A Guide to Presbyterian Assisted Living

Your religion is often fundamental to who you are, guiding your values and beliefs, as well as how you approach the world. You may attend church every week, pray before your meals or dedicate time to reading the Bible. However, when you decide to move into assisted living, you might find it challenging to maintain your practices. If transportation is difficult, you may not be even able to get to church.

Choosing a Presbyterian assisted living community is one way to keep your faith at the heart of your life. After all, seniors aged 65 and older make up an estimated 35% of all Presbyterians. That’s why this guide provides insight into how to find a quality Presbyterian assisted living community that will meet your needs. It also touches upon the cost of care, how to pay and where to find resources that can help support you spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Presbyterian assisted living provides assistance guided by Christian values. While many Presbyterian assisted living communities welcome people of all faiths, they offer the opportunity for seniors to connect with like-minded peers interested in continuing to make their religion a central part of their lives.

In a Presbyterian assisted living community, seniors can expect to receive help with activities of daily living, including dressing and grooming as needed, transportation and prepared meals. Residents can expect regular religious programming, activities and events, as well as holiday celebrations designed to foster spiritual wellness and closeness to God.

Presbyterian assisted living provides the same care as secular assisted living, and they’re bound by the same licensing and regulations. However, they tend to implement additional religious aspects to care, including:

• Coordinating religious services, with some offering on-site worship and access to pastors while others providing regular transportation to churches
• Approaching serious illnesses and end-of-life care from a Christian perspective
• Prayer groups and visits with pastors

Presbyterian assisted living offers numerous benefits related to incorporating faith-based care. Beyond providing easy access to worship, being surrounded by faith can benefit seniors by:

• Creating a sense of purpose: Seniors able to foster their religious beliefs often feel a greater sense of meaning in life. This can improve attitudes and promote positivity, both of which are known to improve health outcomes.
• Promoting socialization: Because religious beliefs often create a sense of community, seniors in faith-based care often feel more connected to their peers.
• Coping with aging, illness and disability: Many people turn to religion to cope with health problems and stressors. People who are religious tend to report better well-being and greater life satisfaction, even when struggling.
• Creating a sense of structure and routine: Prayer, worship and other religious activities can create a daily rhythm and schedule, which many people find soothing.
• Preventing cognitive decline: Seniors are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementias. Studies show that practicing religion can positively impact cognitive functions.

Finding a Presbyterian senior living community can be more work than choosing a suitable secular assisted living option, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Before you begin your search, make sure you have a list of what you want and need the community to offer. Once it’s time to search, consider the following to help make the process a little easier:

• Contact local churches and nonprofits to see if they partner with any senior living communities.
• Search online using phrases such as “Presbyterian assisted living” or “Presbyterian senior living near me.”
• Ask for recommendations from people at your church or within your religious communities.
• Contact a senior living advisor in your area to discuss local options.
• Reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging for help locating a community.

There’s more to choosing a Presbyterian senior living community that meets your needs than the aforementioned points. This checklist can provide a more comprehensive guide on what to look for in local communities to find the one that’s right for you.

In general, the national average cost for a month in an assisted living community is $4,500 based on the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. However, assisted living costs can vary dramatically across the country based on location, services provided and amenities. For example, the average cost in Seattle, WA, is $6,750. In comparison, in Jefferson City, MO, assisted living averages just $2,075 monthly.

In most cases, seniors are responsible for their own assisted living bills. Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance options typically do not cover the cost of assisted living because it’s not technically medical care. Rather, it’s custodial care, providing assistance with daily living tasks, as well as providing housing and meals.

The same holds true for faith-based communities. However, in some cases, Presbyterian assisted living is offered by nonprofit organizations that may have financial assistance available through charity funds and donations. This means that in many cases, seniors have to pay out of pocket for their assisted living costs, though there are some exceptions.

Presbyterian seniors looking for support and assistance have numerous options. These resources can connect seniors to spiritual support, social groups and supportive programs that promote wellness.

The below table provides an overview of some Presbyterian senior living communities throughout the United States. This is not an exhaustive list of Presbyterian communities, but is meant to give you an idea of what services are offered.