A Guide to Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living
Date Published: September 9, 2023
More than 1 million older adults reside in thousands of assisted living communities all over the United States, as of 2022. These communities provide lodging and caregiver services that may not be available if seniors who need help remain at home. Finding an assisted living community that’s affiliated with their religious tradition can bring extra peace of mind to many seniors, which is what Seventh-Day Adventist communities try to do for their residents.
In this guide, you can learn about Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living. You’ll find several resources to help seniors make an informed choice about their care options. By the end of it, you should have the information you need to decide whether a faith-affiliated assisted living community is right for you or a senior loved one.
What Is Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living?
Seventh-day Adventist assisted living facilities are Christian-based senior living communities that offer caregiver support, supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. They are similar to nonreligious facilities in their licensing, operation and care standards, but they place a greater emphasis on spiritual care. They’re also broadly similar to nondenominational religious communities as their activities and spiritual focus is oriented toward the teachings of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
How Is Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living Different From Regular Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church offer many of the same services as nonreligious facilities, along with a few unique to their faith-based mission. People of all faith backgrounds are welcome to join these communities, though Adventist-oriented religious services are typically provided on-site for residents. Services that seniors are likely to find at Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living facilities include:
- On-site chapels
- Daily or weekly prayer service
- Prayer and Bible study groups
- Faith-based community service
- Affiliation with a nearby community church
What Are the Benefits of Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living?
The main benefit Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living communities offer many residents is a spiritual one, though the secular services provided are a great help as well. Seniors may choose Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living communities for a variety of reasons. Some may be attracted to the spiritual benefits these communities offer that are applicable to all faiths. Others might be specifically drawn to practices and doctrines unique to the Seventh-Day Adventist community. Benefits specific to Seventh-Day Adventist communities include:
- Religious services and Sabbath observance on Saturdays, rather than the more common Sunday or Friday observance of other faiths
- A menu that adheres to the preferred best practices of church members, including ample vegetarian meal options
- A fully or partially alcohol-, smoke- and drug-free community
- Adventist literature, such as writings of Ellen White, present in the library, with the potential of resident-led book clubs to discuss religious ideas of the church
- A welcoming environment for people new to the faith, including possibly baptism service for people new to the fellowship
Tips for Finding a Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living Community
Finding a Seventh-Day Adventist community that offers assisted living doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re looking for a community in your area, your options start with the minister at your church. Other options include:
- Asking for referrals from the congregation, many of whom may already have found high-quality assisted living in the Seventh-Day Adventist community.
- If you’re looking for communities further afield, you can ask for referrals from your local conference, which is the next level up from local churches in the Adventist hierarchy and has broader reach.
- For communities located elsewhere in your state, your union conference may have helpful leads you can follow. At this level, your faith leaders may also have good information about Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living options nationwide.
- If you’re searching for assisted living outside the church, you might get a referral from your doctor, especially if you’re already in the Adventist Health Network.
- You can always run an internet search. Try terms such as: “Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living in [your city, county or state].”
What to Look for in a Seventh-Day Adventist Senior Living Community
Seventh-Day Adventist communities cover a broad swath of services and care levels. Depending on your budget, location and particular needs, this guide may help you know what to look for.
How Much Does Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living Cost?
The national cost of Adventist assisted living is similar to the price seniors pay for secular senior living. Nationally, older adults pay an average of $4,500 a month for assisted living, according to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Actual prices may vary by location and services offered.
Financial Assistance for Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living
Paying for any kind of assisted living can be a challenge for many seniors. Fortunately, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church offers some resources to help members get affordable senior living. Other financial supports seniors rely on may be less helpful in paying for assisted living.
Many seniors are enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance plan for qualified seniors. Medicare only pays for medical services, however, and much of the care in an assisted living community falls outside of the program’s traditional coverage areas.
Medicaid is a popular choice for low-income seniors to use as a supplement to Medicare. Medicaid also pays only for necessary medical services, and the nonmedical elements of assisted living care generally don’t qualify. Many states do offer waiver programs to help pay for assisted living for seniors who would otherwise be eligible for nursing home placement.
Program
Covers Assisted Living?
Learn More
Medicare
Medicare pays only for medical care services, but not for assisted living.
Outpatient medical services fall under Part B, regardless of the setting they're administered in.
Plan and eligibility information is available at Medicare.gov, or from a program worker at your local Social Security office.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the low-income health insurance plan for seniors with limited ability to pay for services.
Medicaid does not pay for nonmedical care, though your state plan might offer an assisted living waiver that picks up the cost for room and care if the alternative is placement in a nursing home.
You can get general information about Medicaid at Medicaid.gov.
Information about state assisted living waivers is available from the State Waivers List.
VA Benefits
The VA might be able to help with the cost of assisted living for eligible veterans.
In 2023, the VA can pay up to $2,296 a month for a veteran plus spouse/dependent, or up to $3,072 for two married veterans who both meet the qualifications.
Learn more about VA benefits at VA.gov.
Resources for Seventh-Day Adventist Seniors
If you’re looking for affordable Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living, you’re not on your own. The resources in this table can help you find assisted living in your area, transition into senior living or help you with financial or community support.
Resource
Contact
Description
Online
The National Council on Aging operates Benefits Checkup, a convenient online tool for checking your eligibility for certain benefits across agencies. Acting as a digital case manager, Benefits Checkup can locate resources in your area that you may not have otherwise known existed.
Online
The Alzheimer's Association conducts dementia screenings and trains caregivers in the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer's disease. Most events are organized by local chapters.
(877) 808-2468
Volunteers with the Senior Medicare Patrol educate seniors and their families about common Medicare scams, keeping a current database of ongoing fraudulent activities.
(800) 473-4636
Parkinson's Foundation helps at-risk seniors get screening for the disease and look for help in their area. The national helpline takes inquiries 24/7.
(800) 772-1213
The SSA issues monthly benefits payments to participating seniors, which are a substantial part of many older adults' retirement resources. Seniors can contact the SSA at a local office or by calling the national headquarters toll-free.
Online
Seniors aged 50 and over are eligible to join the AARP. AARP membership comes with significant discounts, travel and insurance benefits and access to health programs in almost every major urban area.
Find Seventh-Day Adventist Senior Living
Below you can view descriptions of a few of the Buddhist senior living communities in the United States. While all communities differ, Seventh-Day Adventist senior communities typically offer spiritually-focused and God-centered living.
Name
Address
Phone Number
Description
1210 West Century Boulevard, Lodi, California 95240
(209) 368-5669
Golden Oaks Village Living is a retirement community that allows Seventh-day Adventist seniors to easily access year-round social activities and religious events at the neighboring English Oaks Adventist Church. There is a bus stop and Dial-a-ride service available to take active residents to and from the local parks, gyms and shopping malls. Golden Oaks social hall is accessible for seniors wishing to host monthly potlucks, family dinners, game nights and recreational activities.
10680 Dowling Park Drive, Live Oak, FL 32060
(386) 658-5291
Advent Christian Village is a senior community dedicated to enriching the spiritual life of its residents as well as nurturing their physical, emotional and social well-being. Residents enjoy delicious, healthy meals prepared daily, and a range of active social groups, including an artists' guild, a choir and a gardening club. The Village Church is the heart of the community and is where church services, prayer meetings, Bible studies and other fellowship groups are held.
2781 US Route 9, Livingston, NY 12541
(518) 567-8004
Adventist Home is a senior retirement center for Seventh-day Adventists in the New York area with spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains. Every Sabbath afternoon, church members from the nearby Livingston Church hold services in the nursing home for residents who wish to develop a companionship with God. Seniors can choose to participate in various activities or relax in a quiet area of the country home. Accommodations include one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seventh-Day Adventist senior living communities offer residential care for seniors who need daily caregiver support, while supporting Seventh-day Adventist practices. These communities generally don’t offer medical services, but residents do get meals (Seventh-Day Adventists often follow a healthy, balanced plant-based diet), daily check-ins and optional linen and laundry service.
Seventh-Day Adventist senior living centers tend to be directly administered by professional facility management providers, who are not necessarily affiliated with the Church. Decision-making authority is held at higher levels of the Church, usually by the local conference.
The care provided by Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living communities goes beyond the secular care offered at similar facilities outside of the Church. Adventist facilities tend to have on-site spiritual activities, prayer groups and worship services.
If you live in a Seventh-Day Adventist community, you can expect clean, safe accommodations, nutritious food and caregiver support for activities of daily living.