West Virginia Assisted Living
Nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is an appealing retirement destination for older adults because of its scenic mountain views, rolling hills, wild rivers, beautiful lakes, an abundance of wildlife, and a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities. Weather conditions in the Mountain State are generally warm and humid in the summers and cold in the winters, with increased severity in higher altitudes. While Social Security benefits and other retirement income may be partially taxed, older adult West Virginians can claim deductions to offset some of those taxes. The low cost of living makes it a more affordable place for people to retire. The following information explores assisted living options, average monthly costs, and how West Virginia regulates long-term care communities.
The typical resident population in West Virginia's assisted living communities is 76% female. Overall, 86% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 32% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 54% ages 85 and older.
The Department of Health and Human Resources licenses two residential care settings: assisted living residences (ALRs) and residential care communities (RCCs). The key difference between the two settings is that residents in RCCs must be capable of self-preservation in an emergency. If a facility advertises or promotes itself as having a specialized care unit for residents with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, a separate license must be obtained.
ALRs are accommodations available for four or more residents that provide personal assistance and/or supervision to residents who depend on these services due to physical or mental impairment. Small facilities have a bed capacity of four to 16, and large facilities have 17 or more beds.
RCCs are groups of 17 or more residential apartments for the purpose of providing residential accommodations, personal assistance, and supervision for individuals who need assistance due to physical or mental impairment or require intermittent nursing care.
Agreements between ALRs and residents must indicate the type of residents that the facility serves, the services provided, the costs of basic and optional services, medication policies, refund policies, discharge and notification policies, management of residents’ funds, and liability insurance coverage.
Agreements between RCCs and residents provide information regarding admission and resident retention, house rules governing resident behavior, how residents’ personal property will be protected, how the resident will be assisted in making medical, dental, nursing, and mental health appointments, and how transportation to and from these services will be arranged.
ALRs may not admit or retain individuals under the following circumstances:
Residents who become bedridden due to illness or post-surgery may remain in the facility for 90 days if they do not require nursing care that exceeds limited or intermittent nursing care. Residents may receive hospice or services from a certified home health agency if their condition declines after admission.
RCC residents must be certified by a physician to be capable of self-preservation in the case of an emergency. Residents may need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), supervision due to mental or physical impairments, or limited nursing services.
ALRs and RCCs provide personal assistance, help with self-administration of medications and medication administration, help following planned diets, and make appointments for medical and dental services.
No more than 60 days before a resident’s admission and no more than five days after admission, each resident must receive a functional needs assessment by a physician or other licensed health care professional. This assessment must be repeated at least annually after admission. The assessment provides information regarding the resident’s health status, functional, psychosocial, activity, and diet needs. Within 45 days of admission, an individualized service plan must be developed based on this assessment.
ALRs and RCCs must be arranged for limited nursing care and hospice care for residents who have needs that cannot be met and have the financial means to pay privately for these services.
ALRs and RCCs must provide three meals a day, snacks, and special diets that comply with recommendations by the National Academy of Science’s Food and Nutrition Board. Therapeutic or modified diets must be prepared according to a physician's or dietitian's orders.
ALRs must employ an administrator responsible for the facility's daily operations. The facility must employ direct care staff and a registered nurse if nursing services are provided. At least one employee must have current certification in first aid, and CPR must be on duty at all times.
Direct care staff ratios are based on the number of residents with the following care needs:
A minimum of one direct care staff member must be on duty 24 hours a day, including awake staff during normal sleeping hours and a sufficient number of care providers to support the needs of residents.
RCCs must employ an administrator and residential staff. There are no staff ratio minimums, but the facility must have sufficient staff available to support the needs of the residents.
ALRs may provide private and shared rooms. No more than two persons can share a bedroom for any facility constructed after May 1, 2006. Facilities must have one toilet and sink for every six residents and a minimum of one bathing facility per floor for every ten residents.
RCCs must offer apartment units with lockable doors, at least one bedroom, a kitchenette with a sink and refrigerator, and one full bathroom. No more than two residents can occupy a multi-occupant apartment.
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 West Virginia, ALRs 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 80% of communities providing skilled nursing. Many have health care specialists and on-site services, with 48% of communities offering dental care. In addition, 59% of ALRs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In West Virginia, 82% of communities conduct depression screenings, and 38% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 47% of ALRs. 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 West Virginia, 45% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 56% have high blood pressure, 41% have heart disease, 32% have depression, and 17% have diabetes.
The Bureau for Behavioral Health of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources provides access to programs and services to meet the mental health needs of West Virginians. The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities maintains a list of local and national resources to help people improve their mental health. If you're a veteran suffering from mental health problems, the Veterans Administration provides support and access to a variety of mental health services.
ALR staff may supervise the self-administration of medications if a licensed medical professional deems them capable of self-administration. Supervision of self-administration means reminding residents to take their medications, opening medication containers, reading the medication label, observing residents while they take the medication, and reassuring residents that they have obtained and are taking the dosage as prescribed.
Staff may administer medication, including opening a container and giving the medication to the person, giving injections, and administering eye drops. Only staff that are approved medication assistive personnel may administer medications.
An attending physician or health care professional or consulting pharmacist must review each resident’s medication regimen at least annually.
RCCs may administer medications and assist with the self-administration of medications. A licensed professional must administer medications and determine if the resident is capable of self-administration. An attending physician or health care professional or consulting pharmacist must review each resident’s medication regimen at least annually.
A primary service of assisted living 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 West Virginia’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In West Virginia, 17% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (33%), toileting (44%), and walking (52%). Caregivers in ALFs help 49% of residents dress, and 71% need help bathing.
The average cost of assisted living care in West Virginia is $4,160. This cost is $340 lower than the monthly national average of $4,500 per month. The cost of living in West Virginia is less than the national average by 9.5%, with health care costs less than the national average by 11.9% and housing costs less than the national average by 21.4%.
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 $3,675 in the Wheeling area to a high of $5,700 per month in the Morgantown area of West Virginia.
If you live close to one of West Virginia’s borders, you may find assisted living in a neighboring state is an affordable option. The average cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania and Kentucky is lower than in West Virginia. Pennsylvania has an average cost of $4,100 and Kentucky has an average cost of $3,448 per month. Average costs in both Ohio and Virginia are higher than in West Virginia at $4,635 and $5,250.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources maintains oversight of assisted living communities in the state. West Virginia also has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that handles complaints and resolves disputes between residents and providers of long-term care facilities. West Virginia's Area Agencies on Aging is available to help you access medical and social services and programs.
Assisted living residences in West Virginia must be licensed and meet specific safety and quality standards. Assisted living communities must have a written plan to address disasters and emergencies and procedures to follow in the event of any emergency that could seriously impact the residents' operation. Communities must also follow state and local fire safety codes. The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources performs routine inspections and investigates complaints to keep residents safe.
The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification promotes safety and high-quality care by conducting background checks. Assisted living residences and residential care communities can only hire staff with no prior record or evidence of abuse or fraud and who haven't been convicted of crimes related to the care of dependent individuals. All communities are required to employ:
With increasing crimes against older adults, elder laws have evolved to protect people from fraud, scams, exploitation, and abuse. West Virginia Senior Legal Aid offers free civil legal services and advice to people who are at least 60 years old. Experts help individuals with legal issues related to advance directives, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, housing, and abuse.
The West Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is a public service The West Virginia State Bar provides. The service maintains a list of regional legal offices and offers people three easy ways to find legal help and information.
The typical resident population in West Virginia's assisted living communities is 76% female. Overall, 86% of residents are ages 75 and older, with 32% of residents ages 75 to 84 and 54% ages 85 and older.
Assisted Living Facility Definitions
The Department of Health and Human Resources licenses two residential care settings: assisted living residences (ALRs) and residential care communities (RCCs). The key difference between the two settings is that residents in RCCs must be capable of self-preservation in an emergency. If a facility advertises or promotes itself as having a specialized care unit for residents with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, a separate license must be obtained.
ALRs are accommodations available for four or more residents that provide personal assistance and/or supervision to residents who depend on these services due to physical or mental impairment. Small facilities have a bed capacity of four to 16, and large facilities have 17 or more beds.
RCCs are groups of 17 or more residential apartments for the purpose of providing residential accommodations, personal assistance, and supervision for individuals who need assistance due to physical or mental impairment or require intermittent nursing care.
Resident Agreements and Disclosures
Agreements between ALRs and residents must indicate the type of residents that the facility serves, the services provided, the costs of basic and optional services, medication policies, refund policies, discharge and notification policies, management of residents’ funds, and liability insurance coverage.
Agreements between RCCs and residents provide information regarding admission and resident retention, house rules governing resident behavior, how residents’ personal property will be protected, how the resident will be assisted in making medical, dental, nursing, and mental health appointments, and how transportation to and from these services will be arranged.
Assisted Living Admission and Retention
ALRs may not admit or retain individuals under the following circumstances:
- The individual requires a level of service or care that the residence is not licensed to provide or does not provide.
- The individual needs extensive or ongoing nursing care.
- The individual requires the use of physical or chemical restraints.
- The individual is likely to cause serious harm to themselves or others.
Residents who become bedridden due to illness or post-surgery may remain in the facility for 90 days if they do not require nursing care that exceeds limited or intermittent nursing care. Residents may receive hospice or services from a certified home health agency if their condition declines after admission.
RCC residents must be certified by a physician to be capable of self-preservation in the case of an emergency. Residents may need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), supervision due to mental or physical impairments, or limited nursing services.
Assisted Living Services and Service Planning
ALRs and RCCs provide personal assistance, help with self-administration of medications and medication administration, help following planned diets, and make appointments for medical and dental services.
No more than 60 days before a resident’s admission and no more than five days after admission, each resident must receive a functional needs assessment by a physician or other licensed health care professional. This assessment must be repeated at least annually after admission. The assessment provides information regarding the resident’s health status, functional, psychosocial, activity, and diet needs. Within 45 days of admission, an individualized service plan must be developed based on this assessment.
ALRs and RCCs must be arranged for limited nursing care and hospice care for residents who have needs that cannot be met and have the financial means to pay privately for these services.
Assisted Living Food and Dietary Provisions
ALRs and RCCs must provide three meals a day, snacks, and special diets that comply with recommendations by the National Academy of Science’s Food and Nutrition Board. Therapeutic or modified diets must be prepared according to a physician's or dietitian's orders.
Assisted Living Staffing Requirements
ALRs must employ an administrator responsible for the facility's daily operations. The facility must employ direct care staff and a registered nurse if nursing services are provided. At least one employee must have current certification in first aid, and CPR must be on duty at all times.
Direct care staff ratios are based on the number of residents with the following care needs:
- Dependence on staff for ADLs.
- One or more inappropriate behaviors that require additional staff to control.
- Injurious behavior to themself or others.
A minimum of one direct care staff member must be on duty 24 hours a day, including awake staff during normal sleeping hours and a sufficient number of care providers to support the needs of residents.
RCCs must employ an administrator and residential staff. There are no staff ratio minimums, but the facility must have sufficient staff available to support the needs of the residents.
Assisted Living Housing Requirements
ALRs may provide private and shared rooms. No more than two persons can share a bedroom for any facility constructed after May 1, 2006. Facilities must have one toilet and sink for every six residents and a minimum of one bathing facility per floor for every ten residents.
RCCs must offer apartment units with lockable doors, at least one bedroom, a kitchenette with a sink and refrigerator, and one full bathroom. No more than two residents can occupy a multi-occupant apartment.
What Is Included With Assisted Living Care In West Virginia?
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 West Virginia, ALRs 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 80% of communities providing skilled nursing. Many have health care specialists and on-site services, with 48% of communities offering dental care. In addition, 59% of ALRs have hospice services.
Mental health issues are a growing consideration for communities, and services to address these concerns are becoming more common. In West Virginia, 82% of communities conduct depression screenings, and 38% offer mental health counseling. Social work programs are also found in 47% of ALRs. 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 West Virginia, 45% have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. In addition, 56% have high blood pressure, 41% have heart disease, 32% have depression, and 17% have diabetes.
State Mental Health Resources
The Bureau for Behavioral Health of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources provides access to programs and services to meet the mental health needs of West Virginians. The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities maintains a list of local and national resources to help people improve their mental health. If you're a veteran suffering from mental health problems, the Veterans Administration provides support and access to a variety of mental health services.
Medication Provisions
ALR staff may supervise the self-administration of medications if a licensed medical professional deems them capable of self-administration. Supervision of self-administration means reminding residents to take their medications, opening medication containers, reading the medication label, observing residents while they take the medication, and reassuring residents that they have obtained and are taking the dosage as prescribed.
Staff may administer medication, including opening a container and giving the medication to the person, giving injections, and administering eye drops. Only staff that are approved medication assistive personnel may administer medications.
An attending physician or health care professional or consulting pharmacist must review each resident’s medication regimen at least annually.
RCCs may administer medications and assist with the self-administration of medications. A licensed professional must administer medications and determine if the resident is capable of self-administration. An attending physician or health care professional or consulting pharmacist must review each resident’s medication regimen at least annually.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Assistance Services
A primary service of assisted living 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 West Virginia’s assisted living facilities often receive help with their ADLs. In West Virginia, 17% of residents need help eating. Other commonly used services include bed transfer (33%), toileting (44%), and walking (52%). Caregivers in ALFs help 49% of residents dress, and 71% need help bathing.
Cost Of Assisted Living Care In West Virginia
The average cost of assisted living care in West Virginia is $4,160. This cost is $340 lower than the monthly national average of $4,500 per month. The cost of living in West Virginia is less than the national average by 9.5%, with health care costs less than the national average by 11.9% and housing costs less than the national average by 21.4%.
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 $3,675 in the Wheeling area to a high of $5,700 per month in the Morgantown area of West Virginia.
How Costs Compare In Nearby States
If you live close to one of West Virginia’s borders, you may find assisted living in a neighboring state is an affordable option. The average cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania and Kentucky is lower than in West Virginia. Pennsylvania has an average cost of $4,100 and Kentucky has an average cost of $3,448 per month. Average costs in both Ohio and Virginia are higher than in West Virginia at $4,635 and $5,250.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
West Virginia Assisted Living Oversight
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources maintains oversight of assisted living communities in the state. West Virginia also has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that handles complaints and resolves disputes between residents and providers of long-term care facilities. West Virginia's Area Agencies on Aging is available to help you access medical and social services and programs.
Quality and Safety of Assisted Living Facilities in West Virginia
Assisted living residences in West Virginia must be licensed and meet specific safety and quality standards. Assisted living communities must have a written plan to address disasters and emergencies and procedures to follow in the event of any emergency that could seriously impact the residents' operation. Communities must also follow state and local fire safety codes. The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources performs routine inspections and investigates complaints to keep residents safe.
The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification promotes safety and high-quality care by conducting background checks. Assisted living residences and residential care communities can only hire staff with no prior record or evidence of abuse or fraud and who haven't been convicted of crimes related to the care of dependent individuals. All communities are required to employ:
- An administrator who must complete a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education every year.
- Direct care staff who receives orientation within 15 days of hire, annual in-service training on various topics, and at least 2 hours of annual training related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- A registered nurse, if nursing services are provided.
- At least one employee certified in first-aid training and CPR on duty at all times.
Legal Resources
With increasing crimes against older adults, elder laws have evolved to protect people from fraud, scams, exploitation, and abuse. West Virginia Senior Legal Aid offers free civil legal services and advice to people who are at least 60 years old. Experts help individuals with legal issues related to advance directives, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, housing, and abuse.
The West Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is a public service The West Virginia State Bar provides. The service maintains a list of regional legal offices and offers people three easy ways to find legal help and information.
