Oasis Senior Advisors
Senior Resources
Free Assistance with Senior Resources
We have worked to research and curate the most helpful resources to leverage in your search for senior care. Whether you’re looking for healthcare services, financial guidance or senior living communities, you can find everything you need here.
Senior Financial Resources
Understanding how to pay for senior care can be overwhelming. We’re here to help you customize a plan to pay for the care you or your loved one needs. Below are a few of our resources that our free Financial Concierges can offer.
Bridge Loans
A bridge loan can provide immediate funds to pay for care if you are awaiting funds from a home sale, VA benefits, insurance claims or more.
VA Benefits
Qualified Veterans and spouses may receive up to $2,727 of additional monthly income. We can help you determine if you’re eligible.
Selling a Home
We can connect you with our vetted network of specialized real estate agents that effectively balance the compassion of selling a family home with maximizing the value of your sale.
Long Term Care Insurance
If you have a LTCi policy, our Financial Concierge team can help you receive the full amount you are entitled to.
Life Insurance
Instead of letting a life insurance policy lapse, learn how to sell it to pay for senior care.
Reverse Mortgages
If at least one person is staying home, a reverse mortgage or HECM could be another option to help pay for senior care.
Personal Loans
Personal loans are a good option for immediate access to additional funds. We can help research your options.
Tax Deductions
Learn about potential tax deductions that may be available when paying for care.
Senior Living Resources
Researching the silver years of life can be confusing. We strive to make it easier for you. We have numerous resources available on our website and at our local and regional branches. Our certified and extensively trained advisors are happy to help. See below for some information to get you started.
Information for Life
Later life transitions can be emotional and stressful for loved ones and families, and preparing for this transition can be overwhelming. Because of this, Oasis Senior Advisors® has partnered with the Society for Certified Senior Advisors® to offer a comprehensive Information For Life™ kit.
Does your loved one or family have the information they need regarding your vital records, information, and important wishes should you become incapacitated? Thinking proactively and using the Information for Life Kit™ provides a roadmap for your trusted agent(s) to have the vital information they need to act, as you have specifically directed if you are unable to do so for yourself. This comprehensive kit provides the guidance, forms and checklists to take you step-by-step to document your personal, health, legal, and financial information, and ensure it is up-to-date.
Once completed, store your Information for Life Kit in a safe and secure location. Be sure to let your family and/or trusted agent(s) know its purpose and use, and where it is stored.
Get our Information for Life Kit
Senior Living 101
Understanding the basics of senior living communities
There are thousands of senior living communities across the country. At Oasis Senior Advisors®, we are proud to offer a free service to seniors and families to help you navigate the many choices. The summaries below provide an introductory overview of the five general categories of communities. It’s important to note that licensing and terminology vary greatly from state to state – connect with your local advisor today, and they will help you understand these details in your area.
Independent Living
- Larger, apartment-like buildings and campuses
- Meal approach varies (none, a la carte, meal plan)
- Light monthly or bi-weekly housekeeping may be included
- Maintenance included
- Amenities vary widely
- Not licensed for care, but may offer a 3rd party on-site home care partner
Independent Living communities tend to be larger apartment-type buildings or complexes where seniors live on their own, with little to no assistance required. Types of communities include senior apartment buildings, retirement communities, campuses, etc. Apartments range from studio to 2-3 bedrooms in size, in some cases casitas, patio homes and/or full-sized homes. Amenities range from simple proximity to services to a wide range of activities, transportation, dining options and more.
Independent Living is an appropriate setting for seniors who are capable of living on their own and need little to no assistance with activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, etc), but who would like access to some amenities such as activities and light housekeeping.
Independent Living communities are not licensed by the state, and therefore do not provide care. Some have on-site “home care partners” that residents can contract with individually for some assistance. A key consideration in choosing an Independent Living Community is short and long-term projections for health and support needs, and willingness to move again in the future if care needs change.
How We Help
Oasis Senior Advisors® specializes in asking questions to help you determine if Independent Living is the right choice for you. We have extensive knowledge of local communities – what amenities they offer, price ranges, and whether or not they have “home care partners” on site. We work with you to understand your needs and preferences and provide you with personalized recommendations that meet those needs. We are with you every step of the way, setting up tours, and touring communities with you to ensure your questions get answered.
Assisted Living
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
- Residential homes of 3-5 residents to large apartment-like complexes
- Meals & housekeeping included with base rent
- Maintenance included
- Amenities vary widely
- Licensed for specific level of care (varies by state), including medication management
- Medicaid acceptance varies by state and by community
Assisted living communities offer a home-like, residential atmosphere that balances independence and levels of care. They range in size from large buildings or complexes where residents live in apartments (studio to 2 bedrooms in size, with full or partial kitchens) to small residential care homes where a few residents share a common living room and dining area.
Assisted living is an appropriate setting for seniors who need or want assistance with various daily activities ranging from cooking, housekeeping and laundry to getting dressed, or using the bathroom in the middle of the night, or for someone who simply would like the peace of mind of having assistance nearby if it’s needed.
All assisted living communities are licensed by the state, and their license determines the level of care the community can provide. Assisted living communities offer a wide variety of amenities that differ with every community. Amenities may include a library, pool, pool table, theater, chapel, fitness room, happy hour, and the list goes on.
How We Help
At Oasis Senior Advisors®, we know state licensing requirements, and we have extensive knowledge of local communities – what amenities they offer, price ranges, and care levels. We know if the state approves Medicaid in Assisted Living, and if so which communities are contracted with Medicaid or a transition to Medicaid after a period of stay. We work with you to understand your needs and preferences and provide you with personalized recommendations that meet those needs. We are with you every step of the way, setting up tours, and touring communities with you to ensure your questions get answered.
Memory Care
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
- Range of sizes, residents live in private or shared rooms
- Secure setting (to address wandering)
- Meals & Housekeeping included with base rent
- Maintenance included
- Often staff is trained specifically to care for residents with dementia
- Licensed for specific level of care (varies by state), including medication management
- Medicaid acceptance varies by state and by community
Memory Care communities offer a home-like, residential atmosphere that provides assistance with all day-to-day activities while promoting independence. While similar to Assisted Living Communities, most often the staff is specifically trained to understand the challenges associated with diseases related to memory loss. Many offer specific programming developed around dementia. Residents share communal living rooms and dining areas, in a setting that provides security from wandering. Communities range in configuration from a single larger building, to a group of cottages on an enclosed campus, to a small residential care home with only a few residents.
A Memory Care Community is an appropriate setting for seniors who are experiencing things such as accidents as a result of stoves or faucets being left on, wandering or being lost even in familiar settings, or it is unknown how they will react in emergency situations.
All Memory Care communities are licensed by the state. Memory Care communities offer a variety of approaches – some have seniors live in a small setting with others at approximately the same cognitive level, and others integrate cognitive levels. Depending on the state, some, not all, Memory Care Communities are contracted with state Medicaid services for seniors who qualify both financially and with care needs.
How We Help
Skilled Nursing Homes
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
- Residents live in private or shared rooms
- Highest level of clinical care
- Meals & Housekeeping included with base rent
- Maintenance included
- Licensed by the state for care, including medication management
- Medicaid acceptance varies by community
Skilled nursing homes are commonly known as “nursing homes” or skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). They provide the highest level of clinical care, similar to a hospital or rehabilitation facility. Due to the care levels offered, Skilled Nursing home settings are often more “hospital-like”.
This type of community is an appropriate setting for seniors who have very high levels of clinical care needs.
Some Skilled Nursing Facilities focus primarily on short, rehabilitation stays, while others offer long-term care. Key when considering Skilled Nursing Homes for long-term care is understanding the amenities and activities offered, as these can vary greatly from Nursing Home to Nursing Home. Many are contracted with state Medicaid services for seniors who qualify both financially and with care needs.
How We Help
At Oasis Senior Advisors®, we understand the state licensing and care levels and can help you navigate communities in your area so that you can determine if a Skilled Nursing Home is an appropriate choice. In many states, it’s possible to find Assisted Living Communities with higher care/acuity levels, that may be an alternative to a more sterile Skilled Nursing Facility. When you turn to our dedicated team for assistance, we will help identify appropriate options and so that you can determine the perfect care solution for your loved one and your family as a whole.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
- Residents live on a campus and move to the appropriate, licensed building as the care needs change
- Assistance with ADLs, medication management, clinical in those building licensed for that care
- Meals & Housekeeping included dependent on building
- Maintenance included
- Licensed by state (specific buildings)
- Medicaid may be accepted in some SNF buildings, but this is not common
How We Help
Get more information about Senior Living
What to Expect from Oasis
FREE, personalized navigation of the senior resources you need
At Oasis Senior Advisors®, we help you make the most informed decision possible when the time comes for senior housing or finding senior resources. Every location has a Certified Senior Advisor®, and our teams are happy to answer any questions you may have throughout the process. We offer compassionate, one-on-one guidance, in person or virtually. When you work with us, you can expect a personalized experience walking through the following five-step approach:
- Conduct a No-Obligation Consultation: We begin with a no-obligation consultation to get to know each other. By the end of this consultation, you’ll know what to expect from Oasis and how we can help you and your loved ones. Our 5 step process is always free for our families.
- Understand your needs and preferences: We work with you to understand your lifestyle preferences, care needs, desired location and financial considerations. We then support you to understand your options aiding you to make the best decision for your family.
- Determine funding options: Prices vary widely from community to community. We support you by providing you with accurate information and help you assess funding options, such as the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit, selling a senior home, Long Term Care benefits, reverse mortgages, bridge loans and other alternatives.
- Provide a personalized list of options and resources: Our senior advisors have in-depth knowledge of the communities and resources available in your area. Using our proprietary OasisIQ Software and our detailed local knowledge, we identify a personalized list of appropriate living options and resources. We only share information about you/your loved one with specific permission.
- Schedule community tours and provide support: When you are ready to tour the communities, our advisors schedule the tour and attend them with you. . Our goal is to ensure you receive and understand the information you need to establish a plan for you or your loved one. If you decide you like a community, we will continue to help you through the entire transition process. Our teams can help coordinate finding moving services and home sale preparation.
We’ve been through this, just like you’re going through now. It wasn’t easy. That’s why we created Oasis Senior Advisors. Our mission is to simplify the process, research and guidance, free of cost, so you feel confident in your decisions for yourself or a loved one.