Washington is an excellent choice for senior living for you or a loved one. The pleasant climate, rich history, and diverse cultures of Washington draw visitors from all over the world, making it an attractive retirement destination. There's something for everyone here, with some of the country's main cities as well as plenty of open space.
Independent Living care can be found in more than 30,000 senior living communities across the US. The communities are designed to populate seniors over 65 that cover 15.1% of the total population. On average, residents will need to spend $4,228 for Assisted Living in Washington, which is costlier than the national average of $2,795
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The average Independent Living cost in Washington is $4,228. This is higher than the national average of $2,795.
Residents in active adult communities generally pay with personal income and savings. Medicare, Medicaid, and other long-term care insurance plans may fund Assisted Living and Nursing Homes. They don't cover Independent Senior Living.
You can consult our advisors on how best to finance your Independent Living. You and your loved ones can consider:
Retirement annuities
An annuity is an agreement between you and a financial institution like an insurance company. The deal is to pay you a fixed coupon payment for a given number of years. The coupon payment is based on your initial investment.
An annuity requires you to make a fixed lump sum payment to buy the financial asset. This payment represents your investment. Annuities can take the form of shares, bonds, or investments in mutual funds. Your investment will give you a fixed periodic payment at a coupon rate over an agreed number of years.
Retirement annuities ensure that you receive a steady stream of income after retirement. The earlier ahead of retirement, you buy the retirement annuity, the higher your interest yield. Consult your financial planner to learn about the different retirement annuities available.
Home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC)
Home equity loans or HELOCs allow you to borrow against your current home's value. You can use these borrowings to purchase anything. An example would be an apartment in an Independent Living facility.
The bank gives you this loan as a lump sum. Later, you've to repay it in installments. A home equity loan operates almost like credit card loans. You can spend the loan and repay that sum periodically. Making use of such a loan can be more cost-effective for you than depleting investments and breaking into savings. However, you must assess these terms well.
Also, note that the consequences of defaulting on Home Equity Loans (or HELOCs) can be grave. The implications are more severe than those for defaulting on your minimum payments on a credit card. Defaulting on repayments may lead to the ownership of your primary home against the loan of the home equity.
Bridge loan
Bridge loans are appropriate for those in a rush to move. On top, you haven't received some expected income source like pensions. E.g., there's a pending home sale, and you need to provide the necessary funds immediately.
But remember that bridge loans can be risky. Professional help from a financial planner can help you understand if such a loan would be advisable.
Personal funds
Most seniors and their loved ones prepare for retirement ahead of time with savings, investments, and assets. Many use their income from salaries or savings to pay for their Independent Living community.
Social security benefits and pensions
Elders who've received Social Security benefits can use them to finance their Independent Living costs.
Housing assistance
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides various services to help low-income seniors. They aid in finding affordable living arrangements. Such aids include, e.g., public housing in Independent Living communities, rental assistance, and vouchers. Yet, waiting lists for this option tend to be quite long.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI might cover basic needs like clothes, food, and shelter for seniors aged 65 and older. The requirement is that you've limited assets or a disability. Also, the amount received from SSI depends on your income, living arrangements, and other variables. SSI payments can fund Independent Living if you meet the named conditions.
Every state has some standard in place to ensure quality independent living facilities for seniors. Your job is to get in touch with the manager of the facility and interview needs and expectations. The discussion will result in service plans and residency agreement.
Know your rights
When you are living in Washington, you have certain rights against abuse. You can report any elder abuse or rule breaking at any time. You can make complains to the Washington Department of Licensing. All you have to do is fill up a form. There is also a live complain tracking tool.
Apart from independent living, seniors also have other options. They include: assisted living, memory care, nursing home and home care services. Costs of nursing home can be significantly more than assisted living expenses.
Weather and Climate
Washington falls in the list of lower temperature in the US. The average temperature in the state is 48.3°F. This is lower than the average US temperature of 54.35°F.
The most pleasant time in Washington is July, August and September. Annual rain precipitation of Washington is 38.4 Inches. Washington residents experience 3 days of snowfall annually. Overall, Washington falls on 34th position in terms of weather parameter.
Culture, Language, Religion and Political Views
Washington has a quite a rich American history. The percentage of English speaker in Texas is 86%. The remaining population 13% speak different other languages throughout the state.
The population of Washington is 7,796,941 in total. The state has experienced a population growth of 1.18% with the living cost being higher than the US average.
The majority of the population 12.2 in Washington are Catholic. But this is also lower than the national average 0.58%.
My family and I visited the facility many times before meeting with the Director and the Sales Manager. Both were so helpful in navigating the system and helping us find the right facility to accommodate our mother. We were so grateful for all they did and the time they took to help us find the right facility for my mother. They are very knowledgeable and straightforward. Merrill Gardens would have been the perfect fit for my mom, but without their assistance we wouldn't have been able to find a suitable place.