Issue 30.09
With the many options out there for seniors, sometimes it can be a challenge to decide which choice is right for you.
The first question you should ask yourself is “Do I need help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, taking medication, or eating?” If you need this type of assistance, then Assisted Living is the better option for you. An Assisted Living Facility offers 24 hour supervision and comprehensive assistance with personal care. You make this decision when medical, memory or aging issues make it unsafe to stay in your own home.
Sometimes, seniors that are still healthy & self-sufficient find themselves getting overwhelmed by household responsibilities and immediately think, “I need to go to Assisted Living.” What they don’t realize is that there is another option for them, and that option is Senior Independent Living. These individuals can still live independently but no longer want the burden of cooking, cleaning or maintaining a home.
What should you look for in choosing an Independent Living Community? First, do you want to live in an apartment in a facility environment with residents at mixed levels of care? Or, do you want a private home in a community with other similar residents’ homes nearby? Either way, you should choose a home that is built on one floor without any stairs. It is also important to examine the parking options – is there convenient, well lit parking? Are safety features built in to assist your needs as you age – walk-in showers, grab bars in bathrooms, and sprinkler systems in addition to smoke detectors? Does the community offer fine, restaurant style dining with a variety of menu options? Is there a 24 hour emergency call system connected to an on-site response team? Can you bring your beloved pet with you? Do they take care of all housekeeping & maintenance issues? Do they have an activities program that develops activities to complement their seniors’ current interests as well as help them to discover new ones?
Stop by & get some of your questions answered by checking out the BeeHive Cottages. For information or directions call (435)773-7966.
You really don’t hear enough about Independent Living Communities. They really are a great option for seniors who want the community lifestyle but still want to maintain their independence.
If the community you seek does not provide 24-hour emergency response services, you can always consider a medical alert monitoring system. They are very affordable and a great way to add safety and security to any residence.
Personally I would try to avoid this by having Mom take a reverse mortgage on her home. Seniors can have the necessary repairs made to the house, and would not have to pay the mortgage until the house is sold. If she passes, the estate will pay the mortgage.