Figuring out where to live can be a challenge for seniors but being a senior does not mean that you have to move. It is usually a worsening medical condition, accident or death of a spouse or caregiver that triggers a move rather than a particular age.
We are encouraged to plan ahead but that can be tough for those of us who do not know how long we will live, what we will die of and if we will become completely or partially disables at some point before we die.
I never imagined my parents would end up in a nursing home but that is where people who need around the clock skilled nursing care can live.
They were in their own home but needed more care so I helped them bring services into their home. My dad got some visits from a nurse practitioner and they got meals on wheels and someone came in a few times a week to help with cleaning and laundry.
I took them grocery shopping and on errands. That service is also available but they lived close by. I was able to do some of the cooking too.
Eventually, they were no longer able to care for themselves. They moved to an assisted living place. They were already in their late 80’s and active 55+ type housing was no longer a good fit.
Assisted living facilities are not all the same and it is about getting them more of the same services they were getting at home in an environment that was more home-like and less institutional.
In Minnesota, those places are not as well regulated as nursing homes are. As a daughter, I had to be involved.
Now they are each 90 years old. Some people in their 90’s do fine on their own in their own home but many do not. I have a lot of contact with people in their early to late 90’s.
Many of them no longer walk, and most need a lot of help. Our medical system is designed to give people in their 90’s unlimited medical care.
As our population ages, I am becoming more concerned about “resources” that are being given to seniors. One resource states in the fine print:
“There is no cost to you for our services.
We are paid by our partner communities only if you move in.”
Are advisors who are being paid by assisted living and senior housing communities really the best source of advice for seniors? What about the housing options that are available that do not partner with the senior housing experts?
I like to refer Minnesota seniors and people like me who want to help a family member to SeniorLinkageLine. It is also a free service but no one is getting a commision. It is a state-run program.
There is so much to learn if you find yourself in need of senior housing. After years of hands-on experience, I am still learning new things all the time. One thing I learned early on is to carefully vet resources and experts.
Senior housing isn’t just for those who are disabled. There are senior co-ops and condos and 55+ apartments and communities. Some are a great fit for people who want to travel and who do not want to worry about caring for property or making repairs.
We tend to lump people from the age of 55 to 120 altogether and suggest that there is some kind of similarity in housing preferences and needs.
Also see: Beware of the senior specialist
