Mississippi Assisted Living
Mississippi is ideal for older adults to retire due to its mild winters, low cost of living, miles of coastline, iconic music, and convenient access to outdoor activities and cultural attractions. The Magnolia State also has a low violent crime rate, which may be comforting to active adults who enjoy being out and about. In addition, Mississippi doesn’t tax any form of retirement income, including Social Security benefits, IRA earnings, income from a 401k, or pension. The state also has relatively low property taxes and moderate sales taxes. The added savings may make it easier for older adults to pay for assisted living costs.
Suppose you're looking for an assisted living community in Mississippi. In that case, the following information provides an overview of the available options, their costs, and how the state regulates long-term care communities.
The typical resident population in Mississippi's assisted living communities is 75% female. Overall, 83% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 34% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 49% ages 85 and older.
Situated along the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi stretches across coastal beach towns, industrial centers, rolling hills, lush prairies, river lowlands, flat plains, and pine woods. With all this diversity, you're bound to find senior housing options that meet your specific needs in an attractive neighborhood.
The Mississippi Department of Health licenses two types of personal care homes. Residential living communities are not permitted to admit or retain residents who can not ambulate on their own, while assisted living facilities (ALFs) can admit them.
The ALF personal care home is licensed to operate 24 hours a day, accepting residents who require personal care and supplemental services that include (but are not limited to) the provision of medical services like medication administration and emergency response services.
Residential living personal care homes are licensed to operate 24 hours a day, accepting individuals who require personal care services or, due to functional limitations, may require mental health services to compensate for limited abilities in activities of daily living (ADLs).
Adult foster care (AFC) homes are for vulnerable adults who are unable to live independently due to some physical, emotional, developmental, or mental impairment. These facilities also admit individuals needing emergency or continued protective social services to prevent neglect or abuse.
Resident agreements between the facility and the residents must contain all key information regarding the relationship. The agreement must include the basic charges for all services agreed upon, the period that the charges cover, all services that will incur additional fees, and the refund policy for payments that are made in advance.
ALFs are only permitted to admit and retain residents whose needs can be met by the facility. A typical resident is an ambulatory older adult who requires personal care, non-medical and medical services, medication assistance, and home health services as prescribed by a physician. No more than 10% of the residents can require assistance during any staff shift.
A person cannot be admitted or retained if they require physical restraints, pose a threat to themself or others, or requires significant medical treatment, including tracheotomy suctioning, gastric feedings, and in-dwelling urinary catheter, to name a few. Personal care homes have the same criteria as ALFs, with the exception that residents must be ambulatory to be admitted or retained in a PCH.
Personal care homes assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), laundry, social activities, and social services as needed. Dementia care units must provide daily therapeutic activities that are focused on self-care, domestic skills, life skills, leisure, meals, and creative and physically active pursuits.
A physician or nurse practitioner must examine all prospective residents within 30 days before admission. The examination aims to determine the appropriateness of admission to the facility. A follow-up exam is required annually.
Facilities must provide residents with three meals a day that meet the nutritional, social, and therapeutic needs of the residents. A licensed dietitian who visits the facility at least every thirty days must plan all special diets.
Each facility must have a full-time operator responsible for the facility's management. They must designate an employee as the person in charge when they are not in the facility. Direct care staff provides personal care assistance. A licensed nurse must be on the premises eight hours a day to administer medications to residents.
The following staff ratios must be maintained. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at least one employee per 15 or fewer residents must be present, and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., at least one employee for every 25 residents must be present.
Private apartment units are not required in Mississippi. As many as four residents can share a room. Separate toilets and bathing facilities are required on each floor for each gender. There must be one bathtub or shower provided for every 12 residents or fractions thereof for each gender, and there must be one sink and toilet for every six residents or fractions thereof.
There are several requirements that each assisted living community must provide for its residents. The facility must offer both general observations and health supervision to assist in identifying each resident's health condition and ability to function. The facility must assist residents with all ADLs and medication services and assess the need for medication attention or nursing services.
In Mississippi, ALFs must provide care and services in the resident’s care plan. This can include coordinating medical care and appointments. Communities may also deliver health services, with 67% of communities providing skilled nursing. Many have health care specialists and on-site services, with 42% of communities offering dental care. In addition, 56% of ALFs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In Mississippi, 42% of communities conduct depression screenings, and 57% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 62% of ALFs. Social workers can provide counseling, conduct assessments, and help ensure residents can access all the resources they need.
Some assisted living residents live with various medical conditions. In Mississippi, 42% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 62% have high blood pressure, 36% have heart disease, 34% have depression, and 15% have diabetes.
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health's Office of Consumer Support offers a variety of behavioral health programs and services to help Mississippians improve their mental health. The Administration for Community Living provides programs and resources to help older adults maintain their health and well-being. Resources to Recovery maintains a mental health resources directory of family-endorsed providers that can help with mental health issues.
ALFs define medication administration as the decisions regarding medication are made by someone other than the person taking/receiving the medication. Only licensed nurses may administer medications to those residents that do not self-administer.
Medication assistance is a means of delivering medication that is not defined as administration. Assistance includes the act of handing an oral prescription medication to the resident along with liquids to assist the resident in swallowing the medication, for example.
Residential care facilities define medication assistance similarly to ALFs. These facilities are not permitted to use Schedule 1 drugs, or intramuscular, subcutaneous, IV, or injectable medications, with the exception of insulin and vitamin B-12. Injections must be self-administered or administered by a licensed nurse.
A primary assisted living service that benefits residents is receiving help with activities of daily living (ADLs). These are fundamental tasks that a person must do regularly to sustain life and general health, including toileting, bathing or showering, dressing, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), ambulating (walking), and eating. Signs that a person may benefit from living in assisted living include increased isolation, loss of mobility, noticeable weight loss or gain, and/or neglect of household chores.
Residents in Mississippi’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In Mississippi, 13% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (20%), toileting (31%), and walking (51%). Caregivers in ALFs help 46% of residents dress, and 59% need help bathing.
The average cost of assisted living care in Mississippi is $3,500. This cost is $1000 lower than the monthly national average of $4,500 per month. The cost of living in Mississippi is less than the national average by 16.7%, with health care costs less than the national average by 5.3% and housing costs less than the national average by 33.7%.
The level of care a person requires impacts the cost of care, as does where you live. The cost of assisted living ranges from a low of $3,800 in the Gulfport area to a high of $4,350 per month in the Jackson area of Mississippi.
Suppose you live close to one of Mississippi’s borders. In that case, it may be difficult to find less expensive assisted living in a neighboring state, as Mississippi has one of the lowest average costs in the nation. Alabama has essentially the same average monthly cost as is found in Mississippi at $3,503 per month. The other neighboring states all have higher average monthly costs. Arkansas averages $3,760, Louisiana averages $3,748, and Tennessee averages $4,105 monthly.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
The Division of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification oversees assisted living communities in Mississippi. The state also has a long-term care ombudsman that investigates and tries to resolve complaints regarding assisted living communities and advocates for long-term care residents to ensure a higher quality of life and care. Contact the Mississippi State Department of Health if you need help accessing medical or social services.
Under Section 43-11-13 of the Mississippi Code 1972, assisted living communities must be licensed and meet certain safety and quality standards. For example, all communities must have an emergency operations plan and comply with local building, fire, and zoning ordinances. The Health Facilities Licensure and Certification Division of the Mississippi Department of Health conducts on-site inspections and investigates complaints.
The Health Facilities Licensure and Certification Division requires newly hired employees to pass a criminal history record check for added safety and high-quality care. They must also verify that they aren't listed on the Mississippi Nurses Aide Abuse Registry. All administrators must complete a minimum of two concurrent days of training with the licensing agency before they can begin their duties. Every 90 days, direct care staff must finish ongoing training related to their specific duties.
The term "elder law" is often associated with estate planning, trusts, and help to obtain benefits through Medicare or Medicaid. Unfortunately, the field has grown to include cases involving elder abuse, elder neglect, and exploitation. Skilled attorneys can help older adults affected by these issues.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, offers legal assistance and advocacy services to assist and protect older adults’ rights and benefits. Services include referrals, legal advice, consultations, and/or representation.
Free Legal Answers is a website that provides available resources in Mississippi to help older adults find legal help and information on various legal issues.
Suppose you're looking for an assisted living community in Mississippi. In that case, the following information provides an overview of the available options, their costs, and how the state regulates long-term care communities.
The typical resident population in Mississippi's assisted living communities is 75% female. Overall, 83% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 34% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 49% ages 85 and older.
Mississippi Assisted Living: Types Of Senior Housing Options
Situated along the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi stretches across coastal beach towns, industrial centers, rolling hills, lush prairies, river lowlands, flat plains, and pine woods. With all this diversity, you're bound to find senior housing options that meet your specific needs in an attractive neighborhood.
Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Definitions
The Mississippi Department of Health licenses two types of personal care homes. Residential living communities are not permitted to admit or retain residents who can not ambulate on their own, while assisted living facilities (ALFs) can admit them.
The ALF personal care home is licensed to operate 24 hours a day, accepting residents who require personal care and supplemental services that include (but are not limited to) the provision of medical services like medication administration and emergency response services.
Residential living personal care homes are licensed to operate 24 hours a day, accepting individuals who require personal care services or, due to functional limitations, may require mental health services to compensate for limited abilities in activities of daily living (ADLs).
Adult foster care (AFC) homes are for vulnerable adults who are unable to live independently due to some physical, emotional, developmental, or mental impairment. These facilities also admit individuals needing emergency or continued protective social services to prevent neglect or abuse.
Resident Agreements and Disclosures
Resident agreements between the facility and the residents must contain all key information regarding the relationship. The agreement must include the basic charges for all services agreed upon, the period that the charges cover, all services that will incur additional fees, and the refund policy for payments that are made in advance.
Assisted Living Admission and Retention
ALFs are only permitted to admit and retain residents whose needs can be met by the facility. A typical resident is an ambulatory older adult who requires personal care, non-medical and medical services, medication assistance, and home health services as prescribed by a physician. No more than 10% of the residents can require assistance during any staff shift.
A person cannot be admitted or retained if they require physical restraints, pose a threat to themself or others, or requires significant medical treatment, including tracheotomy suctioning, gastric feedings, and in-dwelling urinary catheter, to name a few. Personal care homes have the same criteria as ALFs, with the exception that residents must be ambulatory to be admitted or retained in a PCH.
Assisted Living Services and Service Planning
Personal care homes assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), laundry, social activities, and social services as needed. Dementia care units must provide daily therapeutic activities that are focused on self-care, domestic skills, life skills, leisure, meals, and creative and physically active pursuits.
A physician or nurse practitioner must examine all prospective residents within 30 days before admission. The examination aims to determine the appropriateness of admission to the facility. A follow-up exam is required annually.
Assisted Living Food and Dietary Provisions
Facilities must provide residents with three meals a day that meet the nutritional, social, and therapeutic needs of the residents. A licensed dietitian who visits the facility at least every thirty days must plan all special diets.
Assisted Living Staffing Requirements
Each facility must have a full-time operator responsible for the facility's management. They must designate an employee as the person in charge when they are not in the facility. Direct care staff provides personal care assistance. A licensed nurse must be on the premises eight hours a day to administer medications to residents.
The following staff ratios must be maintained. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at least one employee per 15 or fewer residents must be present, and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., at least one employee for every 25 residents must be present.
Assisted Living Housing Requirements
Private apartment units are not required in Mississippi. As many as four residents can share a room. Separate toilets and bathing facilities are required on each floor for each gender. There must be one bathtub or shower provided for every 12 residents or fractions thereof for each gender, and there must be one sink and toilet for every six residents or fractions thereof.
What Is Included With Assisted Living Care In Mississippi?
There are several requirements that each assisted living community must provide for its residents. The facility must offer both general observations and health supervision to assist in identifying each resident's health condition and ability to function. The facility must assist residents with all ADLs and medication services and assess the need for medication attention or nursing services.
Health Care Services
In Mississippi, ALFs must provide care and services in the resident’s care plan. This can include coordinating medical care and appointments. Communities may also deliver health services, with 67% of communities providing skilled nursing. Many have health care specialists and on-site services, with 42% of communities offering dental care. In addition, 56% of ALFs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In Mississippi, 42% of communities conduct depression screenings, and 57% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 62% of ALFs. Social workers can provide counseling, conduct assessments, and help ensure residents can access all the resources they need.
Some assisted living residents live with various medical conditions. In Mississippi, 42% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 62% have high blood pressure, 36% have heart disease, 34% have depression, and 15% have diabetes.
State Mental Health Resources
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health's Office of Consumer Support offers a variety of behavioral health programs and services to help Mississippians improve their mental health. The Administration for Community Living provides programs and resources to help older adults maintain their health and well-being. Resources to Recovery maintains a mental health resources directory of family-endorsed providers that can help with mental health issues.
Medication Provisions
ALFs define medication administration as the decisions regarding medication are made by someone other than the person taking/receiving the medication. Only licensed nurses may administer medications to those residents that do not self-administer.
Medication assistance is a means of delivering medication that is not defined as administration. Assistance includes the act of handing an oral prescription medication to the resident along with liquids to assist the resident in swallowing the medication, for example.
Residential care facilities define medication assistance similarly to ALFs. These facilities are not permitted to use Schedule 1 drugs, or intramuscular, subcutaneous, IV, or injectable medications, with the exception of insulin and vitamin B-12. Injections must be self-administered or administered by a licensed nurse.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Assistance Services
A primary assisted living service that benefits residents is receiving help with activities of daily living (ADLs). These are fundamental tasks that a person must do regularly to sustain life and general health, including toileting, bathing or showering, dressing, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), ambulating (walking), and eating. Signs that a person may benefit from living in assisted living include increased isolation, loss of mobility, noticeable weight loss or gain, and/or neglect of household chores.
Residents in Mississippi’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In Mississippi, 13% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (20%), toileting (31%), and walking (51%). Caregivers in ALFs help 46% of residents dress, and 59% need help bathing.
Cost Of Assisted Living Care In Mississippi
The average cost of assisted living care in Mississippi is $3,500. This cost is $1000 lower than the monthly national average of $4,500 per month. The cost of living in Mississippi is less than the national average by 16.7%, with health care costs less than the national average by 5.3% and housing costs less than the national average by 33.7%.
The level of care a person requires impacts the cost of care, as does where you live. The cost of assisted living ranges from a low of $3,800 in the Gulfport area to a high of $4,350 per month in the Jackson area of Mississippi.
How Costs Compare In Nearby States
Suppose you live close to one of Mississippi’s borders. In that case, it may be difficult to find less expensive assisted living in a neighboring state, as Mississippi has one of the lowest average costs in the nation. Alabama has essentially the same average monthly cost as is found in Mississippi at $3,503 per month. The other neighboring states all have higher average monthly costs. Arkansas averages $3,760, Louisiana averages $3,748, and Tennessee averages $4,105 monthly.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
Mississippi Assisted Living Oversight
The Division of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification oversees assisted living communities in Mississippi. The state also has a long-term care ombudsman that investigates and tries to resolve complaints regarding assisted living communities and advocates for long-term care residents to ensure a higher quality of life and care. Contact the Mississippi State Department of Health if you need help accessing medical or social services.
Quality and Safety of Assisted Living Facilities in Mississippi
Under Section 43-11-13 of the Mississippi Code 1972, assisted living communities must be licensed and meet certain safety and quality standards. For example, all communities must have an emergency operations plan and comply with local building, fire, and zoning ordinances. The Health Facilities Licensure and Certification Division of the Mississippi Department of Health conducts on-site inspections and investigates complaints.
The Health Facilities Licensure and Certification Division requires newly hired employees to pass a criminal history record check for added safety and high-quality care. They must also verify that they aren't listed on the Mississippi Nurses Aide Abuse Registry. All administrators must complete a minimum of two concurrent days of training with the licensing agency before they can begin their duties. Every 90 days, direct care staff must finish ongoing training related to their specific duties.
Legal Resources
The term "elder law" is often associated with estate planning, trusts, and help to obtain benefits through Medicare or Medicaid. Unfortunately, the field has grown to include cases involving elder abuse, elder neglect, and exploitation. Skilled attorneys can help older adults affected by these issues.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, offers legal assistance and advocacy services to assist and protect older adults’ rights and benefits. Services include referrals, legal advice, consultations, and/or representation.
Free Legal Answers is a website that provides available resources in Mississippi to help older adults find legal help and information on various legal issues.
