8 Assisted Living Communities in Orem, Utah

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $2,898 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 8 Assisted Living Communities in Orem and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $2,898
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $6,083
• In-home care: $4,191
• Adult day health services: $1,712

In Orem, the average monthly cost of assisted living care is $2,898, according to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study. This is over $1,000 per month less than the national average and nearly $500 less than the state average. In Utah, no major metropolitan area offers more affordable assisted living care than Orem. Logan is slightly more expensive at $2,950 per month. Other cities, such as Salt Lake City ($3,600) and the Ogden Area ($3,893) are significantly more expensive.

Note: Senior care cost data for Orem was not available. Data for Provo, the closest city, was used.

Seniors in Orem can expect to pay vastly different prices for senior care depending on the type of care they need. At an average of $1,712 per month, adult day health care is over 40 percent less expensive than assisted living care. On the other end of the cost spectrum, nursing home care is more than twice the price of assisted living care. Homemaker services and home health aides are also pricier than assisted living care, at $4191 and $4,576, respectively. In addition, seniors who choose these in-home senior care services have to pay for other costs associated with remaining at home, such as rent and utilities. Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $2,898

• Homemaker services: $4,191

• Home health aide: $4,576

• Adult day health: $1,712

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $6,083

 

Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage to low-income people, including elderly adults, pregnant women, people with disabilities and children. In Utah, a wide variety of health care services are covered by Medicaid. These include hospital visits, nursing home care, personal care, vision care and physical therapy.

Seniors who live in Orem may be able to qualify for Utah Medicaid if they meet certain eligibility requirements. They must be 65 years of age or older, and must also be one of the following: a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal alien or permanent resident. In addition, they must be in need of health care and have an income that’s below the state’s limit for Medicaid eligibility. Single seniors must earn less than $16,146 per year before tax. For couples, the yearly income limit is $21,892 before tax.

The Medicaid Medically Needy program, also known as the spend-down program, may help seniors who have high medical bills and an income that is higher than the Medicaid limit. Seniors who qualify for the program need to “spend down” their income so that it reaches the Medicaid income limit. Seniors can do this by either paying medical bills or paying their excess income to the state of Utah.

To apply for coverage through Utah’s Medicaid program, seniors can apply online through the state’s myCase portal. Seniors who aren’t able to apply online can download an application form from the state’s website. Completed forms can be faxed to the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) at (801) 526-9505 or dropped off at any DWS office in Utah. Seniors can also choose to mail their completed application to the following address:

Department of Workforce Services
P.O. Box 143245
Salt Lake City, UT 84114.

Seniors who have questions about their eligibility for Medicaid or the application process can call (801) 526-0950 to speak to a DWS representative.

The Aging Waver, a Medicaid waiver program, may help eligible seniors pay for their care in assisted living facilities. This program does not pay for room and board costs, but it pays for a variety of personal care services that seniors may receive in assisted living facilities. These services include chore services, homemaker services and personal attendant services.

To be eligible for the Aging Waiver, seniors must be 65 years or older and require the level of care that would be provided in a nursing facility. They must also be financially eligible for Medicaid. This waiver isn’t an entitlement program; it serves a limited number of seniors, and there may be a waiting list to receive services. To apply or learn more, seniors can call the Division of Aging and Adult Services at (801) 538-3910.

Veterans Affairs Aid and Assistance Program

Veterans and survivors who need help paying for their care in assisted living facilities may be able to receive funding from the Veterans Affairs Aid and Assistance Program. Qualified seniors can receive an increased monthly VA pension, and this additional monthly assistance can be used to pay for senior care.

To qualify for assistance through this program, seniors must be eligible to receive a VA pension. In addition, they must require aid from another person to perform some of their daily personal functions, such as eating or bathing. Seniors may also qualify if they are a patient in a nursing home, bedridden or legally blind.

Seniors who are interested in this program can apply in person at the Salt Lake City Regional Benefits Office, located at 550 Foothill Dr. in Salt Lake City. Alternately, they can submit a written request to the St. Paul VA Regional Office at the address below. When applying, seniors are advised to provide copies of evidence that support their need for the pension benefit, such as a report from their doctor.

St. Paul VA Regional Office
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
Attention: St. Paul Pension Center
P.O. Box 5365 
Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Fax: (844) 655-1604

Assisted Living Bridge Loan

Bridge loans, which are offered by Elderlife Financial, may help seniors pay for the costs of assisted living care in the short term. Seniors who are waiting to receive money from the sale of their home, from long-term care insurance or from VA benefits may be good candidates for these short-term loans. Bridge loans are typically structured like a line of credit, and seniors can withdraw money as they need it. The funds are sent directly to the assisted living community where the senior lives.

Seniors who want to apply for a bridge loan can fill out an online application on Elderlife Financial’s website. They can also call (888) 228-4500 to apply over the phone. Seniors must provide information about how they expect to repay the loan.

Orem’s AAA office provides information, support and advocacy to the city’s seniors. Seniors can visit this office for Medicaid counselling, nutrition counseling, legal and other services. Family caregivers can also visit the office to participate in caregiver support groups. Mountainland AAA 
586 E 800 N, Orem, UT 84097
(801) 229-3804

There are many Veterans Affairs resources in the Orem area. Seniors can visit these locations to learn about the benefits and services that are available to them. Orem seniors who require medical care can visit the two clinics in the city or travel to the VA hospital in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Regional Benefit Office 
550 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
(800) 827-1000

Provo Vet Center 
360 S State St, Bldg C Ste 103, Orem, UT 84058
(801) 377-1117

Orem Community Clinic 
1442 W 800 N, Ste 302, Orem, UT 84057
(801) 235-0953

George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 
500 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84148
(801) 582-1565

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