10 Best Nursing Homes in Lafayette, LA

Nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities in Lafayette are usually financed by seniors and their families through a variety of means. Below, we’ve covered all information regarding payment choices for senior living and care, such as private payment methods, VA benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care facilities are all licensed and regulated by the Health Standards Section of the Louisiana Department of Health. Nursing homes are also subject to federal regulations as well as state laws and regulations for nursing facilities. Assisted living facilities are licensed as Adult Residential Care Providers, as are memory care facilities, which then have to adhere to requirements for an Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit (ASCU).

While nursing homes provide skilled nursing care and 24-hour medical supervision, assisted living and memory care do much the same without the medical care component. Assisted living regulations require 24-hour supervision and personal care and assistance to be available, as well as health-care-related services. The goal is for residents to be able to live as independently as they possibly can. Assisted living facilities also have to provide planned activities and plenty of opportunities for residents to socialize. Taking care of meals, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation are also stipulated in the regulations.

Memory care (Alzheimer’s Special Care Units) has to meet the same standards as assisted living with two additions. First, the facility itself must provide a safe, secure area for residents to be able to go outside. Second, specialized training must be provided to staff on how to understand behaviors and best care for residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

To make sure facilities are following Louisiana laws and regulations (as well as federal regulations for nursing homes), annual inspections are required. You’ll have to submit a public records request if you want to see inspection reports because they’re not made available online.

Louisiana Department of Health contact information

Louisiana Department of Health
628 N. Fourth St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: 225-342-9500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Lafayette nursing homes

Lafayette does not currently have formal COVID-19 restrictions citywide. However, some facilities may have rules that visitors and residents must follow.

In general, the Louisiana Department of Health makes the following recommendations about reducing the spread of COVID-19:

Lafayette is beloved for its rich culture, warm climate, and Southern hospitality. That warmth carries over to its senior living communities, where seniors can find help with daily activities and chores like laundry and housekeeping are taken care of. The senior living facilities in A Place for Mom’s network also offer an abundance of on-site social activities for active seniors. And the locations in Lafayette are true to the parish’s French Cajun culture, as 33% of in-network facilities are French-speaking, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.^[06]

Multiple combinations of care categories available

While A Place for Mom does not partner with nursing homes, we do partner with six facilities in Lafayette that provide a combination of senior care types, with options for independent living, assisted living, and memory care all within the same community. One is a standalone assisted living facility; three are both assisted living and memory care facilities; and two offer a mix of assisted living, independent living, and memory care. There is one additional in-network facility within a 25-mile radius of downtown that combines assisted living and memory care.^[07]

Specialized services for memory care residents

Lafayette nursing homes provide individualized activities to dementia patients. To ensure their safety, all facilities in our network have qualified staff members present and awake 24 hours a day, and some have wander guards or similar systems in place. At two-thirds of our partner locations, staff members have received specialized memory care training, and the community has been secured against wandering and roaming.

Fun and immersive activities for social seniors

To create a stimulating environment, senior living communities create social events and immersive activities for their residents to enjoy. Within our Lafayette network, 67% of senior care facilities have an arts and crafts area and offer devotional activities on-site. Half of the locations offer day trips and outings, yoga, barbecues, and cafes or bistros. Most have activity directors, TV lounges, birthday parties, and art classes.

The communities feature indoor and outdoor social amenities, walking paths, and enclosed courtyards for everyday exercise. Seniors and their families can also readily reach nearby attractions such as theaters, parks, and museums.

Health care for seniors in Lafayette

In addition to two VA clinics, part of the VA Alexandria Health Care System, the Lafayette area is home to many renowned hospitals. Continue reading to find out more about the top medical facilities in Lafayette:

Transportation for seniors in Lafayette

There are public transportation options available in Lafayette, but given their mobility and health limitations, nursing home, assisted living, and memory care residents in Lafayette are unlikely to use public transportation alone. They may instead rely on transportation provided by their care community, such as shuttle buses or vans, or on private transportation arranged by family members or caretakers. According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary research, 83% of partner assisted living and memory care facilities offer complimentary transportation and 50% provide at-cost transportation.^[02]

If a senior care community doesn’t provide transportation but visitors require it, they can use the Lafayette Transit System (LTS), a bus network offering accessible routes for older adults and people with disabilities around the city. Every bus in the fleet complies with the ADA. It has reserved seating for older adults and those with disabilities. LTS drivers are also trained to help riders with disabilities. They can give riders more time to board and disembark, and they can help tighten seat belts or other restraints, though note that they aren’t trained or prepared to provide continuous supervision or caregiving during a ride.

Acadiana Transit, a paratransit service provided by Lafayette Transit, is another transportation option for elders accompanied by caregivers. To use the paratransit service, visit the paratransit application page, where you can find instructions to send in an application by email. If you or a loved one cannot use conventional bus services due to a disability or medical condition, learn more about paratransit services by reading the Paratransit Rider’s Guide.

Senior activities in Lafayette

Lafayette is known as America’s Happiest City, with a busy nightlife, a thriving music scene, and abundant shopping and dining options. Combined with this joy, the city also has small-town charm and a welcoming neighborhood environment.

The Lafayette region is close to various indoor and outdoor, interactive, and passive activities that those living in memory care or assisted living facilities can safely enjoy.

To learn more about the city’s roots, residents and their families can visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park, which focuses on the Acadian, Native American, and Creole people settled in the area. It’s a fun and instructive outing with many exhibits, demonstrations, and live music performances. This park is wheelchair-accessible and offers audio tours for those who are blind or visually impaired.

Similarly, the Lafayette Science Museum offers something for everyone to enjoy. Seniors can explore several interactive exhibits catered to different interests and abilities.

Music enthusiasts can attend a performance at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, which offers various performances catering to a wide range of interests and wheelchair-accessible seating. Or families may enjoy a visit to the Heymann Performing Arts Center, which showcases concerts and events ranging from classical to popular music. It’s also wheelchair accessible and offers hearing aids to individuals with hearing difficulties.

If you’re looking for outdoor excursions, visit the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market, a terrific place to buy fresh food, homemade goods, and listen to live music. There’s plenty of seating available, and it’s wheelchair-accessible.