As seniors age, if they’re receiving care from an accredited facility, if they’re lucky enough, they’ll find themselves in a community that offers not just the base levels of assisted living, but what the industry terms as assisted living level 3 care.
But understanding level 3 care in assisted living can be tricky.
Why? Because different factors qualify a person for level 3 care — and level 3 care can include specific services and care that other levels of care don’t.
Fortunately, we’re here to help you understand what level 3 care is in assisted living. Village Walk here: our senior care angels culled our resources and created this short guide to understanding level-three care in assisted living.
In this guide, we’ll cover the following topics:
- A nuanced definition of assisted living level 3 care
- The types of people who qualify for level 3 care
- 5 key services involved in level 3 care
- Factors that can affect the cost and quality of level 3 care in an assisted living facility
- What to look for when choosing a community that offers level 3 assisted living care
A list of key assisted living level 3 care services
| 1. Support with activities of daily living (bathing, grooming, incontinence, and more) 2. Mobility support services 3. Medication administration and management services 4. Safety and supervision services 5. Specialty healthcare services for medical issues |
Understanding levels of care in assisted living
To put the levels of care into context, assisted living facilities divide the types of care they offer into different levels based on the amount and type of help that residents need. By dividing care into levels, each resident can receive personalized support without paying for services that don’t meet their lifestyle and healthcare needs.
Assisted living offers five levels of care, with each differing in the amount of support provided to residents. We’ll define and explore what’s involved in one of the key levels of care — level three — in the following sections.
A complete explanation of assisted living level 3 care
“What exactly does level 3 care include?” You might be wondering.
Level 3 care is for residents who need a great deal of help with most if not all activities of daily living (ADLs). At level 3, residents need continuous support and supervision throughout the day.
Many residents who make use of level 3 care in assisted living communities often struggle to do two or more activities of daily living on their own. Multiple caregivers may help residents with everything from medication management to bathing, grooming, eating, and even transferring from one room to another.
Caregivers must also complete most if not all, ADLs for the resident. For example, many residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s need comprehensive care plans that fall under level 3 care in an assisted living community/neighborhood.
These “level 3 care plans,” if you will, address mobility challenges, medication management, and the need for round-the-clock supervision. But not just anyone can qualify for level 3 care.
“What exactly does level 3 care include?” You might be wondering.
Level 3 care is for residents who need a great deal of help with most if not all activities of daily living (ADLs). At level 3, residents need continuous support and supervision throughout the day.
Many residents who make use of level 3 care in assisted living communities often struggle to do two or more activities of daily living on their own. Multiple caregivers may help residents with everything from medication management to bathing, grooming, eating, and even transferring from one room to another.
Caregivers must also complete most if not all, ADLs for the resident. For example, many residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s need comprehensive care plans that fall under level 3 care in an assisted living community/neighborhood.
These “level 3 care plans,” if you will, address mobility challenges, medication management, and the need for round-the-clock supervision. But not just anyone can qualify for level 3 care.
We’ll turn to the topic of who qualifies for level 3 care in the next section.
Who qualifies for level 3 care
As mentioned above, seniors and older adults who need extra support and ongoing supervision qualify for level three care. A strong candidate for level 3 care are:
- Those who need help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting.
- People with significant mobility challenges, or those who need extra help with walking and transferring from one place to another.
- Those who need medication management because of chronic health conditions.
- Individuals who live with cognitive impairments that affect everyday functioning.
- Older adults who are prone to wandering or who need supervision to remain safe and well.
We always recommend checking in with a healthcare provider first to better understand which level of care in an assisted living facility is right for you or your loved one. Taking a professional medical-administered assessment will give you a better idea of which level and type of assisted living services is best for you and your loved one.
5 Types of services involved in level 3 care
The reason level three care is so significant is because of all the levels of assisted living care available, the amount of specialized care and help with daily activities increases at this level.
Let’s take a look at five common services provided in level three care and beyond.
1. Extensive support for activities of daily
In level three care, caregivers provide help with most, if not all ADLs for residents. Bathing and hygiene, dressing and grooming, toileting and incontinence care, & even eating and nutrition are all ADLs that qualified senior caregivers provide in level three care.
2. Motility and transferring from one place to another
Assisted living and memory care residents will also receive support from qualified caregivers with mobility and transfer-related tasks, such as:
- Walking through the facility and moving during lifestyle activities
- Transferring between beds, chairs, and wheelchairs
- Using mobility aids like walkers, canes, and other assistive devices
3. Medication management
For seniors with complex treatment plans that involve specific dosages, schedules, and medication treatments, a specialized senior care team will help with the following:
- Administer medications
- Monitor and report any adverse reactions or side effects to medication
- Coordinate care with a resident’s healthcare, doctor, and/or pharmacist team
4. Round-the-clock supervision for safety
For individuals who live with cognitive decline, impairments, or memory loss, they’ll receive:
- 24/7 supervision to prevent wandering and accidents
- Consistent programming, schedules, and routines to ensure the health and vitality of residents
- Memory-based, science-backed activities that touch on the eight dimensions of health and well-being in mind and body
5. Specialty health care services
Every assisted living community is different. But, most assisted living communities include specialty health care services, such as the ones below, in their community’s offerings:
- Nursing care and on-site nurses for medical care needs
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- 24/7 emergency response protocols and support in case of healthcare emergencies
Factors affecting the cost (and quality) of care
A recent data set found that a private room in an assisted living facility costs about $70,800 annually (Statista.com, 2024). As such, this number is affected by a variety of factors. Factors that can affect the cost and quality of care in an assisted living community include:
- The facility’s location: States with larger populations — like New York, California, and Texas— tend to be more costly than states with smaller population sizes.
- Specific services: Extra services outside of the purview of an assisted living community’s care package tend to incur extra costs.
- Specialty amenities: Certain facilities include extra amenities, such as a hair salon, pub, or entertainment room. With that being said, extra amenities can affect the cost of care.
You can expect that as the level of care increases, the monthly cost of care will increase as well. We always tell our residents and their loved ones to evaluate a facility’s pricing — and any extra fees for add-on services — before making any final decisions.
Some communities will charge on a tier-based system depending on the level of care that’s needed. While in other communities, the community will offer a comprehensive monthly fee, which includes all services.
Village Walk pro tip
Gathering resources to pay for senior living can feel overwhelming, but the process doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have to feel so arduous.
The good news is that we have resources to simplify the process.
Check out our Facebook page, or connect with a team member today to learn more about long-term care planning and how it can help you and your loved one on the journey ahead.
What to look for when choosing a community that offers level 3 care
Every assisted living community is different. If the community offers the five levels of care in assisted living, they likely have resources to help you navigate the ins and outs of planning for the next stage of life’s journey.
With that being said, when choosing a community — especially one that offers different levels of assisted living care — you’ll want to look for a reputable team with:
- Decades of experience
- Experience with the eight dimensions of well-being
- 24/7 supervision and safety support
- Modern amenities and engaging activities for cognitive and physical health
- Varied financial assistance options
At Village Walk, regardless of your healthcare and lifestyle needs, we pride ourselves on delivering the above-mentioned five support options for all our residents. Whether you live in the Patchogue or Suffolk County, NY region or elsewhere, if you ever need help navigating the different care levels in assisted living, you can always reach out to us.
Our dedicated senior concierge team would be happy to help you and your loved ones on the journey ahead. Until then, we wish you all the best in this next exciting chapter of life!
