can seem overwhelming. Working together, we can help you gain peace of mind. Our free service includes a local Senior Living Advisor dedicated to matching you with a tailored list of hand-picked communities that meet your needs. We provide you with full details and pricing, scheduling property tours and move in support. There’s no cost to you.

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Assisted Living in Richmond

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living housing is a long-term senior care option that includes support for the activities of daily living such as meals, bathing, dressing and medication management. It is not the same as a nursing home, where residents can expect round-the-clock skilled nursing care. Every assisted living community has its own mix of services, amenities, activities and culture. Many also offer support for seniors with specific needs such as diabetes, incontinence care or the early stages of cognitive loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Assisted Living Vs. Memory Care

According to the National Center for Assisted Living, nearly one in four residents currently in assisted living in the state of Virginia have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. In addition, many assisted living communities offer support for residents with cognitive issues. So how do you know if designated memory care or simply assisted living is what your loved one needs?

Although many assisted living facilities offer memory care onsite, the two kinds of care are not the same. Memory care provides full-time specialized support for someone with dementia while assisted living is designed to meet the needs of people who need help with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing or eating. Assisted living can be a good option for people in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s but for those who have experienced wandering issues or who have caused harm to themselves or others, a secured memory care environment is probably a better choice.

If you have specific questions about what kind of care your loved one needs, talk to a physician. They can help you determine whether assisted living will work or if you need to search for memory care. You can also talk to one of our Senior Living Advisors. They have helped many families with questions about what kind of care is the best fit for their family member or friend and they can help you, too.

What Services Are Offered in Assisted Living?

While each facility is unique, most assisted living facilities offer a variety of living arrangements, a wide range of meal options, common areas and complimentary transportation, among other services and amenities. These include:

• Activities, entertainment and events, both on-site and off
• Exercise and wellness programs
• Housekeeping, including linen service
• Access to medical professionals

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Virginia

The state of Virginia offers exceptional access to its records for assisted living facilities through the Virginia Department of Social Services website. Data available to review includes the dates of inspection, whether an inspection was prompted by a complaint, whether the inspector found any violations and what the plan of correction was to address a violation. You can search by facility name or zip code to find the communities in the areas you are considering.

In the state of Virginia, assisted living facilities are required by law to:

• Allow only two people to live in one bedroom
• Provide handrails, non-skid surfaces and grab bars in every bathtub and shower
• Equip all bedrooms with connecting bathrooms with signaling devices that residents can use in case they need help.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Richmond?

According to the A Place for Mom Senior Living Cost Index, the average cost of assisted living in the greater Richmond, Virgina, metropolitan area in 2018 was $3,843. This is about 7% less than the average cost for assisted living in the state of Virginia, which cost $4,128 in 2018. Costs for assisted living can vary widely based on services, amenities and location, so it pays to look in nearby suburbs and towns if you have that flexibility.

The Senior Living Cost Index is based on the actual prices families pay when they move into assisted living and it is the only cost index of its kind. To learn more about senior living costs, visit the A Place for Mom Senior LIving Cost Planner.

How to Pay for Assisted Living

Many families finance a move to assisted living through the sale of a home or personal savings, but for some people, this may not be an option. Here are three other resources that may help you pay for assisted living:

• Veterans Benefits: Many seniors may qualify for veterans benefits that they don’t know about. One benefit in particular, Aid & Attendance, has helped thousands of families afford assisted living. To qualify, veterans must be at least 65 years old and have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during what the Veterans Administration considers active wartime periods. Qualifying widows and widowers of veterans may also be able to receive benefits. With the current average age of U.S. veterans at 64 years old, it’s worth it to find out if your loved one may qualify for benefits. See our Guide to VA Benefits and Long-Term Care for more details or contact the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to learn more or go to va.gov.
• Life Insurance Policies. If the senior you are helping move into assisted living has a life insurance policy, you may be able to liquidate the policy and receive funds now. Different restrictions and regulations apply depending on the kind of policy you have, so contact a financial advisor or eldercare attorney to find out more about your options and to assess what’s best for your situation.
• Reverse Mortgages. For senior couples who may have different needs, a reverse mortgage can be a good way for one person to move into assisted living while another remains at home while his or her partner transitions to senior living. A reverse mortgage allows homeowners aged 62 or older to borrow against their home equity. For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find a reverse mortgage counseling agency near you or contact the HUD Richmond Field Office.

For more ideas about how to finance your move to senior living, contact A Place for Mom to talk to a Senior Living Advisor today.

5 Questions to Ask an Assisted Living Facility

Finding the right assisted living facility is a big decision, both for a senior and for their family. Here are five things to consider when thinking about making the move to assisted living:

1. What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Will this community provide your loved one with the support they need? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25% of assisted living communities have a ratio of one personal care assistant for each 23 residents. Staffing can vary widely depending on the size of the community, so be sure to ask about the facilities you are looking for.
2. Is there outdoor space? For many residents making the transition from a private residence to assisted living means giving up a beloved garden or outdoor area, so having access to a gardening area, a patio or a courtyard is important. Many larger assisted living communities offer a range of outdoor space, with features such as walking paths, gardens and BBQ spaces for community events.
3. How many staff are available to assist at night? Some assisted living facilities provide 24×7 nursing staff, while others may have more generalized help available after hours. In the state of Virginia, assisted living facilities are required to have a minimum of two direct care staff members awake and available at all times.
4. Is there a wait list? Popular communities can fill up fast. If the one you like is not available, inquire about the wait list and what the community’s policy is for managing it. Many communities will ask for a deposit and some communities have internal lists for special care needs. Here is where doing your homework can really pay off — plan ahead!
5. What services are included in the monthly fee? Before signing the contract, it’s a good idea to understand what is included in the basic fee structure and what might incur additional cost. Some facilities employ a fee-for-service model, or a la carte pricing, which means they charge a monthly fee for rent and meals but additional costs for things like medication management. Others may use a tiered pricing model where different levels of care are charged different fees.

For more information about what to look for when visiting an assisted living community, download our Assisted Living Residence Checklist.

How Do I Choose the Right Assisted Living Facility?

With so many options to choose from, finding the right assisted living community can seem like a daunting task. That’s where our Senior Living Advisors can help — they are expert in helping match seniors to the facilities that are the best fit for their care needs, personality and budget.

Here are a few things to keep in mind during your search:

• Be sure to look for your loved one, not you. Today’s assisted living communities offer everything from homey environments to upscale resort-style luxury living. It can be easy to be swayed by the features and amenities you might choose for yourself, but ultimately it comes down to what will work best for your loved one.
• Focus on the present, not the past. Does your loved one need help bathing and dressing? Do they have special needs like limited vision or special diets? Would they enjoy the benefits of a larger community or be more comfortable in a smaller, more intimate setting? Think about the here and now, not what might have been their choice ten or 15 years ago.
• Plan to tour at least three to five facilities, if you can. Start with scheduled tours and consider having a meal with the residents. If none of them seems like a good fit, ask your Senior Living Advisor for more options. And don’t hesitate to ask questions and take notes while you’re there.

The process of choosing the right assisted living community can be overwhelming, but there are resources that can help. Call A Place for Mom today — we can help save you time and money and make sure you make the right choice.

About Senior Living in Richmond, Virginia

Virginia’s capital city offers more than 50 assisted living options to choose from, with a wide range of prices, styles and amenities. Whether you are looking for down-home atmosphere or resort-style living, you can find it in the greater Richmond area. Richmond boasts one of the oldest municipal park systems in the country and a long list of historic and cultural landmarks for easy day trips. The city is home to the Greater Richmond Agewave Coalition, which is dedicated to making Richmond a great place for people to age. For more information about services for seniors in the Richmond area, visit SeniorNavigator, a website that features links to community resources across Virginia that’s searchable by city or zipcode.