A Guide to Seventh-Day Adventist Assisted Living

More than 1 million older adults reside in thousands of assisted living communities all over the United States, as of 2022. These communities provide lodging and caregiver services that may not be available if seniors who need help remain at home. Finding an assisted living community that’s affiliated with their religious tradition can bring extra peace of mind to many seniors, which is what Seventh-Day Adventist communities try to do for their residents.

In this guide, you can learn about Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living. You’ll find several resources to help seniors make an informed choice about their care options. By the end of it, you should have the information you need to decide whether a faith-affiliated assisted living community is right for you or a senior loved one.

Seventh-day Adventist assisted living facilities are Christian-based senior living communities that offer caregiver support, supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. They are similar to nonreligious facilities in their licensing, operation and care standards, but they place a greater emphasis on spiritual care. They’re also broadly similar to nondenominational religious communities as their activities and spiritual focus is oriented toward the teachings of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Assisted living communities affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church offer many of the same services as nonreligious facilities, along with a few unique to their faith-based mission. People of all faith backgrounds are welcome to join these communities, though Adventist-oriented religious services are typically provided on-site for residents. Services that seniors are likely to find at Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living facilities include:

• On-site chapels
• Daily or weekly prayer service
• Prayer and Bible study groups
• Faith-based community service
• Affiliation with a nearby community church

The main benefit Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living communities offer many residents is a spiritual one, though the secular services provided are a great help as well. Seniors may choose Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living communities for a variety of reasons. Some may be attracted to the spiritual benefits these communities offer that are applicable to all faiths. Others might be specifically drawn to practices and doctrines unique to the Seventh-Day Adventist community. Benefits specific to Seventh-Day Adventist communities include:

• Religious services and Sabbath observance on Saturdays, rather than the more common Sunday or Friday observance of other faiths
• A menu that adheres to the preferred best practices of church members, including ample vegetarian meal options
• A fully or partially alcohol-, smoke- and drug-free community
• Adventist literature, such as writings of Ellen White, present in the library, with the potential of resident-led book clubs to discuss religious ideas of the church
• A welcoming environment for people new to the faith, including possibly baptism service for people new to the fellowship

Finding a Seventh-Day Adventist community that offers assisted living doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re looking for a community in your area, your options start with the minister at your church. Other options include:

• Asking for referrals from the congregation, many of whom may already have found high-quality assisted living in the Seventh-Day Adventist community.
• If you’re looking for communities further afield, you can ask for referrals from your local conference, which is the next level up from local churches in the Adventist hierarchy and has broader reach.
• For communities located elsewhere in your state, your union conference may have helpful leads you can follow. At this level, your faith leaders may also have good information about Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living options nationwide.
• If you’re searching for assisted living outside the church, you might get a referral from your doctor, especially if you’re already in the Adventist Health Network.
• You can always run an internet search. Try terms such as: “Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living in [your city, county or state].”

Seventh-Day Adventist communities cover a broad swath of services and care levels. Depending on your budget, location and particular needs, this guide may help you know what to look for.

The national cost of Adventist assisted living is similar to the price seniors pay for secular senior living. Nationally, older adults pay an average of $4,500 a month for assisted living, according to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Actual prices may vary by location and services offered.

Paying for any kind of assisted living can be a challenge for many seniors. Fortunately, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church offers some resources to help members get affordable senior living. Other financial supports seniors rely on may be less helpful in paying for assisted living.

Many seniors are enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance plan for qualified seniors. Medicare only pays for medical services, however, and much of the care in an assisted living community falls outside of the program’s traditional coverage areas.

Medicaid is a popular choice for low-income seniors to use as a supplement to Medicare. Medicaid also pays only for necessary medical services, and the nonmedical elements of assisted living care generally don’t qualify. Many states do offer waiver programs to help pay for assisted living for seniors who would otherwise be eligible for nursing home placement.

If you’re looking for affordable Seventh-Day Adventist assisted living, you’re not on your own. The resources in this table can help you find assisted living in your area, transition into senior living or help you with financial or community support.

Below you can view descriptions of a few of the Buddhist senior living communities in the United States. While all communities differ, Seventh-Day Adventist senior communities typically offer spiritually-focused and God-centered living.