Why Select Assisted Living in Nashville, TN?

The United States is home to many noteworthy cities, but few are as accommodating, authentic, and accessible as Nashville, Tennessee. Nicknamed “the Music City” for the fact that the city’s very foundation was built on music, Nashville’s history is synonymous with the cultural and social fabric that the country was forged from.

Home to the country’s oldest registered distillery, some of the best food in the world, and the unique combination of big city amenities and relaxed small-town feel, Nashville is irresistible to those who know her. In fact, it was named one of the 10 Friendliest Cities in the US: Readers' Choice Awards by Conde Nast Traveler. And it’s why so many retirees look for an assisted living communityhere.

Nashville is a charming city that oozes southern hospitality, especially with its quirky honky tonks, friendly attitude, and delicious comfort foods, like its famously hot “hot chicken.”It’s a decidedly southern city yet unlike make such cities, it still enjoys four distinct seasons with summers being hot and humid and winters being mostly cold but only occasionally snowy. The weather here is important because it makes enjoying the beautiful natural scenery and robust selection of attractions here an almost daily pleasure.

Nashville has so much to offer retired seniors that it can be almost impossible to want to leave once you visit. From the food and culture to its senior-friendly attractions and affordable cost of living, Nashville is an easy place to get used to because it’s so easy to get comfortable here. If you are looking for an assisted living community for yourself or a loved one, then Nashville needs to be at the top of your list. Use this guide to learn more about assisted living in Nashville, Tennessee and we think you’ll agree.

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Assisted Living in Nashville, TN: What You Need to Know

Nashville is such a vibrant and energetic city, it should come as no surprise that it is home to some of the most in-demandassisted living facilities in Tennessee. If you’re lookingto learn more aboutassisted living in Nashville, then Senioridy is here to help. Just click on the topics below to learn more.

Criteria for Admittance in Assisted Living in Tennessee
Nashville’s Senior Population and Assisted Living Volume
Average Cost of Assisted Living in Nashville, TN
The Benefits of Assisted Living in Nashville, TN
Things for Seniors to See and Do in Nashville
Senior Centers in the Nashville Area
PublicTransportation in Nashville, TN

Criteria for Admittance in Assisted Living in Tennessee

To qualify for admittance into an assisted living facility in the state of Tennessee, an individual needs to meet certain criteria. According to state laws, assisted living facilities can admit or retain residents who:

Can care for themselves independently in some conditions
Do not qualify for a nursing care facility
Receive a Health and Community Based Services waiver from the board
Require skilled nursing care for a brief period

Tennessee assisted living facilities are restricted from admitting or retaining individuals who:

Demonstrate aggressive behavior and can be a serious threat to themselves or others
Suffer an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s or related memory loss disorders
Suffer exfoliative dermatitis or ulcers at stage III or IV
Have an infectious or communicable disease
Require continuous nursing care
Cannot evacuate within 13 minutes in case of an emergency
Are not able to communicate their needs

Nashville’s Senior Population and Assisted Living Volume

Nashville has a population of about 695,000 residents and people aged 65 and over make up 12.1% of that number.

A big reason why so many seniors choose Nashville to retire to is it is home to one of the most pleasant year-round climates. Unlike many southern cities, Nashville has four distinct seasons. Winter tends to be cold with lows frequently dipping below freezing. Summers are hot and humid with the average high temperature reaching around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nashville has far more sunnier days than not, with it receiving around 120 days of precipitation a year.

The cost of living in Nashville is5% lower than the national average,and the price of healthcare is 7% more affordable than the national average. With so much going for it, it should come as no surprise that there can sometimes be a waiting list to get into some of the best assisted living facilities in the Nashville area.

Average Cost of Assisted Living in Nashville, TN

The average monthly cost for assisted living in Nashville, TN is $4,100, which is on par with the state average and slightly lower than the national average. While Tennessee Medicare doesn’t pay for assisted living services, financial assistance is available for those who need it through TennCare CHOICES. Seniors or their beneficiaries are responsible for paying for their own room and board, but TennCare will aid in covering some of the other costs associated with their stay.

It is important to remember that the above cost is an average. Not all assisted living communities offer the same variety of amenities to their residents, and the number and types of these amenities can affect their total monthly costs. Amenities that can impact the cost of assisted living can include, but are not limited to:

Restaurant-style dining
Private and shared apartments with full kitchens
Housekeeping and linen service
Scheduled transportation
Social, cultural, and recreational activities
Emergency response system
On-call medical staff

The Benefits of Assisted Living in Nashville, TN

Assisted living residents who call Nashville home get to enjoy an outstanding quality of life because the facilities hereprovidethem with highly personalized levels of careas well as a comprehensive selection of engaging social activities and special services. Every facet of these facilities is designed to add value and meaning to their lives. While each assisted living communitymay be unique in the programs and services it offers, most provide a standard set of services that allow residents to enjoy certain freedoms, experiences, and benefits such as:

A Setting That Feels Like Home

Moving into an assisted living community isn’t always easy for an older adult who now needs assistance, but one way that these facilities help make the transition is easier is by allowing residents to decorate their new living spaces however they want.This allows them to make their new home feel more comfortable, like their old home.This is important because the more comfortable the resident is in their new surroundings, the better their quality of life will be.

Personalized Care

Personalized care is one of the main benefits of assisted living facilities because the treatments and care offered are designed to meeteveryresident’s distinct health and wellness needs as well as their personal preferences. Personalized care canrange from 24/7 nursing care and medication administration tocomprehensive monitoring for mood and behavioralissues.Assisted living staff are specially trainedto provide every resident withthe appropriate level of carethat they need to live their best life.

Personal Assistance with ADLs

In an assisted living facility,not all residents have the same support needs. For instance, some can live somewhat independently, while others may need extra help performing theirADLs. So, if a resident needs help with housekeeping, transportation, bathing, dressing, hygiene, laundry, or any other tasks, professional and compassionate help is readily available. Nashville assisted living communitiesemployhighly skilled staffwho provide respectful, hands-on assistance that protects the resident’s dignity regardless of how much, or little, support they require.

Social Engagement Activities

Participating in social activities is an important part of getting the most out of living in an assisted living facilitybecause these activities not only help build a stronger community, but they also help prevent depression and feelings of isolation. These types of activities are specially designed to help you or your loved one stay active and engaged despite any potential limitations. Assisted living communities commonly offer a broad array of activities like dance classes, book clubs, pottery classes, gardening programs,travel excursions, and more.

Safety and Security

Modern assisted living facilities are equipped with advanced safety and security measures that not only put the minds of family members at ease, but that also reduce the risk of something happening to residents. When someone reaches the point in their lives where they require help with their ADLs, there is nowhere safer for them to be than in an assisted living facility.

Quality Nutrition and Dining Options

Nashville’s assisted living facilities take the dietary needs of their residents very seriously. After all, good health starts with good nutrition. Assisted living facilitiesoffer a wide range of flexible dining options, including variousmealtimes, greater meal variety, diet-specific meals, and more. The region’s assisted living communities are focused on providing their residents with the freshest fruits and vegetables, and the healthiest proteins, many of which are locally sourced.

Access to Quality Healthcare

Assisted living facilities in Nashville offer their residents easy access to high quality healthcare both on-site and when necessary, at local hospitals and specialized healthcare facilities. Many of the hospitals in Nashville are highly rated for their quality care, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, and others. When you move into an assisted living facility in Nashville, TN, maintaining your health and well-being is always the highest priority.

Things for Seniors to See and Do in Nashville

You can’t think of Nashville without thinking about music. It is Music City, after all. As a result, the city is filled with opportunities for those who love music. From seeing your favorite live music acts at the Grand Ole Opry House and visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Symphony, there’s no shortage of musical experiences to be found throughout the city.

Seniors who love the visual arts also have plenty to look forward to in Nashville. The city is home to Hatch Show Print’s Haley Gallery, the Frist Art Museum, The Frederick Hart Studio Museum, the Tennessee State Museum, as well as the world’s only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple, the Parthenon, just to name a few.

A lot of cities say that they have something for everyone, but in Nashville, this really is the case. Nashville has solutions for just about every passion out there with attractions like:

Senior Centers in the Nashville Area

Seniors looking for a place to meet and socialize in Nashvillehave a variety of options available in the form of senior centers and senior program satellite locations. The following is a list of senior centers in the Nashville area that are managed by Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation.

There are also several senior center locations managed by the Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) Aging and Disability Program. These include:

Public Transportation in Nashville, TN

Public transportation in Nashville is provided byWeGo Public Transit, which offers reduced fares for seniors with a Discount ID card. If you are 65 or older, click here for more details and to apply for a Discount ID.

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority also offers a free bus service, called the Music City Circuit, that runs three routes through the downtown Nashville corridor every 10 to 15 minutes, Monday through Saturday. And while Nashville doesn’t have a city-wide light-rail system, it does have the WeGo Star (formerly the Music City Star Train) with seven stations throughout the city.

How to Find Assisted Living Facilities in Nashville, TN

Whether you are looking for an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, there are a few options available to you that can help you find the right one for your needs in Nashville and the surrounding area. One option is todo it the old-fashioned way by looking in the phone book or inquiring about assisted living from your friends and relatives.

Another is to contact a placement agency. Senior placement agencies help seniors find the right assisted living facility for them by working with the senior and their family to find the best possible fit for their needs. These types of services typically charge a referral fee to the Assisted Living community since they are bringing in revenue to that facility, so they don’t usually charge seniors or their families. It is important to note that since agents can only get paid by assisted living facilities that they have contracts with, you may not be shown all the assisted living facilities that are available to you.

Another option is to do use an online directory of assisted living facilities in Nashville, Tennessee from a site like Senioridy.com. Senioridy's search tools are comprehensive, so they can provide you with the best possible results. Just follow these steps:

Go to Find Senior Living > Assisted Living by clicking here
On the left Search Filters and in the Located Near field type in “Nashville”
Adjust the slider to 60 mi
Click the arrow next to the field
Copy the very long URL, this is the link you will use

Once you do this simple search, you will be presented with many top-rated facilities to compare.

About the author

Cindy Moore

Cindy is the author of many informational topics found on the Senioridy website and website's abroad. Her advice has been sought and published on several national media websites, including the U.S. News and Quicken Loans websites. She is passionate about providing information to Seniors and their Adult Caregivers to help make the journey to finding the information and resources that they need easier for them. Cindy Moore is also one of the hosts on Senioridy's YouTube Channel series "My Aging Parent" that delivers tips and advice for those seeking guidance for age-related issues.