Located in southern Ohio, Cincinnati is one of the state’s largest metropolitan cities. Home to a handful of professional sports teams, excellent live entertainment venues, and historical landmarks, there’s something fun for everyone in this Midwestern city - including premium assisted living. 

Cincinnati is home to a wide variety of senior living communities, including assisted living facilities. Before a community may provide personal care services or housing for retirees, they must receive proper licensing through the state of Ohio. This guide will discuss the Buckeye State’s regulations for assisted living communities and go over ways families can pay for long-term care in Cincinnati. 

Cincinnati Assisted Living

As one of Ohio's largest metropolitan areas, Cincinnati is home to a wide variety of Senior Living options for retiring families. The Ohio Department of Health licenses all assisted living communities in Cincinnati, known as Residential Care Facilities by the state. In Ohio, the term assisted living is used interchangeably with the name Residential Care.

In Ohio, a senior living residence is defined as a residential care facility when it provides accommodations for 17 or more unrelated residents, in personal care services for at least three more. A community may also be defined as a residential care facility if it provides accommodations, personal care services, and supervision for at least three unrelated residents who require the assistance of another person, and provides skilled nursing care to at least one person.

Assisted living communities in Ohio may not admit individuals who are bedridden without the substantial potential for improvement. Bedridden individuals cannot evacuate the facility reliably enough to live there safely, may be denied admission from Residential Care in Cincinnati.

 Medication administration is available at assisted living communities in Cincinnati, provided by staff members who are authorized to do so. The staff members may include Physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or certified medication aides who have had approved Board of Nursing training. If a community provides medication administration, they must have one of the above individuals on duty.

Assisted living communities and residential care facilities in Ohio or not required to provide meals for residents, or they may provide between one and three meals. If a community chooses not to serve meals, all living units must be with facility-maintained food storage units, and appliances to prepare meals, like ovens, microwaves, or other types of cooking tools.

Facilities that serve meals must do so according to the recommended daily allowances set forth by the National Academy of Sciences food and nutrition board. If residents have special dietary needs, their Community must modify their meals accordingly so that they may dine without violating any restrictions.

Assisted living vs. Other Types of Long-Term Care in Cincinnati, Ohio

For some families, assisted living is the right type of long-term care. For others, independent living or nursing homes may be more suitable to Meet a person's daily needs. These types of communities share some similarities but are different in ways that may make an essential difference to retiring individuals.

When a person moves into assisted living, they may be doing so for personal care services. They may need assistance from another person to complete their activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, dressing, or maintaining their hygiene. However, others move into assisted living for the social activities, the maintenance-free living, or the 24-hour peace of mind, and may not require as much as assistance with their daily care needs as others.

Independent Living provides a unique middle ground between living at home and community-based living that offers fewer care options in Assisted Living for largely self-sufficient residents. At an independent living community,  residents may enjoy on-site meals, resort-style amenities, or social opportunities so they can make friends and stay connected. 

However, independent living communities do not provide daily assistance to the same extent as an assisted living community, and may not be suitable for those who need ongoing help with their activities of daily living. Because independent living communities offer fewer personal care services than Assisted Living, they are often more cost-effective options for those who  Want to enjoy the benefits of community-based living.

Nursing homes vary greatly from assisted living communities and independent living residences. Nursing homes are licensed to provide skilled nursing care and are equipped to help residents with ongoing medical needs. If a person has a chronic illness or injury that requires daily help from medical professionals, they may be more suited by a nursing home then a residential care facility or Independent Living Community.

Standard Assisted Living amenities in Cincinnati Ohio

Assisted living communities in residential care facilities in Ohio must provide certain standard personal care services to be licensed by the Ohio Department of Health. These Services include assistance with activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, dressing, or maintaining personal hygiene.

Unlike some states, Ohio does not require assisted living communities to provide Meals On Site. However, many do, and they offer them according to each resident’s individual nutritional needs and in compliance with their special dietary restrictions.

Alongside the services is required by the Department of Health, communities May provide resort-style amenities that let residents live a luxury lifestyle without going far from home. These amenities include unique resources like:

• Living rooms with large televisions and comfortable furniture
• Game rooms or billiard rooms
• Fitness centers
• Art centers
• Business centers with computers and internet access
• Concierge services
• On-campus libraries
• Barbershops or hair salons
• Movie theaters
• Gardens with walking trails
• Swimming pools or jacuzzis
• Spas
• Themed diners

The Ohio Department of Health does not require assisted living communities or Residential Care Facilities to provide social opportunities or events for residence, but it is common practice. Social events very by Community but may include: 

• Birthday parties
• Game nights and friendly competitions
• Arts and crafts sessions, like knitting or painting classes
• Continuing education opportunities, like lectures and classes
• Community gardening
• Group outings to nearby points of interest
• Happy hours and social mixers

Each assisted living community in Cincinnati is unique, and each offers its own unique set of amenities and benefits. It's essential for potential residents to speak with communities about there events at facilities before applying so they can get a clear idea of what it's like to call the residence home.

Assisted living apartments in Cincinnati Ohio

The Ohio Department of Health regulates assisted living residences throughout the state, as it does the services each Community provides. 

Assisted living communities in Cincinnati are not required to provide apartment-style units, however many do. The maximum occupancy for any assisted living arrangements in Ohio is four individuals, and private bathrooms are not required. Communities must provide at least one toilet, sink, and bathtub or shower for every eight residents. If a residence houses individuals of both genders on one floor of the facility, they must provide bathrooms for each gender.

When residential care facilities and assisted living facilities do not provide meals on site, they must provide accommodations for residents to prepare their own, like kitchenettes. A resident unit’s kitchen must have tools available to prepare meals and a facility-maintained food storage device. 

Although not required by the Ohio Department of Health, many assisted living apartments in Cincinnati Ohio come with features like balconies, patios, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, or cable hookups. It's essential for potential Assisted Living residents to tour prospective units before applying to communities so they can see which amenities are included in each unit.

Things to do in Cincinnati Ohio 

Cincinnati is a bustling city with a lot to do. It's one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, it offers nearly Limitless opportunities for fun and entertainment. The city is home to a wide variety of points of interest, including historic landmarks, outdoor adventures, and places that are fun for the whole family.

One of the first places families visit when they come to Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest in the United States, opening in 1875. The only older zoo is the Philadelphia Zoo, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The zoo is home to thousands of animals, and hundreds of unique species providing an exciting, fun adventure for the whole family.

Those who like the Cincinnati Zoo might enjoy a day at the Newport Aquarium, also near in Cincinnati. The Newport Aquarium is actually located in Newport, Kentucky, just minutes away from downtown Cincinnati. The aquarium offers 70 beautifully-designed exhibits and 14 galleries, including five different acrylic tunnels that total over 200 feet in length, providing a truly unique experience of underwater life. More than 20,000 animals are present at the Newport Aquarium, letting guests have an entire day of fun learning about sea life.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is another popular destination, offering more than 67,000 works of art. It's one of the oldest museums in the United States, founded in 1881. It's work spanned more than 6,000 years of human history, making it one of the largest and most elaborate collections of artifacts in the midwestern United States. More than 250,000 people visit the museum each year, making it one of the most popular in the nation. 

Funding assisted living in Cincinnati Ohio

Paying for assisted living can seem challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Families who are paying out-of-pocket may not worry about how they will finance long-term care, but many are concerned about how they will pay their bills on a fixed income. Fortunately, there are several government subsidized programs to help pay for care, and there are ways families can plan ahead of time to offset the costs.

Buying a long-term care insurance policy is frequently one of the best things a family can do to prepare for retirement. It's common for assisted living communities in Cincinnati to accept long-term care insurance, making it a great way to cover the cost. However, it's essential for families who plan to use long-term care insurance to purchase their plan far enough in advance that their monthly premiums don't outweigh the cost of care. 

The closer a person is to retirement age when they purchase a long-term care policy, the more they can expect to pay per month for premiums. By planning ahead, families can save substantial money on a long-term care insurance plan, making it one of the most effective ways to pay for assisted living.

Unfortunately, Medicare will not pay for assisted living. However, if a family qualifies financially for Medicaid benefits, they may be eligible for a home and community-based services waiver to pay for long-term care. In Ohio, the Home and Community Services based waiver is known as the Assisted Living waiver program. It covers a person's room and board expenses at an assisted living community of their choice, as long as they meet the programs Financial eligibility requirements and require a nursing home level of Care.

Additionally, unique benefits are available to Veterans who require the assistance of another person, courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs sponsors and an exclusive program known as Aid & Attendance to help those who served in the United States armed forces pay for long-term care.

 To qualify for the Aid & Attendance program, a person must meet the following criteria: 

• They must have served in the United States Armed Forces during a time of war and not been dishonorably discharged
• They must be eligible for a monthly pension through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Require the aid and assistance from another person to perform their activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, eating, and maintaining their personal hygiene

Families who want to learn more about the Aid & Attendance benefit should contact their VA caseworker for information about their eligibility.