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- Overview
  Get a more in-depth overview of senior living options to choose from.
- Active Adult/55+
  Communities that offer relatively maintenance-free independent living residences to those ages 55 and over.
- Independent Living
  Residential living for older adults who don’t need assistance. It’s ideal for seniors seeking a vibrant social environment.
- Assisted Living
  Residential living that provides a range of personalized help with activities of daily living.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities
  Communities that provide progressive levels of care on a single campus, allowing adjustments when health needs change.
- Memory Care
  Communities specially designed to support adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.
- Skilled Nursing
  A licensed residential facility that offers on-site skilled care for those who need a higher level of care than an assisted living facility can provide.
- Other Options & Care
  Learn who benefits most from home care options, hospice care and respite care.
- Overview
  Learn why Senior Living can be an affordable – and beneficial – alternative to remaining in a house.
- Paying for Senior Living
  Explore the many options available to you that can help offset the cost of senior living.
- Selling a House
  Get an in-depth look at how you can use your house – or the sale of it – to pay for a senior community.
- Insurance
  Long-term care insurance and other policies can be complicated. We’ll break it down.
- Savings, Income, and Assets
  In addition to proceeds from a house sale, learn more about how families use personal assets to fund the costs.
- Veterans Benefits
  Everything you need to know about the cost benefits available to Veterans and their spouses.
- Medicare and Medicaid
  Learn when Medicare and Medicaid can help cover your costs.
- Tax Benefits
  Discover how tax deductions may add up to substantial savings.
Featured Resources

Senior Care Planning: When to Start

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?
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Dr. Sandra Petersen

Senior VP of Health and Wellness Pegasus Senior Living

DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BE, FAANP

Bio

Dr. Sandra Petersen received her most recent years of education from Rush College in Chicago, Illinois, where she obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. She successfully completed three residencies and holds certifications in family practice, geriatric medicine, and psychiatric-mental health. Dr. Petersen was also inducted (2016) as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, an elite group of providers who are recognized by their peers for their impact on the nation’s healthcare. She was a founding member of the Assisted Living Federation of America’s Nurse Action Committee and has been involved in the industry for many years. Dr. Petersen is a professor at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Most recently, Dr. Petersen completed a privately-funded study utilizing the PARO robotic pet seal as a non-pharmacological intervention in symptom management in elderly clients with dementia. A journal article reflecting the study’s outcomes was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Petersen has been in active practice since 1993 and currently has a private house calls practice in the Dallas area that exclusively serves seniors in assisted living, independent living, and memory care settings. She is a popular speaker and consultant both nationally and internationally.

Over a decade ago, a stroke left her unable to use the left side of her body and connect with language skills; she even had trouble completing a sentence. “The whole experience gave me not only sympathy, but empathy for those that struggle with cognitive decline,” says Dr. Petersen. We are grateful for her experience and insight that help us improve residents’ physical and mental health every day.