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Welcome to my area of Senior assistance! Or Boomer News & Links Unlike home improvements designed to make an immediate impression, universal design additions with the most sales appeal are those that go unnoticed until you point them out. The best time to add aging-in-place upgrades to your home is before you need them, says Pat Rowen, an interior designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist in Hillsdale, Mich. Rowen had to tackle a rush job when a client in his 80s fell and broke his hip just before Christmas, and she scrambled to track down materials and workers to do the needed remodel. She says the experience underscored the importance of planning ahead. "If you have to do it under the gun at Christmastime, and you know that your husband is coming home in two weeks and you have a bathtub that he can't get into -- that's not the time to do the remodeling," Rowen says. Here are nine ideas that can boost the value of your home and the quality of life you enjoy while you're living in it. Related Links
Create zero-step entries. If your home has a basement, Rowen suggests grading the landscape to create a new entry at the lower level. If you're thinking of building a ramp to an existing entry, consider placing it inside your garage instead of at the front door. Make your doors easier to open. Sullivan recently installed several doors with levers instead of knobs for one of his clients. "It's for a young, single woman, but she loves it because if she's coming in with groceries in her arms, she can elbow the door handle and get through the door," he says. Create clear 3-foot passageways to make it easier to accommodate a wheelchair or walker. This might mean widening your interior doorways as well as rearranging and de-cluttering rooms. "As people get older, they have a lot of stuff," Rowen says. "They need to think in terms of 'How can I get to and from everything I do without any furniture or clutter?'" Improve Safety and Comfort Swap out your old stove and faucet to reduce the risk of burns. An accidental scalding is less likely with a single-lever faucet than with one that has separate handles for hot and cold, Sullivan says. Therese Crahan, executive director of NAHB Remodelers, a division of the National Association of Home Builders, recommends buying a stove that has the controls in the front, so you won't have to reach over the heating elements. Fall-proof your floors. Look for products such as nonslip vinyl and nonglossy tile in small patterns (the extra grout lines provide more slip resistance), Rowen says. It's also a good idea to eliminate variances in floor height from room to room, she says. Add features that lessen the need for reaching up and bending over. Christopher suggests shopping for items such as kitchen cabinets with pull-down shelves, refrigerators with middle drawers and washers and dryers with raised platforms. Upgrade the Bathroom Prep your bathroom for grab bars, even if you're not ready to install them yet. "You can either put plywood on the wall before you put the drywall up or put blocking between the studs," Rowen says. Without that preparation, you are limited to installing the grab bars at the location of existing studs, or tearing out drywall to fit them in. Put in an easy-to-use shower. Rowen likes the ones from Best Bath Systems, which offers a model with grab bars, a folding seat and hand-held sprayer for about $3,100. Curbless showers are another option. They are wheelchair-accessible and eliminate the need to step over a threshold. "The bathroom floor just rolls seamlessly into the shower," Sullivan says. Sullivan adds that for experienced contractors, installing a curbless shower costs no more than doing a conventional one. "The one thing we have to do is waterproof the floor underneath," he says. "You're talking maybe 15 (additional) minutes of labor and $50 worth of materials. And you're not building and tiling the curb, so it's pretty much a wash." Get a comfort-height toilet, which will raise you up about 17 inches off the floor and set you back $200 to $300, Rowen says. Those seat booster rings aren't nearly as efficient, according to Rowen, because they slip easily and are difficult to clean. Local Senior Links and helpful community Info
AARP FOR SENIOR'S
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Looking for an assisted living or senior living community?
Find the right senior community or assisted living facility with the
Senior Transitions Community
Fill out a quick assessment form or Call Toll Free 866-353-5337 to speak to specialist now.
Below is a sample of the senior living communities that are currently available in our database. If you do not see one listed for the area in which you are interested, please give us a call at 866-353-5337. Our specialists are always available to perform a unique search for you, or to simply answer any questions that you may have.
This directory of assisted living homes, independent living communities and senior retirement communities shows the locations of some of the best senior facilities throughout the country:
Olympic Place Retirement and Assisted Living
Arlington, WA 98223
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsAuburn Meadows Senior Community
Auburn, WA 98002
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsBrighton Gardens of Bellevue
Bellevue , WA 98007
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSunrise of Bellevue
Bellevue , WA 98008
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsFairhaven Estates
Bellingham , WA 98225
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSunrise of Edmonds
Edmonds, WA 98020
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsArbor Place at Silver Lake
Everett, WA 98208
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSeabrook
Everett, WA 98204
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsVillage Green
Federal Way, WA 98003-7026
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsThe Woodmark at Steel Lake
Federal Way, WA 98003
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsAegis Senior Inn of Issaquah
Issaquah, WA 98027
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsAegis of Kent
Kent, WA 98031
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsKirkland Lodge
Kirkland, WA 98033
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsArbor Village Retirement & Assisted Living Community
Kent, WA 98030
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsWoodland Retirement and Assisted Living Community
Lacey, WA 98503
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSunrise of Lynnwood
Lynnwood, WA 98037
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsMonticello Park Retirement and Assisted Living
Longview, WA 98632
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsHarmony of Madison
Madison , WA 53714
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsFountain Court Assisted Living
Maple Valley, WA 98038
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSunrise of Mercer Island
Mercer Island, WA 98040
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsNormandy Park Assisted Living
Normanday Park, WA 98148
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRed Oak Residence of North Bend
North Bend, WA 98045
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsThe Sequoia
Olympia, WA 98506
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsPark Vista Retirement and Assisted Living
Port Orchard, WA 98366
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSeaport Landing Retirement & Assisted Living
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsCourtyard at the Willows
Puyallup, WA 98374
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSilver Creek Retirement and Assisted Living
Puyallup, WA 98375
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsOverlake Terrace
Redmond, WA 98052
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRenton Villa
Renton, WA 98055
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsEmeritus Oaks
Silverdale, WA 98383
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsSunrise of Snohomish
Snohomish, WA 98290
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsStafford Suites
Sumner, WA 98390
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsCascade Park
Tacoma, WA 98402
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRenaissance at Narrows Glen
Tacoma, WA 98406
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsBridgewood at Four Seasons Retirement and Assisted
Vancouver, WA 98684
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsColumbia Heights Retirement and Assisted Living
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRiverwest Retirement Community
Wenatchee, WA
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRiverWest Retirement Community
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(866) 353-5337
Contact UsRosemont Retirement and Assisted Living
Yelm, WA 98597
(866) 353-5337
Contact Us<
About Senior Living
There really is no place like home. When asked about their preference for housing, most seniors answer, "What l would really like to do is to stay right here." The person's own home represents security and independence to most Americans.
Most housing, however, is designed for young. active and mobile people. To live at home, a person must, at the very least, have access to transportation, go shopping, cook. and do household chores. Many of us will lose one or more of these abilities as we grow older.
One option is to purchase in home services, to cope with declining abilities. For a fee, an army of workers will appear to cut your grass, wash your windows, cook your meals, do the shopping, and even provide personal care and/or skilled nursing care. This may be the option for you, depending on the amount of help you need. However, this can be expensive and will require a lot of management and coordination.
For people willing to relocate, there are plenty of options, although there may be some confusion about what all the terms mean. You may hear about "board and care homes," "personal care homes," "life care" and "continuing care retirement facilities." All refer 'to some type of "assisted living" or service-oriented housing.
Housing With Services
As we age, we want to focus more on activities we enjoy than on the trivial ones. If you feel this way and you´re looking for an environment that will let you focus on the activities and people you enjoy, than housing with services is the place for you. It provides a home in which your medical as well as general clean needs are managed for you.
Housing with Services Include:
There are several types of residential care options available in most communities. However, the names used to refer to each type may vary from state to state. In addition, some types will be licensed and required to follow set regulations. It is important to remember that not all settings within any category will be appropriate for people with dementia, or may not be able to provide care throughout the progression of the disease. Therefore, consider how long a setting will be appropriate and when another move may be required. Keep in mind, that moving a person with dementia into a new environment can cause increased agitation and confusion.
What is Assisted Living?
While assisted living centers have been available the United States for many years, the growth and availability of assisted living has had a dramatic increase since the early 1990s. Assisted living is a residential alternative that promotes maximum independence for each resident through a combination of supportive services and assistance. The definition of assisted living from one state to another may vary and so will the cost and types of service.
Assisted living centers vary in size, style and the optional services they may offer. Small family style living or the larger complex of units can be found in the United States. Some facilities are operated by nonprofit organizations, while others are proprietary. In addition, some facilities may be co-located or affiliated with a hospital or nursing facility.An assisted living center is any institution, rest home, boarding home, place, building or agency that is maintained and operated to provide personal care and services which meet some need beyond basic provision of food, shelter and laundry in a free standing, physically separate facility which is not otherwise required to be licensed.
In general terms, an assisted living center is required to provide assistance with daily living activities, including eating, bathing, dressing and personal hygiene; three meals a day; supervision of self-administration of medications; laundry service including personal laundry; housekeeping; and 24 hour staffing.
Housing Highlights - Assisted Living
Assisted living communities are designed for individuals who cannot function in an independent living environment, but do not need nursing care on a daily basis. Assisted living communities usually offer help with bathing, dressing, meals, and housekeeping.
Assisted living residences are:
1. Housing environments which provide individualized health and personal care assistance in a home-like setting. The level of care available is between that provided in congregate housing (housing with meal service) and a skilled nursing facility. In these settings:
- Residents are semi-independent physically or mentally, or frail persons who need frequent assistance;
- Services offered include, personal care assistance, health care monitoring, limited health care services and/or the dispensing of medications;
- State licensing and regulation by state social welfare agencies is required.
2. Iimportant because they promote independence by meeting residents' supportive needs while preventing inappropriate institutionalization.
3.known by various other names. The most common are: personal care homes, sheltered housing, residential care, homes for adults, managed care, catered living, board and care, and domiciliary care.
Who Resides In Assisted Living Residences?
Assisted living housing is often deemed necessary when you have difficulty performing daily tasks and have no one to help you. Some indicators are:
- Needing help preparing meals, bathing, dressing, toileting, or taking medication -needing assistance with housekeeping chores or laundry
- Requiring some health care assistance or monitoring
needing transportation to doctors, shopping, and personal business- Feeling frequently confused or experiencing memory problems
What is Independent Living?
Independent Living is an residential living setting for elderly or senior adults that may or may not provide hospitality or supportive services. Under this living arrangement, the senior adult leads an independent lifestyle that requires minimal or no extra assistance. Generally referred to as elderly housing in the government-subsidized environment, independent living also includes rental assisted or market rate apartments or cottages where residents usually have complete choice in whether to participate in a facility's services or programs.
What is Congregate Housing?
Congregate Housing is similar to independent living except that it usually provides convenience or supportive services like meals, housekeeping, and transportation in addition to rental housing.
These are multiunit housing buildings (private rooms or full apartments) that are restricted to persons over a specified age and that include supportive assistance. Typically, monthly charges include rent and supportive services. Congregate housing does not require licensure or certification by a public agency as personal care services (help with eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring) are not provided or included in the monthly charge. Congregate housing residents may contract privately with community home care agencies to receive personal care and home health care services. Monthly charges may be priced at market rates or subsidized with government assistance.
What Are Continuing Care Retirement Communities?
A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is a community which offers several levels of assistance, including independent living, assisted living and nursing home care. It is different from other housing and care facilities for seniors because it usually provides a written agreement or long-term contract between the resident (frequently lasting the term of the resident's lifetime) and the community which offers a continuum of housing, services and health care system, commonly all on one campus or site.
What is a Nursing Home?
Nursing Homes provide 24-hour skilled care for the more acute patients. Patients generally rely on assistance for most or all daily living activities (such as bathing, dressing and toileting).
What is a Residential Board and Care Home?
Residential Board and Care Homes are small residential family homes which provide 24-hour custodial care for four to six residents. All custodial care, meals, and activities are provided by live-in full-time staff. Most are licensed to accept non-ambulatory residents and have been constructed with these residents needs in mind (e.g., wheelchair accessible bathrooms and inside/ outside ramps).
Board and Care Homes
Board and care homes go by many names (including personal care homes, residential care facilities, assisted living, and domiciliary care). In exchange for rent, generally they provide room, meals, laundry and house-keeping, and regular contact with staff to ensure that "all is well." The daily contact with staff is what distinguishes "board and care" homes from the more familiar boarding houses. Your parent would share this home, of course, with a number of other residents.
Visit the home with your parent before a decision is made. Look at the private room your parent may occupy. Ask lots of questions about the services and evaluate the staff. Ask for references and check the home's record with the local or State licensing agency.
Consider these issues:
- Will your parent have privacy and independence?
- Is common space available?
- How much will it cost, including add-ons to the rent?
- Is it near public transportation, places of worship, and shopping?
- Can your parent's special dietary needs be met?
- Does the home comply with local licensing, fire, and zoning laws? Is it licensed by the State?
- What are the arrangements for sharing bathrooms?
- Will your parent have to climb stairs?
- Are there security locks on each room?
- Will your parent have access to a telephone?
- Are pets allowed? Who will care for them?
Understanding Just What a Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Can Mean
Distinctly different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed in older people, Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain from which, at this time, there is no recovery. The disease slowly and irreversibly attacks nerve cells in all parts of the cortex of the brain, as well as some surrounding structures. Alzheimer's disease affects a person's memory, language, motor skills, sensory function, abstract thinking (judgment, making plans, etc.), and eventually even affects the ability to recognize loved ones, friends, and once-familiar objects. The combination of all these changes has devastating effects on the person's relationships, social life, and occupational life (including work, school, shopping, hygiene, finances, etc.).
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. While Alzheimer's disease is certainly not the foregone result of "getting old," unless a cure for the disease is found that number is expected to triple in the next 20 years as more people live into their 80's and 90's.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Finding out that you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's can be devastating. You may not know what to do, what to expect, or where to turn for help. Understanding the symptoms is important. Alzheimer's is not a disease characterized by memory impairment alone. Typically, a combination of symptoms defines the illness.
- Memory impairment is the most common and one of the defining symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. In the early stages of the disease, the person may forget small things, like a doctor's appointment or name of the mailman. Sadly, this impairment progresses to forgetting to finish tasks (like turning off the stove and water), and eventually to even forgetting relatives' names. When forgetfulness is a problem, Alzheimer's patients sometimes become paranoid, and, for example, may believe that people are stealing from them. Remember that everyone forgets occasionally and that common forgetting does not mean that you have Alzheimer's disease.
- Language difficulties are also consistent in Alzheimer's patients. At first, the person may just have difficulty in finding the right word, but as with the other symptoms, the difficulty gets worse. A person in later stages may have problems with speaking and understanding language. The ability to repeat words is well preserved but naming, speaking, and comprehension deteriorates as the disease progresses.
- Abstract thinking is also affected as Alzheimer's disease progresses. Abstract thinking deals with activities that involve a multi-step process and that require reasoning and judgment. Planning and organizing can become increasingly difficult and eventually, impossible. Activities once taken for granted (such as balancing the checkbook and reading) can become very difficult. A caregiver must be willing to understand what effect this loss of independence can have on the person and be willing to help in the completion of these duties in a subtle and tactful (and not overbearing) manner.
- Personality changes which may occur are often the most difficult symptom for loved ones to handle. A previously calm, caring spouse may become irritable, stubborn, and depressed without warning. Before Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the spouse of the person may see these changes as problems in their relationship and may become totally fearful or awe-struck by the change in the person. These changes are not the person's fault and do not indicate any change in feeling toward a spouse or loved one.
- Disorientation and confusion are also common -- a person will not know the date, time, or even where he or she lives. The person with Alzheimer's disease may wander aimlessly and not be able to find their way home.
These symptoms may start off mild and progressively worsen. In the final stage of Alzheimer's disease, the person is incapable of caring for himself or herself, talking with others, or paying attention.
Causes of Alzheimer's Disease
As researchers work hard to find the cause of Alzheimer's disease, several theories have been developed that, while neither proven nor disproven, may shed light on why some people develop the disease. A few popular theories include:
Chemical Theories
While the cause of Alzheimer's disease is still not known, it is understood that two significant abnormalities occur in the brains of those afflicted by the illness: twisted nerve cell fibers, known as neurofibrillary tangles, and a sticky protein called beta amyloid.
Neurofibrillary Tangles
The tangled fibers are the damaged remains of microtubules, the support structure that permits the flow of nutrients through the nerve cells.
Beta Amyloid
A high concentration of placques of a protein known as beta amyloid forms patches called neuritic placques outside the nerve cells and grossly obstructs the normal function of neurotransmitters which are the chemical messengers in the brain.
Genetic Theory
Researchers have found some people have a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. Recently, several different genes have been discovered that may possess a link to Alzheimer's disease. More research needs to be to determine why some people have this predisposition and others develop the disease with no family history. Some studies suggest that the genetic factor may need to combine with some other environmental factor to produce the illness.
Autoimmune Theory
Sometimes, the immune system turns against the person's body. Some researchers think the immune system may turn against the brain and cause damage to it that results in the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Slow Virus Theory
Some diseases are caused by viruses. It is possible that a virus could attack the brain and cause changes that result in the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Blood Vessel Theory
This theory suggests that there is a break in the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is a thin membrane that keeps toxic substances and foreign bodies from entering the brain. If the barrier were to break, it is possible that these toxic substances could enter and cause damage to the brain resulting in the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Note that this theory differs from hardening of the arteries in the brain and stroke.
Treatment For Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible and progressive illness. This means there is not yet a cure for the disease and that it will get worse over time. Therapy can provide significant help, for the person with Alzheimer's, as well as for their close family members whose lives are also markedly impacted by the effects of the disease. Medications are also useful in managing the patient's symptoms of Alzheimer's.
A person with Alzheimer's disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms. From the time of diagnosis, people with Alzheimer's disease survive about half as long as those of similar age without dementia. Average survival time is affected by age at diagnosis and severity of other medical conditions.
For much of the course of their illness, a person with Alzheimer's can still partake in many activities with family and friends, especially if others are kept aware of the person's limitations. Many people retain the ability to demonstrably give and receive love throughout their illness.Source: 4therapy.com
For Seniors
The City of Vancouver coordinates a rich program of activities and services for seniors.
50 and Better Activities
Well over 100,000 Vancouver and Clark County seniors enjoy enrichment activities offered at the Luepke Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd. There are also lots of activities seniors at the Trapedero II, in Firstenburg Community Center.50+ Travel Program
Since 1971 the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation 50+ Travel Program has provided people over the age of 50 affordable group travel. Day-trips explore attractions, events, festivals, cultural activities and destinations with varied levels of difficulty. You'll meet new people and make friends. Trips are planned and escorted by trained volunteers so that you are able to sit back, enjoy the ride, your group and your destination. Overnight trips in the Pacific Northwest, the United States, overseas and/or cruises are arranged through approved travel agencies. Contact Nancy Olsen at 360-487-7053 for program information. Frequently asked questions regarding the 50+ Travel program.Senior Messenger Newspaper
The Senior Messenger is the 3rd largest newspaper in Clark County. It is mailed free to anyone 50 or older who requests it. Read about active adults, travel, health, education and leisure information, legislative information and other matters of interest to SW Washington's senior residents. Revenue is from reader donations and paid advertising.Loaves & Fishes - The Meals-On-Wheels People
Loaves & Fishes provides a hot, nutritious noon meal Monday-Friday. Com join the fun. Meet new friends, dance, play bingo and get involved. A suggested donation of $2.75 is asked for lunch.Senior Centers For Clark County
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
People from all walks of life contribute their skills, knowledge and time to worthwhile community efforts through RSVP. Enjoy an active retirement lifestyle while helping others. RSVP is open to people 55 and older, retired or semi-retired. Call (360) 694-6577.
For Seniors
The City of Vancouver coordinates a rich program of activities and services for seniors.
50 and Better Activities
Well over 100,000 Vancouver and Clark County seniors enjoy enrichment activities offered at the Luepke Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd. There are also lots of activities seniors at the Trapedero II, in Firstenburg Community Center.50+ Travel Program
Since 1971 the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation 50+ Travel Program has provided people over the age of 50 affordable group travel. Day-trips explore attractions, events, festivals, cultural activities and destinations with varied levels of difficulty. You'll meet new people and make friends. Trips are planned and escorted by trained volunteers so that you are able to sit back, enjoy the ride, your group and your destination. Overnight trips in the Pacific Northwest, the United States, overseas and/or cruises are arranged through approved travel agencies. Contact Nancy Olsen at 360-487-7053 for program information. Frequently asked questions regarding the 50+ Travel program.Senior Messenger Newspaper
The Senior Messenger is the 3rd largest newspaper in Clark County. It is mailed free to anyone 50 or older who requests it. Read about active adults, travel, health, education and leisure information, legislative information and other matters of interest to SW Washington's senior residents. Revenue is from reader donations and paid advertising.Loaves & Fishes - The Meals-On-Wheels People
Loaves & Fishes provides a hot, nutritious noon meal Monday-Friday. Com join the fun. Meet new friends, dance, play bingo and get involved. A suggested donation of $2.75 is asked for lunch.Senior Centers For Clark County
) 694-6577.
What is about the 55 and 62 age limits? How did Age Qualified Retirement Communities come about? Find out with this article.
When searching for affordable places to retire, you don’t want to give up the possibility of living a full and active life in the process.
A recent AARP poll found that nearly 60 percent of Boomers say they are concerned about living independently, and more than 50 percent say they have begun to think about how they would pay for independent living assistance as they get older.
Making the Move to
Independent Retirement Living
VA hospital for an appointment recently, he struck up a conversation with
another patient about selling his home and downsizing. As luck would have it,
Eickhoff’s fellow patient lived in a local independent retirement community
owned by Holiday Retirement, and raved about the benefits. Eickhoff was
sold.
"I couldn’t believe how much you get for the money," said
Eickhoff. "It is so nice to have everything taken care of with just one monthly
payment. It covers everything I need, including amazing meals. And if you need
another snack, the chefs just make it for you!"
Eickhoff, a retired
Command Sergeant Major, is part of a growing number of seniors who are planning
for an independent living future.
In fact, a recent AARP poll found that nearly 60 percent of
Boomers say they are concerned about living independently, and more than 50
percent say they have begun to think about how they would pay for independent
living assistance as they get older.
Crunching the Numbers
Mereen Klein, 86, started looking at the costs of keeping
her own apartment versus independent living when her eyesight declined. Klein
needed assistance with transportation and didn’t want to keep bugging her son
to drive her around, so she decided to move to an independent retirement living
community that met her needs.
"It was right for me with my fixed income, and the money
covers everything," said Klein. "I don’t pay for TV, or to have my room
cleaned. I couldn’t believe what I got for the money - it was really
something."
To determine what makes financial sense, seniors need to add
up the true costs of managing a home versus being part of a retirement
community.
"Even if you no longer have a mortgage payment, you still
have fluctuating monthly expenses including utilities, taxes, phone, cable and
food that can add up significantly," said Stan Brown, COO of Holiday
Retirement. "For many seniors, switching to a community that includes one
manageable, monthly flat fee gives them the ability to plan out the next 15 to
20 years and know exactly what they can expect to spend and what they can
afford."
For Klein, it not only made financial sense, it also gave
her back some of her freedom.
"I can take the community bus down to the bank or out to
dinner. I can even go to the doctor and my appointments without bugging anyone
for a ride," said Klein. "I have more independence now than when I lived
alone."
Ask the Right
Questions
To calculate the true costs of making the move to an
independent retirement community, Brown cautions seniors to ask as many
questions as possible prior to moving in, to uncover any buy-in fees, to
determine if a long-term lease is required and to see if the "feel" of the
community is right.
"It doesn’t make financial sense to make the move if you
aren’t comfortable in the new community and will want to move out within a few
months," said Brown. "It needs to not only be affordable, but a great place to
live as well."
Seventy three-year-old Julianne (Judy) Kayatt knows this all
too well. She sold her home and moved into a community that didn’t offer much
for her money and wasn’t as caring as she’d hoped. After only a few months, she
started her search again and was fortunate to find that a Holiday Retirement
community was a perfect fit for her.
"My family likes that I am happy here, and I like that I can
still be independent and live here," said Kayatt. "I am free to go where I
want; I am enjoying activities and events and I’m surrounded by friends. I know
I can be happy here for a long time."
The Golden Years
Making the move to an independent living community can be an
affordable way to make the most of one’s retirement years. Kayatt, Klein and
Eickhoff have all seen the benefits to cutting ties to a house or an apartment in favor of community living.
Klein was able to take advantage of a promotion from Holiday
Retirement, which covered up to $1,000 of her moving expenses, and Kayatt
received her birthday month free when she moved in.
And as for Eickhoff, the payoff for him is being surrounded
by people his own age with shared experiences and a passion for living the good
life.
"This is everything I ever thought about doing when I
retired," said Eickhoff. "Sometimes people reminisce about the past being
great, but I was fighting in the military for 22 years and working hard, and
now these are my golden years. I can actually relax and people take care of me
for a change."