Seventh-day Adventist Assisted Living Facilities and Senior Care
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A Guide to Faith-Based Care for Seventh-day Adventists in 2024
When most seniors and their families begin searching for care facilities, they generally consider the most obvious factors like cost, location, and the type of care offered. But, for many older adults, there's another crucial element that’s just as important: whether or not the senior care facility is faith-based. You have options if you’re a Seventh-day Adventist senior looking to move into a housing community that ascribes and caters to your particular faith and beliefs!
This article focuses on the importance of Seventh-day Adventist assisted living facilities and other communities, how they’re different from non-religious senior care, and their costs, while also providing some helpful tidbits on how to find a local one that’s best suited for you or your loved one. But first, let’s start by defining what Seventh-day Adventist senior living is.
Table of Contents
What Is Seventh-day Adventist Senior Care?
Whether it’s a nursing home or a retirement community, Seventh-day Adventists senior care gives aging adults the care they need while supporting the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle and practices. Adventists accept the Bible as their only source of belief. These 28 fundamental beliefs reflect the church’s understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture.1 They also believe that the second coming of Christ is imminent. For those Seventh-day Adventist seniors wishing to continue following their church’s doctrine, they need to look for facilities that incorporate these beliefs into their care. While most Adventist groups are fairly small, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has become a large global body, with congregations in over 200 countries and more than 14 million members.2
Did You Know? Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Sabbath begins at the end of the sixth day, considered Friday, and lasts one day- Saturday.
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How Is Adventist Senior Living Different Than Non-Religious Care?
Since their doctrine encourages their followers to “treat their body like a temple,” diet plays a big part in the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle. It means they promote whole-plant food consumption while limiting or eschewing the intake of animal products. Research indicates nearly 30 percent of Seventh-day Adventists practice some form of vegetarianism.4 Some are even vegan, while others choose to eat certain meat and additional meat products. This may help explain why studies have shown that Seventh-day Adventists, who have a broad range of ethnic backgrounds, live as much as a decade longer than the rest of the population.5 Adventists also abstain from tobacco and alcohol.
Did You Know? Seventh-day Adventist brothers John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg created and mass-produced wheat flakes, the forerunner to Corn Flakes — the first modern American breakfast cereal.3
Since their doctrine encourages their followers to “treat their body like a temple,” diet plays a big part in the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle. It means they promote whole-plant food consumption while limiting or eschewing the intake of animal products. Research indicates nearly 30 percent of Seventh-day Adventists practice some form of vegetarianism.4 Some are even vegan, while others choose to eat certain meat and additional meat products. This may help explain why studies have shown that Seventh-day Adventists, who have a broad range of ethnic backgrounds, live as much as a decade longer than the rest of the population.5 Adventists also abstain from tobacco and alcohol.
As part of your due diligence, check with the Seventh-day Adventist senior living facilities you’re interested in to learn more about their meal options.
Who Operates Adventist-Based Senior Care Centers?
Seventh-day Adventist senior care facilities are often run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a volunteer board of directors. They are nonprofit facilities, meaning that any net revenue goes back into the facility. Some Seventh-day Adventist assisted living facilities affiliate themselves with ministries, churches, and schools that abide by the teachings of their faith.
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How Much Does Seventh-Day Adventist Senior Care Cost?
As with traditional senior care centers, the costs of Seventh-day Adventist senior living communities largely depend on the type of facility, level of care, and location. It’s important to research the costs for Seventh-day Adventist senior housing in your area since they can vary depending on the state. Generally speaking, many seniors draw on a combination of personal savings and government funds, such as Social Security benefits, to pay for assisted living senior housing costs. Depending on the type of services, Medicare can provide coverage for some services at assisted living communities, but this doesn’t include facility costs. Medicaid may also be an option, but eligibility requirements vary among states. Check your state’s Medicaid regulations for more information. If you’re a veteran, you may also qualify for benefits.
Below are the estimated median costs for traditional senior housing facilities. As mentioned, there’s little cost difference between non-faith-based and faith-based institutions. However, the following info should give you a general idea of what to consider as you research Seventh-day Adventist centers in your local area. Again, costs will vary depending on the type of facility and where you live.
National Monthly Median Costs6
| Type of Care or Housing | Costs |
|---|---|
| Adult Day Care | $2,120 per month |
| Assisted Living Facility | $5,511 per month |
| Semiprivate Room | $8,929 per month |
| Private Room | $10,025 per month |
Tips on Finding Adventist Senior Living
One simple way to begin searching for a high-quality Seventh-day Adventist senior living community in your area is by asking for personal recommendations from same-faith family members, friends, and neighbors. Even if the latter two groups don’t have loved ones in such care, they may know others who do. Similarly, your fellow church members with aging relatives may be an excellent yet overlooked resource. You can also contact your local church office to see if they can assist.
Did You Know?Adventist Possibility Ministries provides support and resources to Seventh-day Adventist churches whose community members require special needs support (such as those who are blind or deaf or have other disabilities).
If you’re more comfortable researching online, you can Google “Seventh-day Adventist senior living” along with your city in your browser for search results. Where possible, once you’ve narrowed down your selections, be sure to book a walking tour of the facilities to get a feel for the centers and surrounding communities.
Where Can I Find Adventist Senior Living?
Based on the above tips, we’ve located some Seventh-day Adventist senior living communities that you may want to consider, depending on your area. This brief sampling, which represents a small swath of U.S. regions, is intended to give you an indication of the types of care that are available. As mentioned, these centers are welcoming to people of all religions. However, Seventh-day Adventists will be especially comforted that you can continue worshiping and practicing spiritually familiar and fulfilling faith.
Glendale, California
Adventist Home Health Care Services
The availability of services varies depending on location, but generally, this care facility offers specialized home health, palliative, and hospice care, all within a spiritual framework.
Livingston, New York
Billed as an “independent home for active retirees,” the facility’s campus is adjacent to the Livingston Seventh-day Adventist Church, and houses a nursing and rehabilitation center; church members hold service in the nursing home every Sabbath afternoon for residents.
Miamisburg, Ohio
Sycamore Glen Retirement Community
Located on the campus of Kettering Health Miamisburg Medical Center, this facility offers multiple assisted living and independent living housing arrangements. Amenities include fitness classes, weekly social activities, planned outings to various locations, and weekly devotionals and church services.
Orlando, Florida
This skilled nursing facility offers short- and long-term nursing care, therapeutic and rehabilitation services, and access to dietitians, medical staff, regular worship services, and ongoing spiritual support.
Portland, Oregon
This retirement community offers independent and assisted living facilities, a vitality and wellness center, a memory care unit, restaurant dining, and faith-based services.
Seventh-day Adventist Church. (2022). Official Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Britannica. (2022). Adventist.
Business Insider. (2020). The sibling rivalry behind Kellogg's that created the modern breakfast cereal.
PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. (2012). Seventh-day Adventists and Health.
Los Angeles Times. (2015). Why Loma Linda residents live longer than the rest of us: They treat the body like a temple.
Genworth. (2022). Cost of Care Survey.
