Meet Leah Anderson, MS, OTR/L
A licensed occupational therapist with over 15 years guiding families across Central Kentucky to the right senior living community — at no cost to you.
Leah R. Anderson, MS, OTR/L
Senior Transition Specialist & Certified Dementia Care Therapist
Finding the right care setting for an aging parent when home is no longer safe can feel overwhelming. Leah is here to make that transition seamless, safe, and stress-free.
She is a Lexington native, former LCA Eagle, and Milligan University graduate who earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy after following a calling to help others live safely and purposefully. With over 14 years of clinical experience spanning neuro-rehabilitation, acute care, home health, assisted living, and specialized memory care, she understands the exact physical, cognitive, and emotional requirements needed for a senior to thrive.
Since founding her business in November 2020, Leah has helped countless families across Central Kentucky navigate the complex senior living landscape. Whether a parent needs a vibrant independent community, personal care support, or specialized memory care, she leverages her deep clinical knowledge and local healthcare relationships to find the perfect home for Mom and Dad.
Why an occupational therapist?
Choosing senior living is rarely just about square footage or a price tag. It's about whether a community can truly support the way your loved one lives day to day — bathing, meals, medications, mobility, memory, and dignity.
As an occupational therapist, Leah is trained to see exactly that. She looks beyond the brochure to understand what each resident needs to thrive, and which communities can actually deliver it. That clinical lens is what makes her placement advice different.
How senior living care levels & pricing really work
The "starting price" you see on a community is only the beginning. Most communities grade each resident on a point system tied to how much hands-on help they need — and build the monthly cost from that. Here's how that works, explained the way Leah explains it to families.
The levels of care
Care isn't one-size-fits-all. These are the levels you'll see across Lexington & Central Kentucky communities, from the least to the most support.
Independent Living
Residential living for seniors who manage all daily activities on their own — no hands-on care.
Private apartments, meals, housekeeping, and a full social calendar. Medical and personal care are not included; residents arrange their own home-health or aides if needed.
Assisted Living
Personal care plus medication management, light nursing oversight, and coordinated wellness.
A step above personal care. Includes help with ADLs, medication administration by staff, routine health monitoring, and often a licensed nurse on-site during business hours.
Personal Care Living
Hands-on help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting).
The Kentucky term for this level. Staff provide standby or full assistance with personal care, plus medication reminders and meals — but no complex skilled nursing.
Memory Care
A secured, specialized environment for residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
Staff trained in dementia care, secured exits to prevent wandering, structured cognitive programming, and a calmer physical design. Higher staffing ratios drive a higher monthly cost.
Skilled Nursing
24/7 licensed nursing care for complex medical needs, rehab, or post-hospital recovery.
The highest level of care. Includes injections, wound care, IV therapy, physical/occupational therapy, and physician oversight. Often covered partially by Medicare for qualifying short-term stays.
Respite Stays
Short-term temporary care — from a few days to several weeks — to give family caregivers a break.
Available within most assisted living or memory care communities. Residents receive the same care level as full-time residents; it's also a good way to trial a community before a permanent move.
The point system that grades assistance
Communities assess each new resident across the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) below. For every ADL, staff score how much help the resident needs. The combined score sets the "level of care" — and that level drives the monthly add-on to the base rent.
| Score | Independence level | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Independent | Performs the task safely with no help | 0 pts |
| 1 | Setup / supervision | Needs items laid out or someone standing by | 1 pt |
| 2 | Hands-on assist | Staff physically help with the task | 2 pts |
| 3 | Total assist | Depends on staff to complete the entire task | 3 pts |
Total points across all ADLs map to a care level (often Level 1, 2, or 3+). The higher the total, the higher the care level and the higher the monthly fee.
How cost is based on functional independence
A community's advertised "starting price" usually reflects a base tier — someone who needs little to no hands-on help. Each added level of care adds a fixed monthly fee on top of that base. So the more independent your loved one is across their ADLs, the lower the monthly cost.
Why this matters: two communities with the same "starting price" can cost very differently once care levels are added. Leah helps families compare the real all-in monthly cost — not just the advertised number — and can often advocate for a fair ADL assessment before move-in.
Staying Home with Care vs. an All-Inclusive Community
Many families assume keeping Mom or Dad at home is the cheaper option. Once you add up hourly aides, home modifications, and the hidden costs of managing it all, an all-inclusive personal care community is often the same price — or less — with far better quality of life and far less stress on the family.
Care at Home
À la carte — you pay for each piece
Hourly caregiver rates (Lexington avg.)
One-time home modifications
Typical all-in monthly cost (24/7 care)
$9,000 – $14,000+
Plus home modifications, groceries, utilities, property upkeep, and family time coordinating shifts.
Personal Care Community
All-inclusive — one flat monthly rate
Everything included, one monthly price
- 24/7 caregiver staffing & overnight supervision
- All meals, snacks, and special diets
- Medication management & administration
- Bathing, dressing, and toileting assistance
- Housekeeping, laundry, and linen service
- Activities, social programs, and transportation
- Accessible, single-level, barrier-free design
- Emergency call systems in every room
Typical all-in monthly cost (Lexington)
$3,800 – $6,500
No home renovations, no coordinating caregivers, no utility or grocery bills — and social engagement built in.
The real comparison
Once a loved one needs more than a few hours of help a day — especially with memory or mobility needs — the math almost always favors a community. Home care billed hourly adds up fast: just 12 hours of aide care per day at $26/hr is already over $10,000/month before a single home modification. An all-inclusive community covers the same care, plus meals, social life, and a safe, accessible environment, for far less.
Leah can walk you through the actual numbers for your family's situation — including what insurance will and won't cover — during a free consultation.
Get your free cost comparisonMemory Care vs. Nursing Home
Both support seniors who can no longer live safely at home, but they serve very different needs. Understanding the distinction is the first step to choosing the right level of care.
Memory Care
Built for Alzheimer's, dementia & cognitive impairment
- Dementia-trained staff & tailored care plans
- Structured cognitive activities (memory games, music, sensory therapy)
- Secured units with 24/7 monitoring to prevent wandering
- Small, low-stimulation dining; bright visual cues & wayfinding
- Less intensive medical scope — focused on comfort & cognition
Nursing Home (Skilled Nursing)
24/7 medical care for chronic, complex, or post-surgical needs
- Around-the-clock skilled nursing & physician oversight
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy & medication management
- Post-surgical recovery & long-term chronic disease care
- Larger cafeteria-style dining with nutritional support
- Broader resident population — not exclusively memory disorders
National averages; Lexington-area rates vary. Leah can confirm current local pricing on your call.
How families pay
Not sure which level of care is right?
Leah's clinical assessment pinpoints exactly where your loved one belongs — for free.
Get your free consultationHow Leah helps
Clinically grounded
Leah assesses mobility, cognition, and daily-living needs to match the right level of care — not just a nice building.
Neutral & free
Her guidance costs families nothing. She's not paid to steer you to any one community, so your interests come first.
Local knowledge
She's toured dozens of Lexington communities firsthand and knows the staff, pricing, and personalities behind each.
Want Leah's help finding the right fit?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation call.
Get your free consultation