As we go through life, we are often faced with critical decisions along the way. Should you marry that person? Should you take that job in another part of the country? From time to time, these questions that shape your life seem to come up.
As a senior, one of the critical questions you will have to deal with is how you want to spend your senior years in relation to housing. As the years pass, the ability to deal with daily functions will diminish and things can become more than just a chore – they can become very difficult to do. When you get to that point, it’s objective time to consider the housing options available to you and other seniors.
When considering options, one is almost always weighing three things. The first is how comfortable you will be in a place. The second is whether the location will meet your needs in the long term. The third is, frankly, how much will it cost and can you afford it? Let’s take a closer look.
Many seniors find that they need some help as they get older, but not full attention. It is the difficulty with some daily activities that is the problem. Many families mistakenly start looking for nursing home options for such seniors, which is really overkill. An assisted living facility would be more appropriate for an elderly person who needs care, but not the mass care needed by someone who is virtually helpless. The key is to understand that there are many different options and identify the one that you feel most comfortable with.
The second problem is finding a location that will meet your long-term needs. This can be difficult. You have to be objective. If you’ve been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, for example, insisting on living with your children is unfair. People suffering from dementia, even in the early stages of it, require massive care and supervision. Placing this burden on your children is simply asking too much. You must objectively acknowledge that professional assistance is needed. This means considering assisted living or a nursing home.
Finally, cost is a big issue that needs to be addressed as it is with most things. Associated care housing is not cheap. You will need to find out if you have insurance that pays for it or if you are eligible for government programs. Nursing homes are expensive, so you may be looking for an assisted living option once again to get a situation you can afford.
The market for senior housing options is booming because the number of people becoming seniors is growing, too. This means you have options. Take the time to research them all, and then select the one that meets the three criteria outlined above as applied to your situation.
