What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living provides each person with just the right amount of care to allow him or her to maintain their independence—all within the comforts of home. Assisted living provides a personalized alternative for seniors who need more assistance in their lives, but do not require the full-time attention associated with costly nursing or home care.

What is Assisted Living Not?
Assisted living is not a nursing home. Our residents tend to be frail, need assistance with medications, meals, ambulation and other activities, but are not chronically ill. Assisted living does not staff nurses around the clock, although higher quality providers usually have a licensed nurse on staff. At the same time, because assisted living is a residential model of care, residents have more choices and control over their living arrangements and activities than in the more institutional nursing home setting. Consulting with your doctor can help you know which level of care is right for you.

Making the Right Choice in Assisted Living...
HarborChase understands how difficult your search can be for a quality Assisted Living Community that fits the needs for you and/or your loved ones. The scorecards below are designed to help you make that search a little easier. Compare communities and see the difference.

Assisted Living Scorecard (PDF)   

You may also visit the following websites for further information regarding assisted living or senior living options.

ALFA (Assisted Living Federation of America)
AARP (the Health & Wellness topic contains issues regarding care giving issues)
Assisted Living Forum

What services and amenities do you provide? 
HarborChase offers residents a variety of floor plan accommodations to meet your needs, including studios and one-bedrooms.  Our residents have access to an extensive array of health care services 24 hours a day, and we can provide access to additional care services, such as Extended Care, Respite, Hospice and Home Health Care.

• Three nutritious meals served daily in the dining room

• Medication Management

• Social, educational and devotional services

• Leisure and recreational activity program

• Local scheduled transportation

• Some utilities (varies by community)

• Housekeeping and personal laundry services

• Maintenance of building and grounds

• Harbor Memory Care program for residents with Alzheimer’s and Dementia

How long can the resident live in your community before having to go to a nursing home?
Our goal is to keep our residents forever. However, some times that isn’t possible. For instance, if a resident has surgery, they may need skilled care for a short time before they move back into our community.

Do you have nurses on staff?
Although assisted living regulations vary from state to state, HarborChase chooses to have licensed personnel, including trained supervisors, certified nurses’ assistants and personal care assistants, in the community 24 hours a day.

Can I live in assisted living if I have a wheelchair, walker or just have difficulty in walking?
Yes. Higher quality assisted living facilities seek to allow residents to remain in the independent assisted living setting as long as possible. Unless you have unusual problems, which should be discussed with the Executive Director, we accept and encourage people who need assistance with ambulation to live with us at HarborChase.

Can you prevent my mother from falling?
Unfortunately not. It is important to be aware that no assisted living facility can prevent resident falls, which are regrettably part of the normal aging process and therefore a natural risk of living. While we staff caregivers 24 hours a day, we cannot and do not provide one-on-one assistance or oversight 24 hours a day. This means that there are times, whether in a resident’s room, bathroom or even in the common areas, when a resident may experience falls.  However, with our Mobile Call System, should a resident experience a fall, help would be moments away.

What are HarborChase’s visiting hours?
When you live at HarborChase, it is no different than living at home—you and your guests are free to come and go as you please. The only exception relates to those residents with memory impairments; their access is limited for their own protection.

Do you have a house physician?
Residents may continue to see their own physicians just as they did before moving into our communities. We arrange for or provide transportation to and from their local doctor with family companion service as needed.

Do I have to give notice if I decide to move out?
Yes, we ask that you give us a 30-day notice, as you would with any living accommodation.

Do I have to sign over my house or sign a lease?
Our communities offer month-to-month leases and accommodate short- term respite stays. There are no hidden costs or large up front fees to pay.

May I bring my own furnishings to my apartment?
Absolutely. This is your home and you should have all the comforts and furnishings to which you are accustomed. HarborChase residents enjoy decorating their own apartments and entrances to add their own unique personality to their homes.