Baptist Senior Living and Retirement Communities

What Is Baptist Senior Living?

Baptist senior living is a type of faith-based senior living or assisted living community that caters to the Baptist faith. A Baptist community will provide access to spiritual guidance and support from chaplains, plus regularly scheduled worship and chapel services. They also offer other amenities such as transportation, daily meals, and personal care assistance.

Many seniors may choose to incorporate their religion into their care options. Depending on the type of facility and care you are looking for, you can ask the center what type of faith-based amenities they may offer to make you feel right at home. While Baptist senior communities offer religious services, they are typically open to people of all faiths and backgrounds.

How Are Baptist Senior Care Facilities Different Than Other Facilities?

You don’t have to be of the Baptist faith to receive care at a Baptist senior care facility. Many Baptist senior living communities offer similar amenities to traditional senior care or non-faith-affiliated assisted living facilities. This may include personal care assistance, private and spacious rooms, housekeeping and laundry service, dining services, and community events.

Baptist senior care facilities may be different from traditional senior care facilities since they provide care driven by the Baptist faith and certain Christian principles. For example, a Baptist assisted living community may give residents the chance to participate in regular fellowship, Bible study, or prayer services. Many Baptist senior care facilities will also have an on-site chaplain, providing spiritual care and guidance to seniors.

Who Operates Baptist Retirement Homes and Other Facilities?

A Baptist retirement home or Baptist senior living community may consist of an on-site chaplain and board of directors, administrators, and coordinators to ensure the facility meets resident expectations.

Nonprofit groups often run Baptist senior living facilities. Faith-based communities may consist of board members and coordinators who have connections with local Baptist churches. They’re also run with a Christ-centered approach and mission to serve seniors in the community with enriching, faith-based services.

How Much Does Baptist Senior Care Cost?

Religious services will not typically impact the cost of care, so you can expect to pay similar rates for Baptist and non-faith-based care. To give you an example, the median cost of assisted living in the U.S. is about $5,511 per month, while a private room in a nursing home is around double that cost.2 These prices vary depending on the level of care required, amenities, location, and other factors. You may find some faith-based senior facilities that offer special offers for new residents, such as a discount on the first month’s rent.

How to Pay for Senior Living

There are many ways to pay for senior living costs, such as through a long-term care insurance policy, Medicaid, and personal savings. You can also look for senior living communities with promotional offers or discounts for new residents. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living room and board or custodial care. However, it can cover certain medical costs for residents requiring up to 100 days of covered care at a skilled nursing facility. We’ve compiled a chart below to help you decide what type of senior care living facility might be ideal for you.

Tips for Finding Baptist Senior Living

We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you begin your search for Baptist senior care.

• Google search: A quick Google search using phrases like “Baptist retirement communities” or “Baptist assisted living near me” can provide you with a helpful list of links to nearby facilities.
• Contact faith-based organizations and charities: Contact a local faith-based or nonprofit organization that provides services to older adults. They can lead you in the right direction and help you find a Baptist senior living community close to you.
• Contact local Baptist churches: Reach out to local Baptist churches. They may have networking opportunities or a chance to connect with other seniors in the community who can provide care recommendations. Or, they may refer you to local faith-based assisted living facilities.
• Reach out to local senior living communities: Contact local communities and ask whether they offer religious services. If they don’t, ask if they know of any Baptist senior living facilities in the area.
• Tour the facility: Once you’ve made a list of your top senior living facilities, we recommend booking a tour to get a feel for the environment. If you're more comfortable, you can ask to do a virtual tour using your smartphone or computer.

Where Can I Find a Baptist Retirement Community?

Using the above tips, our research team put together a list of a few Baptist senior living communities and organizations in different parts of the U.S. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive and may not include communities in your area; however, you can check out the communities on this list to get a better idea of what services are offered at Baptist care centers.

Atherton Baptist Homes (Alhambra, CA): Located in Southern California, Atherton Baptist Homes was founded in 1914 as a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. Their mission is to promote spiritual well-being for seniors. Residents don’t have to be Baptist or Christian to live at Atherton. Atherton offers independent living, skilled nursing, and assisted living. The facility has a variety of amenities, such as 24/7 assistance, social and recreational programs, biweekly housekeeping, concierge services, and other faith-based services like prayer, praise fellowships, and Bible studies.

Baptist Senior Family (Pittsburgh, PA): Baptist Senior Family has many senior living options, including independent living, hospice care, skilled nursing care, and home care. The company also has multiple locations and types of care available to suit most needs. Amenities may include exercise classes, social events, a movie theater, a swimming pool, a library, a salon, and formal dining. Baptist Senior Family focuses on upholding the Christian faith and providing high-quality services in an uplifting environment for older adults.

The Community at Franklin Park (Denver, CO): Owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, this facility is dedicated to empowering older adults through a Christian environment. Some amenities at this Baptist senior living community include access to the chapel for daily services and worship, transportation, cable TV, and an on-site beauty shop. This facility has a variety of care, including skilled nursing, hospice care, and memory care.

Fairport Baptist Homes (Fairport, NY):  Founded nearly a century ago, Fairport Baptist Homes offers independent and assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services for seniors. Fairport Baptist Homes has amenities like weekly religious services and visits from an on-site chaplain. It also offers recreational and spiritual activities for residents. In addition to assisted living and skilled nursing, Fairport Baptist Homes also offers pastoral care with regular worship service in the on-site chapel and Bible study to help fulfill seniors’ spiritual and religious needs.

Baptist Retirement Community (San Angelo, TX): This retirement community provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and long-term care rehabilitation services for seniors. Amenities include wellness programs, Bible studies, fitness programs, and more. Their assisted living facility provides personal care assistance and specialized training from staff for residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia (Decatur, GA): One of the faith-based senior care facilities that Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia operates is Hiawassee Park. The facility features one- and two-bedroom cottages with access to transportation, a coffee bar, a gym, and various scheduled events and activities.

Baptist Village of Elk City (Elk City, OK): Baptist Village of Elk City offers assisted living and memory care services in a faith-based environment. Some features and amenities include a wellness center, fitness classes, fellowship areas, and family-style dining. In addition to these amenities, the facility offers chaplain and church services for seniors wanting to enrich their spiritual lives.

The Cliffs at Eagle Rock (West Orange, NJ): The Cliffs at Eagle Rock provides assisted living and nursing services. With a focus on spiritual life, they offer weekly Sunday worship services, Bible study, and prayers. One of the main distinctions of this facility is that it provides numerous safety systems for residents, including fire detection systems, 24/7 monitoring, pull cords, and safety pendants to ask for help when needed.