Deb Veit is Episcopal Homes’ Director of Community Relations. Much of her time is spent showing prospective residents and their families around our “continuing care campus” in Saint Paul’s Midway, which offers Independent Living, Catered Living, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care (“nursing home”), Transitional Care (Short-Term Rehab after hospitalization), and Home Care.“In Part 1, I talked about determining what kind of senior living residence might be the best fit for Mom or Dad. Here in Part 2, I’ll answer the questions people ask me most about Independent Living and Assisted Living vs. Catered Living.” 
Q: What is the difference between “Independent Living” and “Catered Living?”
A: In an absolute sense, living in an “Independent Living” senior apartment is exactly like living independently in any house, townhouse, condo, or apartment – you are 100% on your own and responsible for taking care of yourself and your home. If that gets to be too much for you, you have to move to where you can get the help or care you need.
A “Catered Living” apartment is designed to let you age in place. It’s your “forever home.” You can start out living completely independently or with a few supportive services, then add more services as you need them – right up to 24/7 Home Care.
At Episcopal Homes, we will have one Catered Living residence when The Terrace at Iris Park opens this November 1st, and a total of five Independent Living residences: Cornelia House (modest market rate), Seabury (HUD subsidized), and Midway Pointe (HUD subsidized, opening December 1st) on our continuing care campus, plus two HUD subsidized residences off-campus – Carty Heights (University & Lexington) and Kings Crossing (University & Dale).
Q: What is the difference between “Assisted Living” and “Catered Living?”
A: The primary difference is that Assisted Living residences provide a basic package of supportive services that would have to be added a la carte in a Catered Living residence. For prospects who require an Assisted Living level of supportive services, both Assisted Living and Catered Living residences are, in effect, the same. More services can be added as needed in Assisted Living and Catered Living residences.
One thing we’ve noticed is that the majority of prospects who have reserved Catered Living apartments at The Terrace at Iris Park did their own shopping and will be living independently. They wanted to choose their next home instead of having it chosen for them after a major health event. Conversely, the majority of people exploring Assisted Living are shopping on behalf of their parent(s).
Q: What are the cost differences between Independent Living, Catered Living, and Assisted Living?
A: At Episcopal Homes, Independent Living apartments at Cornelia House range from $900-$1,800 per month, Assisted Living apartments at Iris Park Commons range from $2,200-$3,200 per month, and Catered Living apartments at The Terrace at Iris Park will range from $2,300-$3,400 per month. The rental amount is based on apartment size. Home Care services are extra, with residents only paying for the services they need.
The rental costs in our HUD subsidized Independent Living residences (Seabury, Carty Heights, Kings Crossing, and Midway Pointe) are all calculated to be 30% of each resident’s monthly income. To qualify, one’s annual income must not exceed $29,050 ($33,200 for couples).
Next time, we’ll get into more detail about The Terrace at Iris Park, our first Catered Living residence, which will open November 1st of this year. If you’d rather not wait, feel free to call Deb Veit at 651-632-8800or dveit@ehomesmn.org.
Contact us for additional information on Episcopal Homes long term care facilities, memory care, affordable senior living or any questions you may have.
Question: is Episcopal Homes facilities going to continue to be for seniors 65+, OR will you have to take developmentally psychologically handicapped folk who are under 65? Where I am now, does, and it causes some very real problems.