Nestled between Atlanta and the stunning Appalachian Mountains, Alpharetta is an ideal place to spend your retirement years. This growing city is home to 65,818 people, and as of 2020, one out of every 10 Alpharetta residents were seniors aged 65 and older.
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, but you also like to experience all four seasons, Alpharetta’s climate is perfect for you. During the summer months, high temperatures hover around 88 degrees, while during the winter, the city receives an average of just 2 inches of snow each year. This means you’ll have plenty of warm, sunny days to explore the over 750 acres of parkland in the Alpharetta area, and many city-run parks are connected by a well-maintained greenway system of trails and paths.
The city also serves as the hub of commerce for northern Fulton County, and there are numerous shops and restaurants in the area. Alpharetta is also known for its thriving music scene, and the local amphitheater hosts a wide variety of well-known musicians and bands in a truly unique setting.
Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that you can expect to pay around $4,147 per month for nonmedical home care services in Alpharetta. Home health care cost slightly more at $4,195, since this type of care combines home care with some limited medical services, such as ostomy care and medication management.
The median rates listed by Genworth are based on 44 hours of care each week, which works out to an average weekly cost of $957, and an hourly rate of $21.75. Your care costs may vary from the monthly average depending on the amount of assistance you require on a daily or weekly basis.
Alpharetta’s median home care and home health care costs are slightly higher than those in nearby Rome, where seniors pay about $4,099 per month for either type of care. Rates are similar in Athens, where home care costs an average of $4,052, and home health care is around $4,162 per month. In Gainesville, rates for in-home care are higher, and seniors there pay about $4,385 for either home care or home health care services.
At $4,147 and $4,195, the respective monthly rates for home care and home health care in Alpharetta are similar to the average amount charged for assisted living, which is $4,000 per month. Adult day care is the most affordable type of senior care in the area at an average monthly cost of $1,300, while a semiprivate room in a skilled nursing facility costs about $6,950 per month.
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Alpharetta, GA.
Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.
What You Should Know
The Adult Activity Center at North Park is a city-run recreation facility for adults aged 50 and older. At the center, you can participate in a wide range of free and low-cost fitness classes, drop-in games, crafting workshops and social events. Center staff also organize a number of day trips to local museums, theaters and area attractions that you can sign up for.
The center serves as the home to the Alpharetta Golden Age Club, a social club for local seniors. For a $15 annual fee, you can join the club and get involved in community events such as free concerts in the park, the annual Easter egg hunt, and monthly luncheons.
Who Is Eligible?
As an Alpharetta senior, you’re welcome to take advantage of the amenities and activities offered at the Adult Activity Center.
How to Get Started
For up-to-date schedule information and current operating hours, call the center at (678) 297-6140.
What You Should Know
Finding the services you need to safely age in place can be a challenge — that’s why Fulton County established Soaring Through Aging Resources, a free information hotline for seniors aged 60 and older.
Better known as the STARline, this phone-based service is staffed by community resource specialists who can help you determine what kind of help you need to continue living independently. Then, the STARline operator will refer you to local nonprofit agencies and programs that can give you the support you require.
Who Is Eligible?
As a senior living in Fulton County, you’re eligible to use the STARline. You can also ask a friend, neighbor or family member to call on your behalf.
How to Get Started
You can call the STARline at (404) 613-6000 during regular business hours to speak to a senior resource specialist.
What You Should Know
Maintaining a home can be difficult, and that’s especially true once you reach your retirement years. If you need help completing home repairs, you may be able to take advantage of the Minor Home Repair Program.
Offered by Fulton County’s Department of Senior Services, this free program focuses on helping senior homeowners complete repair work that’s related to safety, weatherization and/or accessibility. Some repairs that qualify include fixing broken windows and doors; upgrading weatherstripping and insulation; removing overgrown trees and shrubs; and replacing damaged toilets, sinks and showers. You can also ask for help with installing a wheelchair ramp, adding grab bars to your bathroom and modifying your entryway to eliminate trip-and-fall hazards.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for free minor home repairs through this program, you must be at least 55 years old, and you need to own and occupy a home in Fulton County. You must also provide proof of homeowners’ insurance coverage, and income limits may apply.
How to Get Started
To learn more about the Minor Home Repair Program, call the STARline at (404) 613-6000.
What You Should Know
If you no longer drive, and you need a ride to a nonurgent medical appointment in Alpharetta or elsewhere in the Greater Atlanta area, you can take advantage of the Transportation Options Program for Seniors.
TOPS provides seniors with low-cost, curb-to-curb wheelchair-accessible rides in the North Fulton/Alpharetta area. You may share your ride with another senior who’s traveling to a destination near yours. If you’re living with significant vision loss or a physical disability, you can request 1:1 service and ask that your driver remain with you during your appointment.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify to use TOPS, you need to be at least 60 years old, and you must live in North Fulton. You’ll be asked to make a $10 donation for one-way trips and a $20 donation for round trips, but donations aren’t mandatory, and if you can’t pay, you won’t be refused service.
How to Get Started
To learn more about TOPS services, call (470) 760-3299.
What You Should Know
Meals on Wheels is a nationwide nutritional support program designed to help homebound seniors remain independent and healthy. In Alpharetta, the Meals on Wheels program is run by Senior Services North Fulton.
The Meals on Wheels program can provide you with a hot, home-delivered noontime meal every weekday, plus two microwavable meals for use on the weekend. These meals are planned by dietitians and delivered by volunteers who take a moment to chat with you each day. If you’re a pet owner, you can also sign up for Meals on Wheels for Pets, a program that provides a monthly delivery of cat or dog food and other pet supplies that have been donated.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for Meals on Wheels, you must be at least 60 years old and either be relatively housebound or lack the financial resources to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
How to Get Started
To learn more about Meals on Wheels and Meals on Wheels for Pets, call (770) 993-1906.