planning Senior Living
For most people, having a conversation about end-of-life issues with their aging parents or other family members can be a difficult task, especially as we consider all the types of living options available to seniors today.
There are numerous options to support seniors’ needs, but family members trying to choose what is best for their loved ones may feel overwhelmed if they have not considered all their options prior to a debilitating illness or a loss of functionality. That is why arranging where your loved one will live is one of the most important provisions in a healthy aging plan.
Whether you opt to do the research for yourself or seek outside guidance, it’s helpful to consider all the options available on the market before your senior has to make a choice.
Options for senior living
In the past, the only choices most people had when a parent became older was to either have your loved one move in with you or send Mom or Dad to a skilled nursing facility. There were very few options in between.
Thankfully, those options have expanded and there are a much wider range of choices to consider that would be better suited for your senior’s personality and ideal living conditions.
- Aging in Place
By far, the most popular option is to age in place. Study after study has shown that most Americans over the age of 50 want to stay in their own homes for as long as they can. A recent study by the American Association of Retired People (AARP), shows that 77% of Americans choose this option above all others.
Seniors who remain at home can also opt to have in-home medical or non-medical care professionals visit the home at regular intervals to ensure they are taking medication correctly or are merely getting help with daily living chores.
However, this isn’t always a viable option, particularly if the senior has severe medical, mental or physical limitations that prevent them from living on their own.
- Independent Living Communities
These communities allow seniors to live independently, as the name suggests, but a facilities management team takes care of the home’s upkeep and maintenance and an activities director provides community activities to keep seniors active. These are excellent options for seniors with minimal health risks who want to keep an energetic schedule.
However, these communities don’t offer onsite medical care and can also be cost-prohibitive since there is usually an entry fee or some other kind of buy-in.
- Assisted Living
Another popular option are assisted living communities. These communities allow seniors to maintain some of their independence but have nursing and dietary staff available to help administer medical care and cook meals.
But this option can often be cost-prohibitive. If your senior has a considerable nest egg or has paid into an insurance plan that has options for assisted living, then this choice is one of the best for seniors who can mostly take care of themselves but need some supervision.
- Personal Care Homes
This option is a relatively new option but is becoming increasingly popular in the aging community. These homes are located in regular neighborhoods but have anywhere from four to 12 residents sharing living expenses and chores. Each resident brings their own skills and abilities to the group.
This “Golden Girls” style of living allows residents to remain independent but have several other residents who can share in responsibilities and offset expenses.
But, these types of homes aren’t ideal for the aging parent who isn’t comfortable living with others or who needs more care and assistance than the other residents.
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
These facilities often have a bad reputation and aren’t top on anyone’s list of aging options, but they are necessary for seniors who require round-the-clock medical care. In addition to the full-time care, they offer structured schedules and usually have planned social activities to keep seniors mentally and physically well-balanced.
But, they also represent the loss of freedom that so many seniors want to retain. Because they are, after all, institutions, they require regimented schedules be followed and strict supervision often means a loss of your loved one’s independent thinking.
Why plan?
A healthy aging plan should start early. While most of us don’t like talking about our end of life, the fact is that people are living longer and need to let their loved ones know of their wishes before they become too ill to discuss their choices.
If your parents or loved one is over 50, now is the best time to talk with them about their options and to encourage them to start planning for all the scenarios we can face as we age.
Planning early also allows your loved one to consider financial arrangements that will allow them to pay for their care long after they retire. Aging plans should not only consider where you will live but also what to do as your medical conditions worsen or your financial situation changes.
Seniors don’t want to lose control over their lives and certainly don’t want to end up living their last years in a situation they always dreaded. Making plans for your loved ones to live out their golden years in the manner they have already chosen will make life happier for you and the seniors in your life.
Caring Senior Service founder & CEO Jeff Salter began his career in senior care in 1991 working for a home health care agency in Odessa, Texas. Four months later, he started his own senior care service to provide seniors with the non-medical care they need to stay at home. In 2003, Caring Senior Service began offering franchises and today has locations in over 50 markets nationwide. For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit https://www.caringseniorservice.com/