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Independent Living vs. Assisted Living

Independent living is typically unlicensed housing in Wisconsin. Assisted living is a Wisconsin DHS-licensed CBRF or RCAC.

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Short answer

Independent living is typically unlicensed in Wisconsin, since no personal care is provided -- it is housing plus services like dining and transportation. Assisted living in Wisconsin is licensed by DHS's Bureau of Assisted Living, almost always as a Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF) or Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC).

The practical line

If help with bathing, dressing, medication management or mobility is already needed, independent living is the wrong category, regardless of what a community offers to arrange through an outside caregiver. Several Milwaukee-area campuses combine both levels on one site, letting a resident move from independent living into a licensed CBRF or RCAC without leaving the community.

Questions families ask

How do I know it's time to consider hospice for a family member in Milwaukee?

Hospice is generally appropriate when a physician certifies a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course, and when the goal of care shifts from curative treatment to comfort. A physician referral, not a family decision alone, formally starts the process.

Where can hospice care happen -- does it require moving to a special facility?

No. Hospice care is delivered wherever the patient lives -- a private home, an assisted living community, or a nursing facility -- and is also available at dedicated inpatient hospice units for patients who need a higher level of symptom management than can be managed at home.

Does Medicare pay for hospice care?

Yes. Hospice is a well-established Medicare benefit, covering hospice-related physician services, nursing care, medical equipment, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, and grief/bereavement support for the family, once a physician certifies eligibility.

What is the 'We Honor Veterans' program mentioned by some Milwaukee-area hospice providers?

It's a national partnership between hospice providers and the Department of Veterans Affairs that trains hospice staff on veteran-specific end-of-life needs and helps recognize a veteran's military service as part of their hospice care. VITAS Healthcare's Milwaukee office describes running this program on its own site.

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