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Univita Health Releases 2010 Cost of Care Report

National and regional expenses associated with long-term care at home or in a facility are highlighted

Scottsdale, Ariz. – August 10, 2010 – Univita Health, an organization focused on providing the full range of services and support needed to enable a home-centered approach to independent aging, today released the results of a national study that identifies nationwide costs associated with home health care, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities.

“The Cost of Care report was developed to provide valuable insight into the costs associated with long-term care,” said Hugh Lytle, president and chief executive officer of Univita. “Studies have shown that the vast majority of people of retirement age wish to remain in their homes indefinitely, and our annual study reiterates that staying at home is a financially viable option.”

Univita Health surveyed more than 2,000 nursing homes, 2,000 assisted living facilities and 2,000 home health care agencies between April and May 2010. Rates obtained included private pay rates for single occupancy rooms in Medicare-certified skilled nursing facilities, hourly rates for Home Health Aides for Medicare-certified and non-certified home health care agencies, and monthly rates for assisted living facilities.

Key findings include:

• The National average annual cost of a private room in a Medicare-certified Skilled Nursing Facility for all regions surveyed in this study is $90,155.
• The average daily rate for a single occupancy, private room in a Medicare-certified Skilled Nursing Facility is $247.
• The average monthly rate for a private, single occupancy room in an Assisted Living Facility is $3,294.67 per month.
• The average monthly rate for a semi-private room in an Assisted Living Facility is $2,025.28 per month.
• The national average hourly rate for Home Health Aides provided by a certified Home Health Care Agency is $22.14 per hour.
• The national average hourly rate for a Home Health Aides provided by a non-certified Home Health Care Agency is $18.41 per hour.

Univita 2010 Cost of Care Survey, Previous studies and comparable data available upon request. 

About Univita Health

Univita Health is creating a unified environment to help people live and age with independence. By providing one place to find and manage resources which support independent aging, Univita makes it easier for individuals to live and age with dignity, in the setting they choose. Univita is accomplishing this by transforming home based care – integrating the complete range of in-home care needs from basic caregiving through complex home health care – and adding the support of the latest technologies. And Univita offers a unique suite of personalized assessments and decision support built around the key dimensions of independence. To learn more, visit www.univitahealth.com.

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Press contact:
Sarah McLeod
480.922.8959
smcleod@univitahealth.com