Inside Audubon Retirement Village: A Family's Guide to Senior Living

Audubon Retirement Village charges $5,931 monthly for semiprivate rooms, about $1,800 less than the national nursing home average of $7,756. State regulators rank it among the city's top three nursing homes.

State inspection data shows Audubon earned an A+ grade for facility inspections and an A for long-term care quality. The nursing home's preventive care program reaches 92% of residents, including pneumonia vaccinations and other preventive services.

The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid-approved services. Two former state inspectors who reviewed New Orleans nursing homes say Audubon's pricing and quality metrics rank it among the most cost-effective options in the region.

• Audubon services after $16 million upgrade
  • Care programs
  • Medical support
  • Activities and social life
• Daily resident life at Audubon
  • Activity programs
  • Dining services
  • Social programs
• Moving to Audubon
  • Admission process
  • Room setup options
  • Family support
• Care quality standards
  • Staff training requirements
  • Medical partnerships
  • Emergency protocols
• Audubon's cost structure and payment options
  • Monthly rates
  • Insurance coverage
  • Financial support
• Audubon shows lower costs, higher care standards
• FAQs

Audubon services after $16 million upgrade

Audubon Retirement Village completed a $16 million renovation to expand its care services.

Care programs

The facility has one of the region's highest caregiver-to-resident ratios and provides 24-hour supervision. All 119 residents live in private rooms with attached bathrooms. The memory care program employs specialists trained in Alzheimer's and dementia support.

Medical support

A healthcare team leads medical services, including a Medical Director, Nurse Practitioner, and consulting pharmacist. Nursing staff provide:

• Speech and oral-motor therapy
• Physical rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy
• Wound treatment
• Medication management

The facility uses IN2L technology to offer personalized virtual activities that keep residents mentally engaged.

Activities and social life

Licensed therapists lead weekly movement sessions, and a music therapist runs reminiscence groups twice weekly. Regular programs include cultural events, on-site spiritual services, therapy dog visits, exercise classes, and social gatherings.

• The kitchen staff prepares meals accommodating various dietary needs, balancing medical care with social engagement.
• On-site spiritual services
• Therapy dog visits
• Exercise classes
• Social gatherings

The kitchen staff prepares meals accommodating various dietary needs. The care combines medical support with social engagement opportunities.

Daily resident life at Audubon

Activity programs

Audubon runs structured activities five days weekly, including movement, music, family, and speech therapy sessions. Residents use IN2L technology, which offers 4,000 items for virtual museum tours, brain games, and spiritual activities.

Weekly programs include speech therapy for cognitive health, movement sessions with certified instructors, music therapy twice weekly, therapy dog visits, and professional counseling.

• Speech therapy for cognitive health
• Movement sessions with certified instructors
• Twice-weekly music therapy groups
• Licensed therapy dog visits
• Professional counseling discussions

Dining services

The kitchen rotates seasonal menus every three weeks. Culinary staff prepare daily meals that accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences, with menu alternatives available on request.

Social programs

Communal spaces encourage resident interaction while private rooms provide personal space. Family members join activities with residents, and the IN2L system supports group engagement through virtual bingo and interactive games.

Residents participate in book clubs, walking groups, gardening, and card games. Staff organize birthday celebrations and community events to build connections.

Moving to Audubon

Admission process

Staff evaluate potential residents to determine care needs and facility fit. The assessment includes medical history review and physician consultations. Care teams then develop personalized support plans based on the evaluation.

Room setup options

Residents can bring personal furniture or rent complete bedroom sets from the facility. Rental packages include a twin bed, dresser, chair, nightstand, and lamp. Recommended personal items include photo albums, favorite blankets, religious materials, music collections, and decorative pieces.

• Photo albums and keepsakes

• Favorite blankets and comfort items
• Religious materials
• Music collections
• Decorative pieces

Family support

Staff encourage regular family visits during a resident's first months and maintain open communication about care updates and adjustment progress.

Many seniors worry about isolation when moving. Care teams focus on building personal connections while maintaining professional standards, emphasizing resident independence alongside necessary support.

Video platforms like Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom help families stay connected. Most residents adjust within two weeks. Staff report that resident comfort increases once they form social connections within the community.

Care quality standards

Staff training requirements

All caregivers complete eight hours of specialized dementia care training through Home Care Pulse, the training platform recognized by the Alzheimer's Association. Training covers emergency response, patient care protocols, and medical support procedures.

The facility maintains high hiring standards, selecting professionals based on communication and analytical skills. Staff are regularly evaluated to ensure quality care.

Medical partnerships

LCMC Health and LSU Health Sciences New Orleans provide medical expertise. The care team includes a Medical Director, Nurse Practitioner, consultant pharmacist, consultant dietician, therapy staff, and social worker.

• Medical Director
• Nurse Practitioner
• Consultant pharmacist
• Consultant dietician
• Therapy staff
• Social worker

These partnerships support ongoing medical training and practice updates, ensuring residents receive care from professionals current with medical advancements.

Emergency protocols

Louisiana approved Audubon's emergency response system. The facility updates protocols regularly and maintains whole-home generator systems, staff emergency training, and emergency service communications.

• Preparedness planning
• Staff emergency training
• Emergency service communications
• Whole-home generator systems

COVID-19 protocols require weekly testing for residents and staff. Infection control measures include visitor screening, PPE supplies, and physical distancing rules.

The facility has an email-accessible emergency command center for rapid response, helping staff act quickly and keeping families and healthcare partners informed.

Audubon's cost structure and payment options

Monthly rates

Private bedrooms start at $699 monthly, plus $385 for medication management. Unlike other homes that add fees based on care levels, Audubon charges one all-inclusive monthly rate covering dining, daily activities, laundry, housekeeping, basic care, and nursing services.

• Dining services
• Daily activities
• Laundry
• Housekeeping
• Basic care

Nursing home costs range from $5,759 to $6,060 for semiprivate rooms and $6,060 to $6,361 for private rooms monthly.

Insurance coverage

Audubon operates primarily as a private-pay facility. Staff assist residents with long-term care insurance paperwork. Accepted insurance providers include Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humana, AARP, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Veterans and spouses may qualify for VA benefits.

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Humana
• AARP
• Cigna
• United Healthcare

Veterans and spouses may qualify for VA benefits.

Financial support

Financial advisors help families explore bridge loans, VA programs, life insurance conversion, and home equity options. Staff guide veterans and spouses through memory care payment assistance applications.

1. Bridge loans
2. VA programs
3. Life insurance conversion
4. Home equity options

Staff guide veterans and spouses through memory care payment assistance applications.

The facility reported $12.6 million in revenue for 2022, with program services increasing 54.3% from 2021 to 2022.

Audubon shows lower costs, higher care standards

Audubon charges $5,931 monthly for semiprivate rooms, compared to $7,756 at similar facilities. It partners with LCMC Health and LSU Health Sciences for medical services and earned an A+ inspection grade from state regulators.

The facility's preventive care program reaches 92% of residents. A $16 million renovation added advanced patient monitoring systems and updated living spaces.

Two former state inspectors say Audubon's combination of lower costs and high care standards is unusual in New Orleans. The facility's staff training programs and healthcare partnerships exceed state requirements.

FAQs

Q: What is the average cost of living at Audubon Retirement Village?
A: Audubon charges $5,931 per month for semiprivate rooms, about $1,800 less than the national average of $7,756 for nursing home care.

Q: What types of services and amenities are available?
A: Services include 24-hour nursing care, specialized memory care, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, and wound care. Amenities include daily recreational activities, spiritual services, pet therapy, and a dining program with home-cooked meals.

Q: How does Audubon support new residents during the transition?
A: The facility evaluates residents' needs, offers flexible move-in options, and maintains open communication with families. Residents can personalize their living spaces, and staff help new residents adjust and connect with others in the community.

Q: What training do caregivers receive?
A: All caregivers complete at least eight hours of specialized dementia care training through Home Care Pulse, the only platform recognized by the Alzheimer's Association. The facility maintains strict hiring standards and offers ongoing evaluation and training.

Q: What financial support options are available?
A: Audubon works with financial advisors to help families explore long-term care insurance, VA benefits, bridge loans, and home equity solutions.