10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Gettysburg, PA

Assisted Living in Gettysburg, PA

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is one of many forms of long-term care options for seniors. Unlike nursing home care, senior living does not entail 24-hour skilled nursing care. Rather, the staff of these communities are available to help residents with everyday tasks as they need it. Everyday tasks may include dressing, bathing, cooking, shopping, housekeeping and transportation. Many senior living communities offer onsite activities such as gardening, cooking and art classes, as well as exercise programs and even continuing education courses. Most communities have a high-class dining room on site at which residents eat each meal.

What Services Are Available?

The services offered at each assisted living community vary greatly and are dependent upon several factors. The monthly fee, location and type of care provided all play a role in the services menu. Bearing that in mind, know that certain services are standard. Below are just a few services and amenities you may expect your loved one’s future home to provide:

• Grocery shopping assistance
• Complimentary transportation
• Live musical entertainment and events
• On- and offsite activities
• Onsite beauty salon
• Visiting physical therapists and health professionalls
• 24/7 security
• Indoor and outdoor common areas

It is also common for communities to host family BBQs, birthday parties and other events for residents and their families to enjoy.

What Is Senior Living Like in Gettysburg, PA?

Gettysburg is best known for being the turning point of the Civil War and is home to the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Museum and the Gettysburg National Cemetery. These are all sites visitors flock to the area to see and certainly sites worth exploring. However, Gettysburg has so much more to offer than American history.

Gettysburg hosts a number of apple festivals during the fall, including the National Apple Harvest Festival and Pippinfest, both of which feature everything from apple cider to 5K runs to apple-pie eating contests. Throughout the fall, residents are encouraged to visit local farms to pick apples, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, pumpkins and more.

Gettysburg also features a robust winery, brewery and distillery scene, all of which make great day trips for when the kids and grandkids visit. The Utz Potato Chip factory hosts daily tours, and every year in July, the town hosts an “old ball game,” which is baseball played using the rules and customs from the nineteenth century.

Recreational activities aside, Pennsylvania is a great place to retire for tax purposes. The state exempts all income from retirement accounts and Social Security, as well as earnings from pension for seniors 60 years of age or older. Though Pennsylvania property taxes are a bit higher than the national average, its sales tax rate is among the lowest in the country.

What Are the Signs It’s Time for Assisted Living?

It’s normal for family members to second-guess their decision to transition an elderly loved one into an assisted living community, which is why many put off the move until a major defining moment occurs. That defining moment typically involves wandering, an injury or drastic memory loss. Ideally, you should make the transition sooner rather than later, as doing so can prevent unnecessary stress and possibly accidents. You will know it is time to move your loved one into a senior living community if you notice any of the recurring signs:

• Escalating Needs: When your loved one’s needs surpass your capabilities, it may be time to make the transition from independent living to senior living. Everyone’s capabilities are different, so just ask yourself, are you able to maintain the current level of care day in and day out? If the answer is no, it may be time to make the move.
• Caregiver Stress: It’s natural to feel some amount of stress when it comes to caring for your aging parent or grandparent, but when that stress starts to pervade every aspect of your life, it may be time to consider long-term care. Caregiver stress may present itself in the form of avoidance, hyper-vigilance, anxiety, intrusive thoughts and more.
• Safety Concerns: Sundowning, wandering and home safety issues are all things you will have to worry about when your loved one grows older. However, these shouldn’t be issues that keep you up at night. If you find yourself constantly on edge because you’re unsure of whether your elderly family member is safe or where he or she is supposed to be, it may be time to look into assisted living.

It’s natural to feel guilty about being unable to meet your loved one’s growing needs, but don’t. If you can’t shake the feeling that you’re making an impulsive decision, discuss your concerns with your A Place For Mom advisor. He or she can help you feel comfortable with your decision by guiding your toward a community where your loved one can thrive in older age.

How Much Does Senior Living Cost in Gettysburg, PA?

The average cost of senior living in Gettysburg, PA, is $4,045. This is slightly more than the state average of $3,934. Though this number may give you sticker shock at first, know that it is typically all-inclusive and covers everything from room and board to meals to services and amenities. Also know that there are dozens of communities in the surrounding towns that may offer high-quality care for a significantly lower price. Because of this, it is important that you do your research and shop around before making a final decision.

How Can I Pay for Assisted Living?

For many families, cost is the greatest obstacle to assisted living. If you’re worried about how you will foot the bill of senior living month after month, discuss your concerns with your A Place For Mom Advisor. Also, discuss the following financing methods with other members of your family:

• Income and Savings: For many families, personal income is the number one source of financing for assisted living. If you are unable to fully cover the expenses with your monthly income, you may want to consider dipping into your savings.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance is a viable option for those who plan ahead. While you can still invest in long-term care insurance when your loved one is older, know that the premiums will be more expensive the longer you wait. Long-term care insurance can help bridge the gap between your other financing options.
• Veterans’ Benefits: If your elderly parent is a former member of the armed forces, he or she may be privy to veterans’ retirement benefits, which often include long-term care. Reach out the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more about the types of benefits to which your loved one has access.
• Life Insurance: Most people are unaware of this, but you can sell your life insurance policy for a cash settlement. The person or company who buys the policy makes a single payment and then assumes the responsibility of paying the policy premium. When your loved one passes away, the person or entity who purchased the policy receives the benefits. In the meantime, you can use the settlement to help cover the cost of long-term care.
• Reverse Mortgage: When you pull out a reverse mortgage, you borrow against the equity in your home. When you sell the home, you pay back the loan with the proceeds. If your loved one owns his or her own home, discuss the possibility of pulling out a reverse mortgage. However, know that if you fail to repay the loan, the home goes to the bank.

Medicare does not pay for long-term care of any kind. Medicare only covers the cost of nursing home care after a hospitalization and hospice care that has been recommended by a medical doctor. It also covers short rehab stays and in-home therapy.

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Gettysburg, PA

Pennsylvania, like most other states, strives to maintain a high level of transparency when it comes to information regarding assisted living communities. In fact, the state’s standards are so high that it earned an “Exceptional” rating in terms of transparency.

How To Access Records:

• Pennsylvania maintains a comprehensive database that includes inspection and compliance reports that date as far back as five years.
• The records within the database are highly detailed and include information regarding everything from capacity to payment types of previous fines and violations.
• Pennsylvania requires inspections to occur on a fairly frequent basis — every 24 months.

Tips for Families:

1. You can find information and records about providers through the Human Services Provider Directory.
2. You can search for records and reports by county, region, zip code or community name.
3. From the results page, navigate to “Inspection Summary.” You will be redirected to the most recent inspection results and given links to results from prior inspections.

How Do I Pick the Right Assisted Living community?

The best way to select the best fit for your aging loved one, your family and your budget is to work with an A Place for Mom advisor. Our team members have the knowledge and resources necessary to guide you toward the best community for your loved one and his or her needs. We are prepared to do the research, schedule tours and prepare a list of interview questions on your behalf, and to address your most pressing questions. To learn more about how our advisors are prepared to help you, reach out to our team to schedule your free consultation today.