Assisted Living at Riverside: Almost Like Living at Home

California is seen as something of a young person’s state. And it is true that only a small portion of California’s population is older than 65, which is well below the national average, but the beauty and variety of the area has made this a popular retirement destination in recent years. No other state in the U.S. has so much to offer. Whether you prefer the mountains or the coast, a desert or a lush forest, you can find everything that you want right here. For those who need a little extra help from day to day, Riverside has some great assisted living facilities.

It is time consuming to find for a home for your older loved ones. You have to figure out what they need, then research the facilities, and try to figure out which one is the best option for them. Senior citizens deserve a peaceful life after retirement, and every child wants his or her parents to live out their golden years in comfort. Riverside can help.

Riverside offers senior citizens a peaceful setting. There’s certainly no need to settle on one place because seniors have virtually unlimited options when they’re looking for assisted living centers. Assisted living in Riverside is available to meet every need and income level. There are communities that cater to more active seniors. Many offer fitness centers and entertainment facilities. Some of the assisted living centers in Riverside also have facilities for those with Alzheimer’s. Other options include general care for the elderly, skilled nursing, communities that stress sports and outdoor games, fitness centers, pools along with spas and various other options for senior citizens who want to lead peaceful and happy lives.

The costs associated with assisted living in Riverside are influenced by a number of factors that include the amenities offered, the neighborhood the center is located in and its proximity to various facilities. Most assisted living centers in Riverside are located in scenic neighborhoods, which provide a pleasant atmosphere.

It should be noted that not all facilities are licensed by the California Department of Public Health. It is important to research any assisted living center that you’re considering before moving in. Some things to look into are making sure they follow proper regulations regarding cleanliness and quality meals, as well as safety and security of the center.

Most of the centers for assisted living in Riverside are located in clean and well-maintained surroundings and have several facilities to take proper care of senior citizens. They are designed to provide a comfortable, homelike atmosphere and to provide all the necessary support for the elderly to lead a peaceful life.

 

Locating New Home Builders in Atlanta

Many people today are moving to the Georgia region. They are discovering that they like the countryside, and they like the houses that are for sale. There are some specific places in Georgia, as well, that people seem to gravitate to. One of these is Atlanta. There are a lot of top homes for sale in Atlanta today, and a lot of these are created by new home builders in Atlanta and other, close-by communities.

These new home builders are committed to creating a lot of beautiful houses for the people who either live in Georgia and want to upgrade or are moving to the Georgia region and are looking for a new home. There are a lot of people who will buy a home that someone has already lived in, but others are very particular about getting just what they want. This is where all of the new home builders in Atlanta come into play, because they are needed by these people who want new houses.

The Georgia mountain communities are also becoming popular today, since there are a lot of people who like the lifestyle that these communities provide. The Georgia mountain communities allow for a subdued lifestyle where individuals can have larger plots of land, many open spaces, and still be close to the people and places that they want to be close to.

This makes living in one of the Georgia mountain communities a big plus for a lot of people, especially if they have come from a place where they were in a big city, always around other people and a fast pace that they could not get away from. A lot of the new home builders in Atlanta and other large cities will build in these Georgia mountain communities, giving individuals many options for their houses, as well.

Yet another popular place is the Waleska golf course communities. A lot of people enjoy golf course living. Golf is a popular sport, and as many people retire and look for something to do, golf will likely become even more popular with specific groups of individuals.

Because of that, Waleska golf course communities are gaining in popularity, with a lot of beautiful houses being constructed for those who want the golf course lifestyle. Naturally, not everyone is looking for that, but the beauty and greenery of living in one of the Waleska golf course communities often attracts a larger number of people than would have been expected in the past, helping these communities to prosper.

Buy your Retirement Home Now and Beat the Rush!

Scottsdale Arizona aah! Who wouldn’t want to retire there?

Beautiful weather, all the golfing you can handle and an up market lifestyle with plenty of culture. There are also endless community education courses and an ever increasing realty market.

You are nodding your head and groaning. The property market is increasing and you can’t get your foot on the ladder for another few years. Frustrating!

Well, think again – you can buy a home now and it will be ready for you when you are about to retire. However, you do have to move your thinking slightly sideways to achieve this.

When we think of retirement, we think of the perfect home, unique design, maybe all on one floor, with a great view, perhaps on acreage, or with a double garage or whatever your fancy is.

Yes, well put that picture on hold for a few years, because we are talking about a stepping stone here. But, a stepping stone that should get you an even better retirement home at an even lower cost to you.

Okay, well by now I should have your attention, so let’s get down to business.

Realty prices in Scottsdale have more than doubled (almost tripled) between the years 2000 to 2006. However with the baby boomers coming to the golden retirement age of 65 in the year 2011, there will probably be a rush on housing.

The laws of supply and demand suggest that this would add even further to the upward price trend, particularly in the choice retirement area of Scottsdale.

Usually in the housing market, we see a rise or a drop right across the board. So, theoretically, if you bought a modest home for $100,000 in 2000, it will be worth between $200,000 and $300,000 by now.

Houses can still be found in Scottsdale in the $200,000 (or less) price range. If you buy a modest one or two bedroom home now, in a few years it will most likely have increased its value. Guaranteed pensions are taken into account by the bank, so no problem there.

But that is only half the story. If you buy a modest home, you can rent it and let it pay for itself for a few years. You can go through a rental agent for this, this way you do not have to fuss with it, or you can take a holiday in your new property and finalize a rental agreement while you are there.

If the market trend continues to rise in the next few years, you will simply smile and rub your hands together! There is one more advantage to this plan. When you are ready to retire, you can stay in your own Scottsdale home and choose your perfect retirement home at your own leisurely pace.

Why Families Are Calling Lakeway, Texas Home

If Austin is an oasis in Texas, then Lakeway should be considered a paradise within the oasis.

Lakeway is a city of 15,000 people about 20 minutes west of Texas’ capital city. With rolling hills, lakes, and nearly a dozen parks, it’s no wonder so many people want to call Lakeway home.

Schools – kids in Lakeway attend Lake Travis Independent School District, an acclaimed school district known around the state. Elementary schools are never far from home, and the community rallies around Lake Travis High School, the only high school in the district. Lake Travis High School’s football team has won the championship two years running.

Homes – the median home price in Lakeway is north of $350,000, but starter and garden homes can be purchased in the $200s. There are also apartments and retirement homes in the area as well as more affordably priced condominiums. Expect to pay $1 million or more for water front homes. Homes in the area range from a couple decades old to brand new. One of the major new developments is Rough Hollow, a luxury community of 1,800 acres. Rough Hollow features custom homes and inventory homes ranging from $300,000 to over $3 million.

Outdoors – home to nearly a dozen parks, including a lakefront oasis called City Park, Lakeway is an outdoor lover’s dream. The city even has a skate park for kids to hang out. Lakeway is situated on Lake Travis’, which is Austin’s biggest lake. There are a number of marinas and boat shops in the Lakeway area. There are also a number of public golf courses and a city swimming pool for the kids. Lakeway is home to the yearly FedEx-Kinko’s Golf Classic. Hamilton Pool, a beautiful natural swimming pool, is only a short drive away.

Dining and shopping – Lakeway residents don’t need to drive into Austin for fine dining and shopping. In fact, many people in Austin make the short drive to Lakeway to dine at its many good restaurants. One of the more popular attractions is Ciola’s, an excellent Italian restaurant. Many people make the trip for one of Lakeway’s many lakefront restaurants, too. One of the area’s most famous restaurants, The Oasis, is just minutes away. The Oasis is famous for stunning views of Lake Travis from its many hillside decks.

There are a number of boutiques and other stores within the city, and the new Hill Country Galleria mall (and movie theater) are just a few minutes away. Many of the stores in Lakeway are locally owned. There’s a large grocery store within the city limits and another one just moments away near the Hill Country Galleria.

Medical – although just minutes away from world-class medical care, Lakeway will soon be home to two large medical centers. The Lakeway Regional Medical Center is under construction and should be completed in 2010.

Families – It used to be that Lakeway was where people called home when they retired. Not anymore. The city boasts a mix of retirees, families, and young professionals.

Five Critical Factors To Consider When Deciding On A Retirement Home

After decades of hard work, family, and saving, it is finally time to select the home of your dreams. Before you start packing the knick-knacks and advertising a yard sale, there are five crucial factors to consider before buying a new home. These factors are finances, climate, accessibility, medical services, and entertainment.

While many people would love to retire in Manhattan or Paris, many cannot afford those options. Retiring on a fixed income means living within your means. Also, as beautiful as a white Christmas may be, most retirees do not want to spend their winter months digging snow out of the driveway. Taking a careful look at these critical factors can help retirees make the best choice possible.

Affordability

With fluctuations in today’s economy, many retirees are being forced to reconsider their finances. There are often penalties for earning extra income, so the budget must be designed accordingly. The less expensive an area is, the further that monthly income will go. There are affordable options geared toward retired individuals and families in established communities. Retirement homes for sale in Orlando that combine accessibility, affordability, medical services and easy access to world class entertainment.

Welcoming Weather

Young bodies may be able to thrive in bitter cold but older joints prefer warmer, gentler climates, which is what makes retirement homes in Orlando so popular. It’s not so much the cliche of retiring to Florida, but the fact that the weather provides plenty of warm sunny days are comforting to the senses and that allow for outdoor activities and socializing on a regular basis.

Medical Services

Living in a rural wilderness may be fine for young adults, but diseases, disabilities, prior injuries, and chronic conditions tend to catch up with us as we age. Convenient access to medical services must be considered when looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando, Missouri, Costa Rica, or anywhere else. Ideally, geriatric medical services of various levels will be close at hand to provide for increasing medical needs, in case conditions worsen.   

Accessibility

Accessibility is another important factor when choosing a retirement home. While you may not need advanced accessibility features now, you won’t want to be burdened with the cost of adding on should you need these later. Sidewalk ramps and elevators become more necessary as we age. Finding the perfect home does no good if assistance is needed for every activity.

Entertainment

This stage of life means more free time to enjoy community events, museums, arboretums, educational opportunities, amusement parks, and other attractions. There is no reason not to enjoy all this hard-earned leisure time. That’s part of what all those years of hard work were for and what makes looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando worthwhile.

Make Enjoying Life a Priority

Some will find retirement homes in Orlando to be the ideal opportunity while a home town based senior community will be right for others. No matter what you choose, make enjoying life a priority. Now is not the time to settle! Ask yourself what you really want out of retirement and then go out and find it, rather than taking the first or most obvious option. Most people are surprised to find that a sunny Florida retirement filled with activities, friends, and sunny days really isn’t that expensive or out of reach at all.

When Staying at Home is No Longer an Option

Let’s call it like it is- most people don’t like to move and most older individuals certainly do not want to leave the family home and move into an assisted living environment.  There are of course many reasons that make a move so difficult, not least of which, is the overwhelming thought of emptying cupboards, basements and bedrooms.  When the ‘home’ is no longer safe- is usually the determining factor of when a move should be made.  But sometimes it is hard to determine when a move to a higher level of care is appropriate.   For older couples it is sometimes advisable to plan a move while the couple is still well enough to adjust to a new setting.   However many will only consider a move after a spouse dies.  

 

Once it has been decided that a move is necessary, there are several options to consider. Most seniors strongly resist moving into an “old folk’s home” for fear of the negative images they hold.  There are several options available in today’s marketplace including: condominiums, life lease apartments, senior’s apartment buildings, supportive housing, retirement residences, and long term care facilities.  An open discussion about what the senior would like and their current and future care needs is a great place to start.

 

When making a decision about a move, it is important to remember that each living arrangement has benefits and drawbacks. A condominium might be a good fit for someone who is finding the outside maintenance of their home to be a challenge and who wants to maintain complete independence- as no services are typically offered.  Many have a doorman or concierge who can provide some level of security and assistance.  These buildings also can allow the senior to stay in a community of people of varying ages. Seniors living in condominiums still need to prepare their own meals and take care of their own household chores. Perhaps the largest drawback to this type of move is that it is likely that the senior will have to move again as their care needs increase, unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

 

A senior’s apartment building is a rental option for seniors who, much like those who purchase condominiums, find outside maintenance of their homes to be difficult to manage but in every other way would like to maintain complete independence. These apartment buildings have an age requirement and do not allow children or younger families to rent. Seniors who chose a facility like this to call home may find that they meet more people who share similar interests and activities. Like the condominium, however, the largest drawback to this type of facility is the need to move again to higher levels of care when health begins to decline and the need for assistance with tasks of daily living increase unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

 

Supportive housing provides affordable housing designed to help seniors re-establish connections to the community. The housing is linked to voluntary and flexible support services designed to meet the seniors’ needs and preferences. It is designed for people who only need minimal to moderate care, such as homemaking or personal care and support, to live independently. The level of support may vary, and some support services are provided by on-site staff, while in other instances may be delivered on an outreach basis. This may include adult day programs or medical/physiotherapy clinics coming into the apartment building. Staff working in these facilities try to help seniors in their building get linked into other services offered out in their community, such as senior’s centres. These staff, however are not medically trained, some are Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) while others have certifications in recreation planning. In many facilities, no one is on staff during the night in case of emergency.  Supportive housing buildings are owned and operated by municipal governments or non-profit groups including faith groups, seniors’ organizations, service clubs, and cultural groups. Accommodations, on-site services, costs, and the availability of government subsidies vary with each building.

 

Accommodation costs are based on market rent for similar apartments. Seniors wishing to live in this environment need not have a certain income level however subsidies are available for seniors with limited financial means. If eligible, the government may subsidize the rent so that the senior only pays up to 30% of their household’s monthly income. To be eligible for a rent subsidy, the senior must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or refugee claimant. If they own their home they are obliged to sell it within six months of moving into supportive housing. Local governments may set additional eligibility requirements for rent subsidies. There is usually a waiting list for subsidized units. Seniors may have to pay an additional fee for optional services such as transportation, recreational outings or hairdressing.

 

To find out what the further eligibility requirements for subsidy are for your province, and to find out where there is a supportive housing unit in your area, contact your local CCAC or Community Care Association who have application information as well as a listing of all supportive housing locations in the area.

 

A retirement residence is another option. Many are geared to modestly well and independent seniors. These rental facilities, can range in price and service delivery.  Many offer dining room settings, pools, exercise rooms, supervised outings and bus services.  Units can include a bachelor, one or two bedrooms and some have kitchenettes that allow residents to opt in or out of some of the meals.  These retirement residences have the benefit of having staff (typically Personal Support Workers) available to residents as well as nursing and recreation planning staff. This provides the senior and their family a feeling of security in knowing that there is always someone close by in case of emergency. These facilities often become a community unto themselves, with meals offered and activities and events pre-organized by the staff.  Many even have visiting physicians and other health practitioners and can arrange for medications to be delivered right to the resident’s door.

 

Within many retirement communities varying levels of assistance for personal care are available (assisted living) and can be purchased as needed for an additional fee. These programs are offered as a means to help seniors ‘age in place’ so another move will not be necessary. Additional levels of care may be referred to as ‘assisted living’ which includes some hands on assistance from a Personal Support Worker for bathing and/or dressing and may include medication monitoring.  If the individual requires more assistance during the day and evening, or are dealing with significant cognitive issues that result in the need for full time supervision or a secured floor, while some facilities may be able to accommodate others would deem them ready to move to long term care or to require extra help from private service providers.

 

A life lease apartment is much like a condo – but includes access to all the services of the retirement home. These facilities may be within a retirement residence or a separate facility. The benefit to these types of apartments is that the resident maintains a bit of equity –they own their apartment and when they pass away, the money from the sale of the apartment will act as an inheritance or be available to pay off any remaining debt. If a retirement residence has life lease suites along with apartments, assisted living programs and long term care, the senior could move once and not need to move to another facility. Rather, they would move within the facility as the need arose for higher care levels.

 

One of the major drawbacks to moving to a retirement setting is the need to adjust to a communal setting. In these facilities there is a set menu, a set meal time and bus trips and outings are set according to a pre planned schedule. It can also be a shock for a senior first moving into one of these facilities to see “all the old people”. Discussing what to expect and getting tours of possible residences will help make the decision as to whether the facility will be a right fit. Some locations will offer trial stays so that seniors can see what daily life will be like, get to taste the food and meet other people who live there.  Respite and convalescent care is also offered in many retirement residences and may be another good way to introduce an alternate setting.

 

A long term care facility is available for those who require more assistance than what is offered by the retirement residence. These facilities are funded by the government so that no person who requires this level of care will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

These facilities have 24 hour nursing care and residents receive help with all activities of daily living- eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, as well as having provision for laundry and housekeeping.

 

In the Province of Ontario, long term care facility admission is accessed through the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). The CCAC will send a case manager to your home to help you to select 3 facilities that you would be willing to move to, in order of preference. Much like Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Prince Edward Island have agencies (Home and Community Care Services, Community Care Access Capital Health, “Centres locaux de services communautaires”(CLSC) (Local Community Services Centre in English) and Home Care Office respectively) through whom residents of the Province access admission to long term care. These government agencies assess applicants for eligibility, assist with completing applications, monitor the waiting lists, and advise residents of their admittance to a particular home. Initial contact with any of these agencies can be completed by either the senior themselves or a family member. To ensure that you make an informed choice, it is always good to book a tour of each facility, enjoy a lunch and speak with other residents and family members prior to making any decisions on your application.

 

If you are still unsure of what setting would be right for your parent, a Geriatric Care Manager can help assess your parent’s care needs and can assist with outlining the various local options available. They can help the senior to make a decision that will optimize their health and lifestyle for the immediate and long term.

 

Home Health Care v.s. Facility Placement : Options in Elder Care

It always makes me sad to hear the families of an elder say “Mom made me promise to never put her in a nursing home”. That is simply a promise that most families today cannot keep. If a caring son or daughter finds that they have to break that promise, they may feel guilty for the rest of their lives. Mom probably asked for that promise because the nursing homes she remembers were dark, institutional places which would be considered substandard in America today. Today’s family structure and the financial challenges of elder care, make facility living a very common choice. When an elder shows signs of not being able to perform the basic activities of daily living, families or concerned professionals must step in. It is actually against most state laws for a professional to be aware of an elder in trouble without taking some reasonable action to secure their safety. There are many indicators that an elder is no longer safe at home alone. The basic litmus test is to ask yourself is: “Could this person save him or herself if their home were on fire? Would they be able to call 911 and communicate their exact location? If left alone for any period of time are they at risk for physical abuse or financial exploitation? Do they have the skills and resources to meet their daily hygiene and nutritional needs? The answer is “NO” for many American elders who live home alone.

Independence vs. Isolation

Many of my elderly clients who were trying so hard to maintain their independence by living alone at home actually maintained nothing more than an isolated existence punctuated by the occasionally call or visit from friends and family. This type of isolation was also coupled with medication errors or abuse, self neglect and unsanitary housekeeping. A person living in this situation will often “bloom like a flower” in the right retirement facility environment. It is amazing what three hot meals a days, social interaction, clean sheets and regular administration of medications can do for a person’s mind, body and spirit. A person who lives alone is more likely to fall and lay alone on the floor for days without being found. A person, who lives alone may make poor choices such as keeping, (or worse,) spoiled food in the refrigerator. If a person lives alone, there are many signs of illness that no one will notice during sporadic short visits. Medical appointments may be missed and prescriptions left unfilled. Many people feel that they are honoring their aging loved one by letting them live alone, even though all the tell tale signs of self neglect are apparent. There is no honor or dignity in being found on the floor after one has laid in their own excrement for three days. Unfortunately, many families will wait for this type of incident before insisting on either home health care or facility placement. If an elder is physically or verbally abusive to family and care givers, they are much more likely to be left alone to make their own decisions, regardless of how dysfunctional their situation may be. Elders with difficult personalities are many times more likely to be abused by caregivers. They need more supervision, not less.

American Family Dynamics and the Pressures of Today’s World

I hear people say “Americans don’t take care of their elders like other countries do”. Well that is not my experience. The adult children who consult with Geriatric Care Manager or other eldercare professionals are very concerned about their parents. They love them and they want the best care their money can buy. That’s the clincher: what their money can buy. In America, caregivers, maids, etc,, are expensive. Perhaps in another country where slave labor is commonplace, people can afford plenty of care. But in this country it costs $12.00 per hour (or more) for a home health aide. At eight hours per day, that is $96.00 per day. That is $2,880 per month or $34,560 per year – more than the average working American earns per year. The average woman gets a social security check of less than $500.00 per month. Do the math and you will soon see that unless you are wealthy, many people cannot afford to keep their elders in their own home with a part time caregiver or even in their children’s home with a caregiver.

Now couple this financial problem with another very real problem. Most middle income women in their fifties, who are caring for their elderly parents, are also trying to hold down a job, help their young-adult children and maintain a marriage. If a middle income woman stops working to care for her parents, she and her husband either cannot pay their bills or they must significantly reduce their standard of living. I know a few husbands who are fifty-something and feel they have worked too hard and too long to have their dreams of retirement evaporate because someone else’s needs are suddenly more important than their own. Now that Americans have come to grips with the concept that it takes two incomes to live well in this country, they are more determined than ever to have a retirement. Paying $35,000 per year for a caregiver can take a huge chunk out of the retirement savings. Frankly, most people couldn’t afford to do it even if they wanted to. Because most Americans’ net worth is in the equity of their home, selling the family home is the most common way to finance elder care services. If the family home sells for $100,000.00 and the average cost of an Assisted Living Residence is $36,000.00 per year, an elder can afford to live in that Assisted Living for 2.7 years. Coincidently, the average amount of time a person lives in an Assisted Living before moving on to a nursing home is 2.5 years.

Many adult children, who do have the desire and financial means to bring their elders to live with them, still cannot. They cannot because the medical or psychological needs of the elder are beyond their capacity to manage. For example, if Grandma is sweet and docile by day, but “sundowns” or grows agitated as evening falls, this poses a difficult problem for the caring family. When some people experience dementia or other medical issues, they may stay awake all night. They sometimes wander out of doors or rummage through drawers and closets. This behavior will keep the whole family awake at night. If a working family cannot sleep at night, this situation will become intolerable very quickly. Some adult children have been raised by violent, aggressive parents who are now violent aggressive elders. Children who have been raised under these conditions need not feel obligated to bring their parents to live with them, despite the pressure they may get from outsiders who do not know the real story.

Elders and their families who are trying to make difficult choices about elder care benefit from a professional assessment from a geriatric specialist. Professional care managers can offer an objective opinion based on a clinical evaluation of the physical and cognitive status of the elder. Physicians, hospital case managers, facility admissions coordinators and social workers can also offer advice about appropriate placement of an elder or even suggest how to set up services in the home to best meet the elder’s needs.

Home Health Care – Stay Home without Being Alone

At the very least, any elder living alone should have a medical alert system. This is a necklace or wrist band with a panic button that can be pushed in case of emergency. If the button is pushed a dispatch center receives the signal and makes and attempt to communicate with the elder through a speaker placed in the home. If the elder needs help or does not respond to attempts to communicate, emergency services will be dispatched to the home. Many services will also contact friends and family to notify them that assistance is needed. A good candidate for this device is one WHO DOES NOT have memory loss as memory loss makes it difficult to learn to operate new appliances.

There are two basic types of home health care services: Medicare and Private Duty:

Medicare Home Health is free but can only be accessed if ordered a physician. Medicare will only authorize the free home health services if specific events have happened such as a recent hospitalization lasting three or more days, or a recent change in health status, etc. Medicare will send a Registered Nurse to evaluate the elder and that nurse decides if other professionals such as physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, etc. should perform evaluations. Each professional will determine what services they will render and for how long. Medicare services are temporary in nature and are not offered on a full time basis. The average visit by the nurse, aide and therapist is less than one hour each. Even Medicare home health aides only stay long enough to bathe and dress the patient.

Private Duty Home Health can be arranged on a full time, part time or live- in basis. Many Long Term Care Insurance policies will pay for home health care. The amount of care one can get and the duration of the services varies depending upon which policy they purchased. If someone does not have insurance, they must pay out of pocket (or private pay) for any services. Typically a private home care agency will offer services at a minimum of four hours per day. Typical eight hour shifts are 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm and 11pm – 7am. Many elders complain that an agency sends them a different caregiver each day. In order to avoid having the same aide, that as much as possible, order care every day for at least eight hours. This will allow the agency to schedule the same person for all your shifts. Because labor laws do apply and the agency would have to pay overtime for time which exceeds 40 hours per week, you will most likely have at least two to three caregivers on a full time case. The average hourly rate is $14.00 per hour. A live-in will cost about $150.00 per day. A live-in lives in your home and drives your car (or theirs for a mileage fee) and you are expected to feed them as well, even if you go out to dinner. By law, a live- in is entitled to two hours per day of free time. They can do what ever they like, including leaving the house during their break. If this arrangement will not work for your situation, consider hiring an aide around the clock. Around the clock care is typically delivered in two twelve hour shifts which are done by two different caregivers.

One aide comes to the home from 8am until 8pm and is relieved by the second caregiver at 8pm until 8am. Around the clock care can be delivered in many schedule formats. A live- in is expected to have their own private bedroom and bathroom although many agencies are flexible on this issue. The live- in is expected to be awake all day and have at least 7 hours of sleep at night. If the elder does not sleep at night, a live- in arrangement will not work. One option is to have the live in ($150/day) plus hire a caregiver to come to the house and stay up all night with the elder ($14.00. hour for eight nighttime hours). This costs $112 + $150= $262.00 per day. The only other alternative is to have around- the- clock care which will cost $14.00/hr X 24 hr=$336/day. Adding the eight hour night shift to the live in, saves about $3,000 per month. The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is available to qualified veterans who need a caregiver in their home on a regular basis.

Types of Adult Housing and Facilities:

Independent Living Facilities usually offer small apartments with some meals included in the price. A person who lives in an Independent Living Facility is expected to manage their daily care needs on their own, but the staff would readily recognize if needs increased and assist the resident in obtaining the needed help. Some facilities have extra care services available for additional charge to help the resident “age in place.” Others may ask a resident to move out if their needs exceed the scope of that particular facility. Limited transportation is usually provided although many residents are still driving when they enter an Independent Living Facility. These facilities may cost anywhere from less than $1,000 per month to over $5,000 per month depending upon the luxury amenities and location.

Assisted Living Facilities usually offer hotel size rooms with the option to share a room or pay extra for a private room. Three meals and snacks are usually provided as part of the price. Residents are expected to need some assistance with their daily care needs. Medication administration is strictly supervised. The State laws dictate who can live in an Assisted Living. The State does not want Assisted Living facilities to house nursing home candidates or Nursing Homes to admit people who could function just as well in an Assisted Living Facility. Assisted Living residents must be able to walk and transfer ( from bed to chair or chair to standing) with the assistance of only one other person. An Assisted Living resident can be left alone in their room for two hours or more. Nurses aides are on duty around the clock. Registered nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses are on duty at least during the daytime. Many medical services may make rounds and visit residents at least monthly. It is not uncommon for an Assisted Living resident to never have to leave the building for a medical or beauty appointment. Prices may range from under $1200/month to over $8,000/ month, once again depending upon the amenities. Medicaid has a program called the Medicaid Waiver which can pay part of the cost of the Assisted Living. However, funds have been historically limited and waiting lists can be long. The Veteran Aide and Attendance Pension is designed to financially assist qualified veterans who need the services of an Assisted Living facility

Dementia Specific Facilities are designed especially for the memory impaired resident. The building, floorplan, furnishings, décor, activity program and even the lighting have been scientifically engineered to enhance the lifestyle of residents with dementia. Many Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes offer a dementia program or dementia unit, but there are entire facilities which specialize in this unique population. Dementia Specific Facilities can be either Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes. They are secure in order to prevent residents from wandering off the property and getting hurt or lost. The price for this extra level of care is usually about $1,000 to $2,000 more per month than a non-specialty building.

Nursing Homes are State regulated and are inspected at least annually. A person who needs a nursing home generally cannot live safely in an Assisted Living environment. A typical resident is either wheelchair bound or bed bound. Those who can walk around freely may need the nursing home environment because they need constant medical supervision. The medical component of this environment is similar to a hospital or hospice setting. The emphasis is on rehabilitation or custodial care rather than socialization and activities. The ICP Medicaid Program (institutional care program) will pay for the room, board and medical costs of those residents who meet the financial and medical criteria. It is possible to plan in advance to help an elder meet these strict criterion.

Financial Realities

Keeping an elder at home with a caregiver can be the most expensive option of all. Many families feel keeping their loved one in the comfort of their own home is priceless. If a paid caregiver cost $14.00/hour, eight hours per day is equal to $2,880.00 per month. Around the clock care exceeds $10,000 per month. Independent Living Facilities cost an average of $2,300.00/ month and provide no personal assistance. Assisted Living Facilities range from about $2,500/month to $5,000/month and provide limited care. A Nursing Home (without ICP Medicaid assistance) can cost from 5,000.00 to $7,000.00 per month and will provide total care.

Anyone considering hiring home health or moving an elder into a care facility of any type should have their elder’s current needs assessed by a qualified professional who can ascertain the elder’s current medical/psychological and financial needs and anticipate future needs/solutions. With careful, realistic planning, caring for an elder does not have to be a financial or emotional nightmare. Making the right choices for you and the elder you care about is easier when you enlist the help of people who know the eldercare community and all that it has to offer.

In Home Care for Senior Help: Making Lives Better for All

As the gray-haired population hit the mid-sixties, in home care is much in demand.  Their children have come to realize that caring for their aging and sick parents can tax them beyond their limits.  This can cause a lot of friction in the home, where ironically aging parents should get the most support and understanding during this stage of their lives.   The option to get senior help for the elderly resolves these issues.

 

Independent Seniors

 

In the case of seniors who wish to live at home instead of spending the rest of their days in retirement or nursing homes, senior help or in home care is available.  They can get help to manage their legal transactions, do their shopping and grocery, drive them to community activities, and clean the house and cook their meals.  In case of a medical emergency, there is always someone around who can take them to the hospital.

 

These are the seniors living in their own homes or living on their own.  In today’s society, it is impossible for their children to be around all the time.  Hence, senior help is getting to be the best solution around.

 

How In House Care Can Make Lives Better

 

But living in their home makes a big difference to the seniors.  They would rather stay at home where they have lived for years and be near their friends.  Some may opt for a senior nursing home if they need nursing care and therapy, but still it is in their homes where their hearts are.    

 

At home, old people need companionship.  This happens at a time when their adult children have families of their own, are working, or out of the country.  Some of the elderly are unmarried and have no children, which makes their lives lonely. 

 

Fortunately, in-house care providers do not only do the mechanical routine of cleaning house and cooking meals, or checking if their charge is all right physically.  They also provide friendship and companionship, badly needed by the seniors who have lost most of their friends or who have families out of town.

 

The caregivers are also there to help the seniors:

·         Make the most of their time keeping them productive

·         Meet people and establish new friendships

·         Keep fit by walking in the park

·         Keep mentally alert by reading to them and explaining the TV sitcoms for the hard of hearing

·         Keep in touch with family and friends

 

Making Lives Better for Family Members

 

Caring for the elderly is not for the faint hearted.  It requires physical strength, tons of patience, money, and some skill.  It also affects one’s health because the task is physically demanding.  Although it may cost to get in home care, the benefits that can be gained from it cannot be converted to its cash value.

 

As a primary care provider for your parents, you do the following chores daily:

·         Prepare their special meals early in the morning

·         Feed them

·         Bathe them

·         Assist them with their toilet

·         Give them their medicines

·         See to it they are comfortable

·         Take them to doctor for medical consultations

·         Shop for their needs

·         Clean the house

 

With in home care, you can go to work without worrying about your parents, have more time for your family, and take business trips out of town. 

 

New Home Builders in Cherokee County Embrace Active Adult Concept

As little as ten years ago, you’d have had to search far and wide to find a model over the age of thirty in a magazine or on television. In one ad, a stunning woman with silver hair climbs into the cockpit of a single-engine plane and takes off into the sky. In another, a comfortable looking couple in their middle years walk hand in hand through the vineyard they’ve bought with their retirement savings.

These days the new face of America is 50+, and with good reason. As the largest generation in recent history “grows up”, they are redefining much of what marketers, advertisers and just about everyone else has accepted as fact. Baby boomers aren’t retiring – they’re re-tooling, trading in their jobs for new careers and following up on their dreams.

Many of them are ready to trade in their suburban family homes for the home they’ve dreamed of for years. They have some very definite ideas of what they want in their new home and new home builders in Cherokee County are creating beautiful communities that give them exactly what they want.

Many of the amenities that are expected by today’s active adults are the same amenities that contribute to a quality of life for families of all ages. Gated communities like Cherokee County’s Lake Arrowhead offer the unspoiled beauty of nature only minutes outside the South’s largest metropolitan area. They include luxurious amenities like lakefront living, a world class golf course, a swim and tennis club, and a marina. In keeping with the concept of self-contained living, communities like Lake Arrowhead often include mixed use retail and leisure areas.

Among the developments under construction by new home builders in Cherokee County are serene gated communities tucked into the mountains, beautiful new homes with lake frontage and gorgeous communities built around recreation and leisure activities. The communities cover the full gamut of prices from the mid-$150′s to and above $1M, from condominiums to townhouses to single family homes to palatial luxury homes. Many feature a multigenerational mix of residents. All take a great deal from the features that this generation values. Precisely what is it that new home builders in Cherokee County have to offer a generation on the grow and on the go?

The Community

Many of these new homes are being built as part of fully planned communities, incorporating all of the features that active adults consider important to their lives.

- Communities that offer serenity and beauty within easy distance of metropolitan amenities.

Natural surroundings and a peaceful environment are important, but so is proximity to the conveniences and amenities of a major metropolitan area. Some of the most popular new communities are located within easy distance of Atlanta, just a short drive away from the fine dining, cultural activities, medical facilities and entertainment venues of the largest and fastest growing metropolitan area in the South.

- Communities that are environmentally friendly, incorporating the natural surroundings with a minimal impact on them. Many of the new home builders in Cherokee County incorporate environmentally friendly design into all of their homes. The communities in which they are built are planned around green space, taking care to disturb Mother Nature as little as possible.

- Communities that include all the amenities that make life luxurious. Take a tour of new communities in and around Cherokee County and you’ll find countless and varied amenities, including private golf courses, community centers with tennis courts, swimming pools and water parks.

These developments are not the suburban style subdivisions of the last century. Each home is unique, and is designed to fit into its environment organically. The outdoors are an integral part of the living spaces, and leisure and recreational opportunities are not afterthoughts, but a central core of the community’s concept.

The developers don’t pay lip service to environmental concern; they make it part of the foundation of the master plan. They encourage a commitment to fitness by incorporating features like hiking trails and fitness clubs as part of the community design and recognize the need for serenity and beauty in every part of the design process.

Most of all they recognize that today’s new home buyer is looking for more than just a house – they are looking for a home and a community that reflects their values and supports their desire to live up to a particular quality of life. In communities like Lake Arrowhead, the promise of that high quality of life is fulfilled through design and creation of community.

Senior Luxury Home Living in Scottsdale

Senior Living in the Scottsdale Area

One of the biggest advantages to owning luxury homes Scottsdale is being so close to the wide variety of high quality assisted living facilities for seniors. In this economy, more and more people are helping to pay for part – or all – of the care that their elderly parents need.

Those who own luxury homes Scottsdale have the ability to put their beloved family members in top-notch assisted living homes without having to send them to the other side of the state. Below is rundown of the three most popular senior living near luxury homes Scottsdale:

1. Sagewood. Located in Northeast Phoenix, Sagewood provides an environment that places an emphasis on independence, flexibility and choice. The campus occupies more than 85 acres of prime desert terrain, and features amenities like a full service spa, outdoor exercise area, pool designed for both water aerobics and lap swimming, yoga classes, Tai Chi classes, strength training courses and more. Residents also have the option of taking classes, seminars and clinics that focus on fitness, well being, nutrition and maintaining an active life.
2. Windsor Place. Operated by Hyatt, a company well known for mastering the art of luxury living, Windsor Place is one of the most in demand senior communities near luxury homes Scottsdale. Many of the condo units have recently been renovated, and the gated community is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and well manicured lawns and greenery. Windsor Place is centrally located in Phoenix, and residents enjoy living in a close proximity to amazing museums, fantastic restaurants and some of the best shopping Arizona has to offer.
3. Silverstone. Also operated by Hyatt, Classic Residenct at Silverstone (or just Silverstone, for short), is a senior community of one-bedroom residences. Although construction is yet to be completed, the $269,999 and up residences are already highly sought after and are expected to sell out shortly. Amenities include a first-class culinary program, as well as access to personal services, programs and activities. Without a doubt, Silverstone is one of the absolute best senior luxury homes Scottsdale.

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