As you or loved ones get older you may feel it is appropriate to start looking at senior care and senior living. It is important to remember that residential homes are not the only option available and not all senior care is the same. There are options available which allow you or a loved one to remain independent while getting a little extra help here and there, and one of these options is assisted living. Getting prepared and looking at assisted living early on ensures that peoples choices and wishes can be honored, and that even those who need a bit of extra help and assistance can still live as independently for as long as possible.
What Is Assisted Living
Assisted living is where independent living happens in a self-contained unit that is within a complex or village. The units have the added bonus of help and assistance when it is needed. Anyone living in assisted living is independent as they have their own accommodation, but the difference is that they can get aid and assistance on site with anything from help with laundry to help with getting dressed. Assistance can also come in the form of help with medication or help getting washed. Another benefit of assisted living is that if a person’s health or wellbeing deteriorates then they are in the best place to receive additional help and care without having to move again. This can provide reassurance to the person living in assisted living and it can also provide family, friends and loved ones with peace of mind.
Where Can You Live
Whether you or a loved one is looking near to where home currently is, or you are looking further afield, it is good to know that there are lots of places that offer assisted living. Of course, not all locations offer the same high quality of service and assistance and this is the major difference between providers. For example, in California there is assisted living San Jose which really sets high standards for what good assisted living should look like by offering good on-site care and an on-site nurse. Deciding where you want to live, or where you want a loved one to live, will be dependent on a variety of areas including closeness to others, finances and personal preferences. The earlier you start looking at villages and researching locations then the more chance you have of guaranteeing you or a loved one gets the desired location. Being happy and content with where one is living can make a huge difference, so the importance of getting the correct location for everyone concerned should not be underestimated.
When Is The Right Time To Look
Every individual’s care needs and requirements are different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to when you or a loved one is ready for assisted living. If you are looking for yourself then the right time is probably when you are looking for help getting dressed and taking care of yourself, while still maintaining as much independence as possible. When looking for a family member or loved one the right time may be if they have had a couple of issues on their own in their homes recently, such as neglecting their personal hygiene or failing to take prescribed medicines and medications. Communication is essential here as everyone needs to be on the same page. You cannot rush somebody’s decision to seek help with their care, but you can provide them with useful and relevant information that will help them to make an informed choice and decision.
What Activities Are On Offer
The activities vary from location to location, but a good complex or village will offer both daily and weekly activities including group outings. They will also offer fitness equipment and programs that focus on maintaining health and wellness. An excellent village will offer a constantly changing and evolving schedule of activities that will ensure you or a loved one will continue to get the most out of every day. If the person who is looking at assisted living has always been busy and on-the-go, then you will want to ensure that this can still happen in some shape or form. Moving into assisted living does not mean that life is over, it just means that it is changing to ensure that quality of lifestyle and independence is maintained, and this is important to remember. When assisted living is seen as more of a transition then it will be more readily accepted by all involved – incredibly important, when it will be a huge upheaval in their life.
Can Couples Live in Assisted Living
Usually couples can, but this again depends on the complex or village in question – but yes quite often couples can continue to live together. There are however lots of things that can affect couples living together such as their needs, requirements and level of care or assistance required. Before making any financial commitments, it is always wise to check with the provider, village or complex you are looking at whether couples can live together.
How Can This Type Of Living Be Funded
All senior care needs funding and the good news is that there are lots of ways that this can be done. To begin with you need to find out roughly how much care will cost on a monthly basis and from there you can then start working out the financial side of things. Financing, for example, could come through selling or renting out real estate. Releasing funds through selling will provide a lump sum to pay for care costs whereas renting will provide a monthly sum which can go towards offsetting monthly costs. Pensions, life policies, annuities and savings are all ways and means which can be used to pay for ongoing living costs. When dealing with finances related to care costs everyone’s needs, responsibilities and requirements are different and so it is always best to seek the advice of a fully trained professional financial adviser.