According to Louisiana law, an assisted living home/facility is defined as a licensed residential care home providing a coordinated combination of supportive personal services, 24-hour supervision, health-related services, assistance with activities designed to allow individuals to reside in the least restrictive environment of the individual’s choosing. Personal care homes or residential care homes may also cover these bases, though each care sub-type will fall into a different level according to the Louisiana department of Health.
Currently, there are approximately 100 assisted living communities operating in Louisiana.
| City | Monthly Minimum | Monthly Maximum | Monthly Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $2,500 | $5,759 | $4,030 |
| Baton Rouge | $2,625 | $5,197 | $3,175 |
| Shreveport | $1,975 | $3,588 | $2,880 |
| Lafayette | $2,950 | $3,763 | $3,400 |
The average cost of assisted living in Louisiana is $3,010 per month. Louisiana one of the cheapest states in America for long-term care. Within the state, most major metropolis areas follow the same low-cost trend with the area average costs for long-term care falling lower than the state average cost.
For more information about assisted living costs in Louisiana, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.
Located in the deep south of America, Louisiana offers a diverse mixture of history and culture unique to only the Bayou state. The most famous (or infamous depending on who you ask) city in Louisiana, New Orleans offers a grand ole time with amazing food and live music in the notable historic attraction, the French Quarter.
New Orleans also offers an array of theater and cabaret performances at any time in the New Orleans Central Business District. For those looking to extend their good time, the Riverboat Casinos offer an array of casino games in addition to restaurants. For the art lovers and culture connoisseurs, Louisiana offers the Louisiana State Museum displaying over 450,000 artifacts of the diverse culture cultivated in Louisiana.
Heading into the wilderness, Louisiana is covered in swamp lands and interesting wildlife. Honey Island Swampland allows visitors on a boat tour of the local swamps where many indigenous animals can be seen such as alligators and wolves. Surrounded by swamps, Avery Island, home of Tabasco sauce, allows visitors to tour the gardens and facilities where the McIlhenny family has made Tabasco for generations.
The French, African, Spanish, and Caribbean people that settled in the state greatly influence Louisiana culture. There are large Creole and Cajun populations that have a major impact on the cuisine, language, and music in the state. In some places, you may hear Creole or French just as often or more than English.
Situated on the southern coast and boarding the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana experiences a very humid semi-tropical climate with little distinction between the four seasons. Winters are mild keeping temperatures in the 50-60 degree Fahrenheit range. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures climbing well into the 90-degree Fahrenheit range. The state experiences sunshine well over half the year. Louisiana is prone to hurricanes and high accumulation of rainfall. Louisiana accumulates approximately 57 inches of precipitation annually.
Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals published the regulations and oversees assisted living homes within Louisiana. To obtain the full legal document outlining all regulations as defined by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, please follow this link. This department is also responsible for public records concerning citations, inspections, violations and the like; records can be obtained through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals site.
With many states moving toward a further distinction between assisted living and personal care homes, keep in mind that services may vary in terms of medical attention, particular amenities, and other aspects like the time available for individual residents. Although both assisted living and personal care communities provide help with one's activities of daily living (ADL's), the best way to determine if a care type is right for you or a loved one is to schedule a visit and speak with residents.
When looking for a new place to live, it is always important to consider the safety of the community you are in. If you are not sure where to start your search, look at some the safest communities in Louisiana:
| Location | Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents | Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Brusly | 0.00 | 0.39 |
| Elmwood | 2.03 | 12.90 |
| Abita Springs | 1.48 | 9.41 |
| Harahan | 1.61 | 15.35 |
(Source: areavibes.com)
Currently, Louisiana does not offer Medicaid support for those looking for assisted living services and homes. However, the state does offer alternate supportive housing.
For those seeking financial help for assisted senior care, Louisiana offers the Permanent Supportive Housing program for those who are low-income elderly residents with age-related disabilities. This program offers rental assistance for an array of residential care homes. A percentage of the supportive housing units are designated for those aged 55 years or older. In addition, some of the supportive housing offer medication administration and transportation assistance. PSH is distributed by the Office of Aging and Adult Services, which fall under the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. To find out if you are eligible for supportive housing, please visit the official Permanent Supportive Housing page via the Office of Aging and Adult Services
Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.
While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of Louisiana can be obtained online through the Long-Term Ombudsman.
Louisiana assisted living homes are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be readily accessible upon request and should be kept for a period no less than 6 years from death or discharge date.
Residents in Louisiana assisted living centers have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information at a cost not to exceed the community standard cost for photocopies.
