4 Assisted Living Communities in Flowery Branch, Georgia

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,500 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 4 Assisted Living Communities in Flowery Branch and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Flowery Branch, GA

• Assisted Living: $3,500
• Nursing Home Care: $6,220
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,257

Seniors in Flowery Branch pay an average of $3,500 per month for assisted living care, Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study reveals. This is relatively expensive compared to the Georgia average of $3,100. However, it’s $500 less per month than the national average ($4,000).

Other cities in North Georgia, including Atlanta ($3,390), Athens ($3,350) and Rome ($3,200), are slightly more affordable than Flowery Branch. In Albany, seniors pay significantly less: only $2,320 per month. Due to the wide variation in assisted living prices in the state, budget-conscious seniors may consider relocating.

Note: Senior care cost data is not available for Flowery Branch. Data for the closest major metropolitan area, Gainesville, has been used in its place.

Seniors who require long-term care in Flowery Branch have several options to choose from at different cost points. At $1,257 per month, adult day health services are the lowest cost option. Assisted living is more than twice as expensive, though unlike adult day health services, it offers 24/7 care. The most costly option is nursing home care ($6,220) since it provides services for seniors with extensive needs. Homemaker and home health aide services that help seniors live in their own homes cost $4,004 and $4,195, respectively. Seniors should remember that these monthly amounts only include the cost of care. They’d still need to account for regular housing expenses, such as rent, maintenance, meals and utilities, which are typically including in the cost of assisted living facilities. 

 

Medicaid is a health insurance program that’s jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It provides eligible, low-income people with necessary medical services, such as doctor visits, hospital care, medical equipment, lab tests and home health care. Medicaid may also help provide seniors with long-term care services through the waiver programs described below.

In Georgia, there are strict financial requirements for Medicaid eligibility. One-person households can have a maximum annual income of $30,850. Two-person households can earn up to $41,768 annually. The state also limits a Medicaid applicant’s assets. Some assets aren’t counted, such as a primary residence, household belongings and one vehicle. Single seniors are allowed $2,000 in assets and couples are allowed $3,000.

To apply for Medicaid, visit the Georgia Gateway website. Applications can also be submitted in person at any County Division of Family and Children Services or Social Security Administration office. Seniors who need help applying can call (800) 436-7442.

Community Care Services Program Waiver

The Community Care Services program offers a Medicaid waiver that may help seniors stay in the community instead of moving to a nursing home. Program care coordinators develop a plan for each waiver participant and monitor the services they receive. The program may pay for the care seniors receive in licensed assisted living facilities. Other services provided by the program include adult day health, personal support and emergency response services.

To be eligible to receive services through this waiver, seniors must have a verified need for nursing home care and want to live elsewhere. Seniors also need to meet Medicaid’s financial requirements. Qualified individuals are prioritized based on need, so there may be a wait for coverage.

To request CCSP services, call the Georgia Mountains Area Agency on Aging at (770) 538-2650. 

Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment Waiver

SOURCE is another Medicaid waiver program available to seniors seeking assisted living care. After a comprehensive assessment, qualified seniors receive an individual care plan that includes primary medical and long-term care services. Program participants are given 24-hour access to their case manager and primary care doctor. Depending on their assessed needs, seniors may also receive assisted living services, personal support services or extended home health care. 

To qualify for the SOURCE waiver, individuals must be Medicaid-eligible and need the level of care provided in a nursing home. To learn more or apply, seniors can contact Georgia’s Home and Community-Based Services at (866) 552-4464. 

Optional State Supplementation

Georgia’s Optional State Supplementation program may provide monthly cash benefits to low-income seniors who live in assisted living facilities. The OSS is designed as a top up to the federal Supplemental Security Income program. Single seniors can receive a maximum of $20 per month to use towards their room-and-board costs, while couples can receive up to $40.

Seniors may be eligible if they are SSI recipients who live in a long-term care facility. To apply, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Bridge Loan for Assisted Living

A bridge loan can provide short-term funding for assisted living costs. The loan must be repaid in full within 18 months, which can allow seniors time to access the proceeds from the sale of a home or for benefits to be processed and approved. 

These loans are often taken out as a line of credit, but lump-sum disbursements are available. The borrowed funds can be sent directly to a senior’s assisted living community. Applications can have up to six borrowers, and the expected source of long-term funding must be provided. 

Seniors interested in a bridge loan can call Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500 to learn more. Applications can be made over the phone or by completing Elderlife’s online application form.

Eligible veterans may visit Flowery Branch’s VA clinic for primary care, mental health care, substance abuse aftercare and other basic medical services. Veterans can travel to the Vet Center located in Atlanta to receive needed counseling. Atlanta’s Regional VA Benefit Office can help connect senior veterans with benefits they’ve earned through their service.

Oakwood VA Clinic 
4175 Tanners Creek Dr., Flowery Branch, GA 30542
(404) 728-8210

Atlanta Vet Center 
1800 Phoenix Blvd., Bldg 400, Ste 404, College Park, GA 30349
(404) 417-5414

VA Atlanta Regional Benefit Office 
1700 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, GA 30033
(800) 827-1000

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.