With approximately 130,000 seniors in the entire state of Montana, the state is rather large with a relatively small senior population. This may be the limiting factor when searching for assisted living facility or adult foster care homes. Based on government documentation in 2004, there were 177 adult foster care (assisted living) homes in the state with a total of 3740 residents. The majority of the seniors live in the cities of Bozeman, Billings, Kalispell, Miles City, Great Falls, Butte, Havre and Helena. Outside of these cities, assisted living facilities are few and far between. The overall cost of living index is as surprising 102 with groceries being the most expensive componentat 107.  These factors combine to make it challenging to find the best Montana senior living options including assisted living facilities, Alzheimer;s care centers, nursing homes and independent living communities.

Additional data source: www.dphhs.mt.gov/qad/healthcarefacilitieslist/assistedlivingfacilities.pdf

Montana Licensed Assisted Living Facilities

The Montana licensure Bureau inspects all assisted living facilities. Inspections are performed on a 1, 2, or 3 year interval based on the status of compliance at the facility. Facilities in good standing far inspected every three years. To get a copy of inspection reports for a specific assisted living facility write to Licensure Bureau, Quality Assurance Division, DPHHS, 2401 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59620. Use this address to requesting copies of any complaints or assisted living facilities. If you would like to file a complaint against a specific assisted living facility, call 406-444-0596.

You may also contact your Montana Ombudsman to get independent overview:

• Kelly Moorse, State LTC Ombudsman MT
• Dept. of Health & Human Services
• 111 N. Sanders, Helena, MT 59604-4210
• http://www.dphhs. state.mt.us/sltc/index.htm
• Phone: (406)444-7785 Fax: (406)444-7743

This directory includes 204assisted living options for Montana. Use the "Advance Search" to find the nearest 40 senior services based on your desired location or select a city and then choose a tab to see different types of senior care including nursing homes, Alzheimer's care centers, CCRCs, independent living, in-home and hospice care.

Selecting A Montana Adult Foster Care Home

For many seniors, proximity to friends and family is the single most important factor when selecting an assisted living facility. In some parts of Montana, this is an impossibility. The second most important factor is proximity to health care services including emergency services, cancer treatment and rehabilitation services. These are more commonly available and the larger areas. Other important factors include the cost of the facility and the accessible amenities. Most assisted living facilities schedule routine trips to surrounding facilities. The greater the population in the area surrounding the assisted living facility, the more options there will be available for field trips. Of course, the single most important factor in selecting an assisted living facility is the safety and well-being of the residents. The information below will allow you to check on inspection reports and complaints were assisted living facilities to make sure that residents at your preferred assisted living facility are getting the very best care.