Assisted Living in Louisiana
Since the first claim by Spain in 1541, the colorful state of Louisiana has been governed under 10 different flags. Famous for its lively music and spicy food, this Gulf Coast state provides plenty of activity, along with laid-back bayou charm.
The area’s subtropical climate will keep residents of assisted living in Louisiana cozy warm year round. For examples of what makes Louisiana an exciting retirement destination, visit www.encorelouisiana.com, the state’s official online guide for senior living.
Assisted Living in Louisiana Defined
In the state of Louisiana, a full-service assisted living home is termed an “Adult Residential Care Provider (ARCP).” An ARCP is defined as any agency, whether public or private, that provides residential living units and care services, for compensation, to two or more adults who are unrelated to the facility owner or director.
ARCPs are expected to provide supportive personal services (both scheduled and unscheduled) such as:
- Health-related services
- 24-hour supervision and assistance
- Activities based on a resident’s preferences
- “Aging in Place,” which is defined as “allowing residents to receive necessary support services in response to changing needs and circumstances without having to move from one’s present residence, provided such services are within the parameters of these licensing standards.”
Levels of Assisted Living in Louisiana
There are four different levels of assisted living in Louisiana, each of which is similar, but unique in size, accommodations and/or level of care:
Level 1 – Personal Care Home
This is an Adult Residential Care Home that offers room, board and personal services, for compensation, to not more than eight residents in a congregate living and dining setting.- Level 2 - Shelter Care Home
This Adult Residential Care Home is the same as a Level 1 facility, except that it services nine or more residents. - Level 3 – Assisted Living Facility
This is an Adult Residential Care Home that offers room, board and personal services, for compensation, to two or more residents who reside in individual living units which contain a minimum of one room with a kitchenette and private bathroom. - Level 4 – Adult Residential Care Provider
A more traditional assisted living facility that offers not only room and board, but also services such as:- Medication administration and intermittent nursing
- Assistance with hygiene, dressing and other types of personal care
- Transfers and ambulation
- Housekeeping and laundry
If correctly licensed, an ARCP is permitted to operate an Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit, which must be a separate and distinctive program within the facility which provides specialized services for residents suffering from dementia-related illness.
Cost of Assisted Living in Louisiana
The average cost of assisted living in Louisiana is $2,500 to $3,700 per month. Fees for residency within an Adult Residential Care Provider have been 100% privately paid in the past, but the Department of Health and Hospitals is taking steps to launch a pilot program for Medicaid-supported assisted living in Louisiana. The latest information is available through the state’s Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS).
Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a Louisiana assisted living facility:
| City | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
| Baton Rouge | $1,925 | $4,965 |
| Lafayette | $2,135 | $3,250 |
| Monroe | $2,225 | $3,070 |
| New Orleans/Metairie/Kenner | $2,658 | $5,071 |
| Rest of State | $2,985 | $4,815 |
*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.
Regulation of Assisted Living in Louisiana
In July of 2010, the regulation of assisted living in Louisiana was reassigned from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Health and Hospitals. Currently, most adult living facilities continue to operate under guidelines adopted in 1999, while Adult Residential Care Providers (Level 4) must conform to a newer model of operation that was adopted in 2008.
A revised set of regulations is expected to be finalized and launched by the end of 2011. Currently, a conforming ARCP (Level 4) must provide services that meet the needs of its residents, while protecting their rights and promoting social, physical and mental well-being.
Find Assisted Living in Louisiana
Browse our comprehensive directory to find assisted living in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Kenner, Lafayette, Shreveport and other parts of Louisiana.
*Genworth Financial 2010 Cost of Care: Long Term Care Survey.
Written by senior housing writer Josh Talbot.
