FAQs
Everything people ask us, in one place.
The same questions collected from across the site: what each kind of care involves, what it costs to find out, and what working here is like.
If yours is not here, call and ask. We would rather answer it than have you guess.
How is assisted living different from a nursing home?
Assisted living is for people who need help with parts of the day, not round-the-clock medical care. Residents have their own apartment and come and go as they like. A skilled nursing facility provides constant nursing and therapy — a different level of care altogether.
How do we know when it’s time?
There is rarely one moment. It’s usually a build-up: meals being skipped, medications getting muddled, a fall, or simply too many hours alone. If daily life has started to feel like a struggle, it’s worth a conversation — and we’re happy to have it even if the answer is not yet.
What does it cost, and does Medicare cover it?
The cost depends on the apartment and the level of care. Medicare does not generally pay for assisted living, so most families use savings, the sale of a home, or long-term care insurance. Call us and we’ll go through the numbers honestly rather than making you ask twice.
Can we bring our own furniture?
Please do. Residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture, photographs and the things that make a room feel like theirs. It is the fastest way for a new apartment to start feeling like home.
Can couples live together?
Yes. We have one and two-bedroom apartments, and couples are welcome to share — including when only one of them needs care.
Does a resident need a car?
No. We run scheduled transportation for appointments, shopping and outings. Residents who still drive are usually welcome to keep their car, and there is parking on site.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, we’re pet friendly. There are some size and breed limits, so tell us about your pet and we’ll let you know.
What happens if more care is needed later?
Care levels are adjusted as needs change. And because memory care is on the same site, a move to more support doesn’t have to mean leaving the building, the staff or the people you have gotten to know.
What’s the difference between memory care and assisted living?
Assisted living is for people who are largely independent but need help with parts of the day. Memory care is for people living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia: the setting is secured, the group is smaller, the staff are trained for it, and the day is built to be recognizable rather than varied.
How do we know when it’s time?
Usually when memory loss starts to affect safety — getting lost on a familiar route, meals or medications being missed, leaving the stove on, or no longer being safe alone at night. If you are already awake worrying about it, it is worth a conversation.
How do you keep residents safe?
Entrances and exits to the memory care neighborhood are secured, staff are on site around the clock, and apartments have emergency call systems. The courtyard is enclosed, so going outside doesn’t mean leaving somewhere safe.
Will living here slow the dementia down?
No. There is no cure, and we won’t tell you otherwise. What a good community can do is help someone hold on to the abilities they still have — regular meals, regular movement, company, and a day with structure all help, and they are hard to keep up at home.
Can they bring their own furniture?
Yes, and it helps. Familiar furniture, photographs and belongings make a new room recognizable much faster than anything we could put in it.
How do we stay involved?
Families are welcome whenever they want to come. We’ll keep you informed as things change, and we can point you to dementia education and support for carers — the diagnosis lands on the whole family, not just the person who has it.
What happens as the dementia advances?
Support increases with it, and it is added rather than swapped — the day keeps its shape, with more help and more one-to-one time inside it. In almost every case that means staying put, with the same people, rather than moving somewhere new.
What does it cost, and does Medicare cover it?
The cost depends on the apartment and the level of care. Medicare does not generally pay for memory care, so most families use savings, the sale of a home, or long-term care insurance. Call us and we’ll go through the numbers honestly.
Do I need experience in senior living?
Not for every role. Care associate and dining roles are frequently filled by people new to the sector, and training is provided. Nursing and med tech roles need the certification the state requires.
What shifts are available?
The community is staffed around the clock, so there are day, evening and night shifts, and both full and part time. Tell us what you need when you get in touch and we will tell you honestly whether it exists right now.
How long does the interview take?
Between thirty minutes and an hour, at the community. You will meet the person you would be working for, not a recruiter in another state.
Are any roles remote?
No. Every role here is on site, because the work is. Oxford Health Group's central office hires separately from the communities.
What checks are involved?
A background check and a health screening, both required for a licensed residential care facility in California. We will walk you through what to bring.
Can I move between roles later?
Yes, and people do. Care associates move into lead and management roles, and there are around twenty communities in the group if you ever need to move somewhere else.
Still stuck
Ask us the one that isn’t here.
Most of what families want to know doesn’t fit neatly into a list. Get in touch with us and we’ll talk it through, for as long as you need.