By Steven Buttice, Founder and President, Living By Your Design, Inc.
The seasons are changing again. Fall cleanup is here and snow will soon follow. As loved ones age, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to keep up with the home maintenance that changing seasons require. Indoor tasks like house cleaning and cooking can also become burdensome, especially for someone living alone.
Even though typical daily activities become more difficult over the years, not many people embrace significant changes to their routine. Instead, they tend to stay in their homes without seeking the help they need. However, sometimes it is not safe or healthy for mom and/or dad to remain in their home.
Questions to Help Determine the Need to Move
So, where does someone begin the process to determine whether or not loved ones should consider moving to a senior community? The first thing to consider: Is “home” safe? Are there fall issues? Is the laundry downstairs? Do they have grab bars in the bathroom? Are there throw rugs in the house? There may be simple fixes to solve these safety issues.
Other things to consider are their physical and mental health: Are they eating well-balanced meals? Do they exercise regularly? Do they have friends, get out of the house, and participate in social events?
Levels of Care
Too often people do not look at the advantages of living in a senior community setting because they do not like change. However, most of the people who make the move say: “Why did I wait so long?” Retirement communities offer different types of living arrangements and levels of care, but most have some common features: two to three well-balanced meals per day, socialization, physical exercise, mental stimulation, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation as needed.
Senior Living Communities vary substantially in services and cost. A CCRC facility offers a complete continuum of care to address all levels of needs. They have independent living apartments and/or condos, assisted living with some services, and an infirmary for those who need a great deal of medical or memory care.
The best thing about CCRCs is that all of this is provided on one campus. Other types of senior communities provide care for several levels, but not the full continuum. In that case, people might move into a very nice complex with one or two levels of care, knowing that they must move to another location later if they need a higher degree of support.
As a bonus, people living in a senior community have a better chance to socialize, exercise, and may enjoy a better quality of life for a longer period of time than those who remain at home with no assistance.
Weighing the Costs
Paying for housing in a senior community may prove to be no more expensive than your current living situation at home, and may actually save you money on health care.
Depending upon income, assets, and need, people can choose “assisted living” or “supportive living.” Both can provide limited hands-on care in an apartment setting. The substantial difference, other than the amenities, is the type of state license. Supportive living provides a living environment for people on public aid; assisted living is private pay.
Some communities or buildings provide higher levels of medical and daily services that address skilled nursing needs. There are facilities that specialize in rehab services that provide therapy to get a person back home following an accident or debilitating illness. Others provide comprehensive memory care. In Central Illinois, there are several good “memory units” where the on-site staff offer specialized programming for people with dementia.
Talk to your loved ones as they begin to age. It would be best to consider and visit senior living communities as soon as possible to set the stage for further support as the condition worsens. Even though many people are reluctant to move from their home, they may find themselves much more socially active and happier in the long run.
While being careful not to take all control away from a parent, planning for the future can provide peace of mind for them as well as you and your siblings. A plan for future care lessens the chaos of a crisis where decisions must be made quickly but also honors parents’ wishes. Legal, financial, residential, mental, and physical health care elements are easier to navigate if they have been addressed prior to a crisis.
Once again, it is important to start talking, making suggestions, and guiding early: Do not wait for a crisis! Three words of advice: plan, plan, and plan. Start the conversation early and continue to monitor safety and health concerns.
If you would like a list of “Questions to Ask in Different Aspects of Care,” see LivingByYourDesignInc.com. For more information, contact Living By Your Design, Inc., focusing on the issues of older americans: legal, financial, free guidance for residential placement and healthcare issues. Call 309-285-8088 or visit our website: www.LivingByYourDesignInc.com. We are located at 809 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615.