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HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS
As you grow older, your housing
needs may change. Maybe you'll get tired
of doing yardwork. You might want to
retire in sunny Florida or live close to
your grandchildren in Illinois. Perhaps
you'll need to live in a nursing home or
an assisted-living facility. Or, after
considering your options, you may even
decide to stay where you are. When the
time comes to evaluate your housing
situation, you'll have numerous options
available to you.
There's no place like home
Are you able to take care of your
home by yourself? If your answer is no,
that doesn't necessarily mean it's time
to move. Maybe a family member can help
you with chores and shopping. Or perhaps
you can hire someone to clean your house,
mow your lawn, and help you with personal
care. You may want to stay in your home
because you have memories of raising your
family there. On the other hand, change
may be just what you need to get a new
perspective on life. To evaluate whether
you can continue living in your home or
if it's time for you to move, consider
the following questions:
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How willing
are you to let someone else help you?
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Can you
afford to hire someone to help you, or
will you need the help of a friend,
relative, or volunteer?
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How far do
you live from family and/or friends?
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How close
do you live to public transportation?
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How easily
can you renovate your home to address
your physical needs?
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How easily
do you adjust to change?
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How easily
do you make friends?
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How does
your family feel about you moving or
about you staying in your own home?
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How does
your spouse feel about moving?
Hey kids, Mom and Dad are moving in!
If you are moving in with your
child, will you have adequate privacy?
Will you be able to move around in your
child's home easily? If not, you might
ask him or her to install devices that
will make your life easier, such as tub
or shower grab bars and easy-to-open
handles on doors.
You'll also want to consider the
emotional consequences of moving in with
your child. If you move closer to your
child, will you expect him or her to take
you shopping or to include you in every
social event? Will you feel in the way?
Will your child expect you to help with
cooking, cleaning, and baby-sitting? Or,
will he or she expect you to do little or
nothing? How will other members of the
family feel? Get these questions out in
the open before you consider moving in.
Talk about important financial
issues with your child before you agree
to move in. This may help avoid conflicts
or hurt feelings later. Here are some
suggestions to get the conversation
flowing:
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Will he or
she expect you to contribute money
toward household expenses?
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Will you
feel guilty if you don't contribute
money toward household expenses?
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Will you
feel the need to critique his or her
spending habits, or are you afraid that
he or she will critique yours?
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Can your
child afford to remodel his or her home
to fit your needs?
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Do you have
enough money to support yourself during
retirement?
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How do you
feel about your child supporting you
financially?
Assisted-living options
Assisted-living facilities
typically offer rental rooms or
apartments, housekeeping services, meals,
social activities, and transportation.
The primary focus of an assisted-living
facility is social, not medical, but some
facilities do provide limited medical
care. Assisted-living facilities can be
state-licensed or unlicensed, and they
primarily serve senior citizens who need
more help than those who live in
independent living communities.
Before entering an assisted-living
facility, you should carefully read the
contract and tour the facility. Some
facilities are large, caring for over a
thousand people. Others are small, caring
for fewer than five people. Consider
whether the facility meets your needs:
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Do you have
enough privacy?
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How much
personal care is provided?
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What
happens if you get sick?
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Can you be
asked to leave the facility if your
physical or mental health deteriorates?
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Is the
facility licensed or unlicensed?
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Who is in
charge of health and safety?
Reading the fine print on the
contract may save you a lot of time and
money later if any conflict over services
or care arises. If you find the terms of
the contract confusing, ask a family
member for help or consult an attorney.
Check the financial strength of the
company, especially if you're making a
long-term commitment.
As for the cost, a wide range of
care is available at a wide range of
prices. For example, continuing care
retirement communities are significantly
more expensive than other assisted-living
options and usually require an entrance
fee above $50,000, in addition to a
monthly rental fee. Keep in mind that
Medicare probably will not cover your
expenses at these facilities, unless
those expenses are health-care related
and the facility is licensed to provide
medical care.
Nursing homes
Nursing homes are licensed
facilities that offer 24-hour access to
medical care. They provide care at three
levels: skilled nursing care,
intermediate care, and custodial care.
Individuals in nursing homes generally
cannot live by themselves or without a
great deal of assistance.
It is important to note that
privacy in a nursing home may be very
limited. Although private rooms may be
available, rooms more commonly are
shared. Depending on the facility
selected, a nursing home may be similar
to a hospital environment or may have a
more residential feel. Some on-site
services may include:
When you choose a nursing home, pay
close attention to the quality of the
facility. Visit several facilities in
your area, and talk to your family about
your needs and wishes regarding nursing
home care. In addition, remember that
most people don't remain in a nursing
home indefinitely. If your physical or
mental condition improves, you may be
able to return home or move to a
different type of facility. Contact your
state department of elder services for
guidelines on how to evaluate nursing
homes.
Nursing homes are expensive. If you
need nursing home care in the future, do
you know how you will pay for it? Will
you use private savings, or will you rely
on Medicaid to pay for your care? If you
have time to plan, consider purchasing
long-term care insurance to pay for your
nursing home care. |
