Methodist Retirement Communities and Senior Care Organizations

What Is Methodist Senior Living?

There are a variety of senior care options affiliated with the Methodist church. Those looking to incorporate Methodist beliefs into their daily lives may choose this type of faith-based care over others. It’s because, as an organization affiliated with the UMC, it can provide specific faith-based services that other senior living facilities cannot. Some Methodist senior care centers may have a chaplain on-site to help residents who want to continue in the Methodist faith and its teachings.

It’s important to note that you do not need to be a Methodist to get care from a Methodist senior care facility. Service is always nondenominational and provides care for people of all faiths. Methodist senior care is available at all levels of facilities, from nursing home care to assisted living and retirement communities.

How Is Methodist Senior Living Different From Traditional Senior Living?

Many Methodist senior living facilities strive to take care of residents’ spiritual, medical, and non-medical needs. Since people of all faiths are welcome at Methodist senior care facilities, the staff works to provide different services to accommodate all residents.

For Methodists, this may mean having a chaplain on hand to discuss the Wesleyan theology, which many in the Methodist Church believe in, or by offering Bible study groups. Whatever the case may be, Methodist senior care communities take residents’ religion into account and try to provide spiritual activities to meet their needs. In many cases, taking care of a patient’s spiritual needs is just as important as their medical needs.

However, many facilities do not consider faith when offering service. A large percentage of senior care facilities offer virtually no faith-based services. As a result, Methodist retirement and senior care communities stand out by offering the ability to practice faith through both Methodist and nondenominational practices.

Who Operates Methodist Assisted Living and Other Senior Care Centers?

Non-profit groups run the majority of Methodist senior care facilities. It means they prioritize their mission and beliefs over profits. Those beliefs originate from the Wesleyan teachings of respect, compassion, diversity, generosity, partnership, and service. Many are governed by a community board rather than a group of investors. Any earnings that exceed expectations go back into the care center. Home care services may also receive assistance from some Methodist churches that offer outreach programs, such as meal deliveries to those with mobility issues.

How Much Does Methodist Senior Living Cost?

The cost of Methodist senior care varies widely and is determined by the type of facility and location. For example, the median cost of an assisted living facility in New Jersey is $7,662 a month3, while the median cost for a semiprivate room in a nursing home in Florida is $13,002 per month. Conversely, private rooms in a Texas nursing home average about $6,893 per month. Since many facilities are nonprofit and are partially funded by donations, some offer financial aid.

Many older adults pay for their care through long-term care insurance policies. Another option to explore (if it applies) is to see what veteran benefits may be used for senior care. Research doesn’t show a difference in care costs based on faith alone, so Methodist facilities are no more expensive than facilities of different denominations or faiths, like Catholic or Jewish facilities.

Tips for Finding Methodist Senior Living Communities

There are Methodist senior living and care facilities across the country, but there tend to be more facilities in regions with the greatest number of Methodist residents. There are many communities within the Bible Belt, but you can still find Methodist seniors living in other areas.

Here are a few tips to help you find the best Methodist senior living community for you or a loved one:

• Ask your local Methodist church for information on Methodist senior centers and communities in your area.
• Research “Methodist senior living” and the name of your city or county online; you may find that there is a great senior living center right at your doorstep!
• Call senior communities directly to see if they offer Methodist or nondenominational religious services.

You can find a list of agencies, conventions, older adult ministries, and Methodist membership in the United Methodist Association Directory.

Where Can I Find Methodist Senior Living?

Using the tips above, we researched Methodist senior living communities across the U.S. Below you will find a few Methodist senior living facilities located in various parts of the country. While you may not see a community in your area, this list is meant to give you an idea of what services you can expect from a Methodist community.

• Methodist Homes: This organization offers various Methodist senior living communities throughout northwest Florida and Alabama.
• Methodist Retirement Communities: MRC offers a wide range of Methodist-centered facilities, from nursing homes to memory care, in the state of Texas.
• UMH: UMH is specifically for Methodist seniors living in or near Connecticut.
• United Methodist Homes: Not to be confused with UMH, United Methodist Homes offers faith-centered senior centers in New York and Pennsylvania.
• Methodist Senior Services: This organization offers retirement care options for seniors living in Mississippi.
• Walker Methodist: This is a specific group of Methodist senior living centers located in Minnesota.
• California-Nevada Methodist Homes: As the name implies, CNMH has retirement living communities throughout California and Nevada.