FAQs

Senior lifestyle and care options vary widely, and the choices can be overwhelming. It’s important to think about what kinds of assistance and/or medical care you or your loved one needs now, and what additional care may be needed in the future. At every Five Star Senior Living community, we can assist you with assessing those needs and finding the right lifestyle and care for you.

Independent living is for seniors who do not need assistance with everyday life, but who want to live a maintenance-free lifestyle in a community with social activities and others like them.

Assisted living is for seniors who can no longer live on their own, but who do not need complex medical supervision—just friendly assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, getting around, or medication reminders.

Skilled health care (also called skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes) is for those who need ongoing medical care and supervision because of medical needs. It is also for anyone who needs short-term concentrated nursing or rehabilitation while recovering from surgery or an illness.

Full service retirement communities, sometimes called continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), offer two or three levels of care services, so seniors who are independent can live there knowing that if they ever need assistance or care due to age or medical needs, it will be available right where they are.

Read more about Five Star's care choices

Retirement and assisted living communities vary greatly depending on:

• levels of care and assistance provided
• amenities offered
• number of residences
• location
• and price

In addition, although Five Star is one of the largest senior living providers in the United States with more than 200 senior communities and skilled care facilities, each Five Star community maintains a distinctive flair and style unique to its location and history.

Five Star Senior Living has communities that offer the full range of care services -- independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, Alzheimer's care, specialty rehabilitation and more. We also have communities that concentrate on just one level of senior living, such as assisted living or specialty Alzheimer's and memory care.

All our communities offer social and recreational activities, but some are located near golf courses, lakes or downtown areas lending those types of activities to their schedule. Others are located in more rural areas and offer a more peaceful, quiet environment.

Take some time to visit several communities before deciding which is the right one for you or your loved one.

Five Star Senior Living has communities that offer the full range of care services -- independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, Alzheimer's care, specialty rehabilitation and more. We also have communities that concentrate on just one level of senior living, such as assisted living or specialty Alzheimer's and memory care.

Find a Five Star Senior Living community that is right for you.

At Five Star, we endeavor to provide a community that has all the comforts of home and just the right amount of help if it’s needed. Residents enjoy our thoughtfully designed apartments, exceptional dining programs, individualized services and lively activities that are tailored to their interests and abilities.

Residents are encouraged to furnish and decorate their apartments with all of the personal touches that make it a home. We listen carefully to resident preferences to understand the needs and desires of residents and their families, with the goal of providing the ideal level of assistance and care. Five Star Assisted Living encourages interaction and social activities among residents while working individually with residents to promote independence.

You should carefully question any Assisted Living provider that tells you a resident can live at the community forever, even if their health care needs increase. The community may be unable to adequately meet the resident's needs for the rest of his or her life, and regulations may limit the community's ability to do so.

Each state in which Five Star operates regulates the level of services we can provide in an Assisted Living community. If a resident develops needs that require services beyond those allowed by state regulations, we will assist the resident and family in finding the best alternative setting to address the resident's needs.

Five Star Quality Care’s Alzheimer’s and memory support program is dedicated to the unique needs of residents with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive conditions. We focus on maximizing each resident’s quality-of-life by understanding and meeting his or her social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs. Our supportive environment promotes resident dignity, control and individuality.

Many Five Star Quality Care communities offer short-term stay programs. Short-term stay customers enjoy the same community amenities, dining programs and customer service as residents. Our short-term stay program is a thoughtful solution when a caregiver is on vacation or needs a temporary break, a loved one requires a little extra attention following a medical procedure, or a caregiver is ill and unable to provide daily assistance. The short-term stay program is also a nice way to experience the lifestyle of a Five Star community.

These expenses are either paid for privately, or through a third-party source such as a long-term care insurance policy, depending on health care requirements. Our community-based managers can help with your financial planning when you visit and can assist you with long-term planning after you move in.

Monthly fees vary by community, location, availability and services selected by the resident. Please call the community in which you are interested and ask for information about its monthly fees.

We understand the importance of a family pet. Most Five Star communities allow residents to have pets in their apartment. There is usually a pet fee. Be sure to check with the Five Star community near you.

Absolutely! Residents are encouraged to furnish and decorate their apartments with all the personal touches that make it a home. Five Star residents and their families enjoy decorating their own apartments, based on their unique personalities.

Many Five Star communities offer the complimentary services of a move-in coordinator, who can help plan your move and arrangements for furnishings.

Many communities have welcome committees and resident councils that play an active role in introducing new residents to the community. Our residents are friendly people and many are likely to approach you when they notice a new face. Communities may also host welcome events for newcomers.

Seats are not assigned. Some residents choose to sit at the same table or with the same friends at dinner.

There are no set visiting hours. It's just like living at home. You and your guests are free to come and go as you please. The only exception is residents in our Alzheimer memory support program, where access is limited for their own protection.