After Assisted Living, What's Next?

While most people who move to assisted living community will not need to move from the community they initially moved to, some residents’ needs exceed the services the community can offer.

There are a few common reasons people leave assisted living to go on to another type of care setting: First, memory loss or unstable medical condition such as pneumonia or stroke; Second, an inability to navigate the hallways due to mobility issues; Third, some develop care needs with require a higher acuity of care and services. (More...)

The Aid-and-Attendance Pension Benefit

Aid and Attendance will pay a specific amount to an eligible former veteran or a spouse of an eligible former veteran. This is not to be confused with military retirement. (More...)

Assisted Living – When to Make the Move

People tend to wait until an emergency to consider moving into assisted living. Unfortunately, moving after crises adds undue stress on an older adult as well as their family.

Consider the following – if any are true of you or a loved one, a move to an assisted living community may be needed in the near future: (More...)

Is Assisted Living Too Social for Parents?

It is important to find the right match when searching for living arrangements. Moving from your home into shared living is a big adjustment no matter how good the fit. Many people reject assisted living as an option if they are not sociable or have become withdrawn.

Many adult children describe their parent as “a loner” or “not very social.” Some people become withdrawn after losing a spouse, if they have been taken advantage of financially or if they have lost the social support system. Then there are people who have been solitary their entire life and are not like to change after 85. (More...)

Choosing A Placement & Referral Agency – 5 Questions to Ask

Senior Placement & Referral Agencies can help you find senior housing and care services quickly and easily. They relieve you of the time-consuming, stressful job of searching for the right home or service because they’ve done the research for you.

However, the Senior Placement & Referral industry is unregulated, having no required licensing or oversight by a governing board. Every month a new Agency starts up. How do you choose a reputable and reliable agency to help you through a difficult time? (More...)

Assisted Living: Debunking Your Fears

Many people are reluctant to move and have unfounded fears based on pre-conceived notions. Change is never easy and most of us resist it, especially change to the unknown. Because assisted living communities are a relatively new idea to most seniors, most of what they know is based solely on what they’ve heard from friends or relatives or the old model convalescent home from thirty years ago.

Common misconceptions about the lifestyle of older adults living in assisted living communities include: (More...)

Is Assisted Living a Good Choice for You

Assisted living provides independent-style living with support services. Residents have their own apartments giving them the same privacy most of us enjoy. For those of us who are outgoing, assisted living offers numerous planned activities, social events and community meals. These activities help encourage a sense of community among residents, family members and staff. For those less social a sense of community can still be built through smaller social interactions among the other residents and staff. (More...)

Medicare vs. Medicaid

People often get the terms Medicare and Medicaid confused but they are vastly different and it is important to know what that difference is.

In short, Medicare is an insurance program with a monthly premium paid by the individual while Medicaid is a social service program run by the State and supplemented by the federal government. (More...)

Questions to Consider in Planning

Not many people plan to have poor health or imagine they will be unable to live in their own home during their later years. In fact, the majority of us hope we will live healthy and happy in our current homes for the rest of our lives.

Because of this expectation, many people will fail to plan, financially or socially.  While there is no sure way to plan for unexpected events, if we only prepare for our immediate needs, we may find ourselves faced with unnecessary challenges at a time when we are unlikely able to handle them.  (More...)

Retirement Living vs. Assisted living – What is the Difference?

Historically, retirement living meant a person would live in his or her apartment, be provided three meals per day and would have housekeeping services once a week.  No assistance was given outside of these basic items.  A person must be able to take care of themselves on their own. (More...)

The Impact of Caregiving on the Caregiver

Are you the primary caregiver for an elderly family member or friend? Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed? If so, you are not alone! (More...)