How Do I Talk To My Loved One About Retirement Homes
Moving into a retirement home is a big transition, and for many families, it can be a difficult conversation as well. Its hard to bring up the idea of moving into a retirement home if you think your loved one will have an aversion to it, and its even harder if they live with you and youre very close. A good way to handle it is to start gently bringing up the idea well before the need becomes pressing, so they have time to get used to it, share their thoughts on it, and you both can make compromises as needed. Its also very important that you reassure them that you will be around to visit them in the retirement home and that theyll still be able to be independent and participate in all of their favorite activities. Its also essential that your senior is a big part of the decision process and that they tour the retirement facilities and talk to staff with you. After all, they are the ones who will be living there, so their input should be weighed most highly in the decision-making process.
Making The Right Choice
Now that weve covered the basic differences between long-term care homes vs. retirement homes vs. home care, its time to decide which is most suitable for your needs. This will largely depend on your medical needs, living preferences, and finances, which is summarized in the table below.
Once youve decided which type of living arrangement you need, you should also consider some additional factors before making your final decision. For example, does the home/provider have accreditations and awards? How many years have they served your community? Do they have positive reviews and ratings?
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Additional Senior Living Resources
The following guides can help you better understand todays senior living options to demystify the process. See below for more information on the types of senior living, paying for senior living, and more.
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Here Are Some Major Categories Of Options That Meld Housing And Care Together
*Estimates of properties with at least 25 units/bed as of Q4 2017. **Based on average private-pay per diem calculated on monthly basis.
The new options dont solve all retirees housing issues. Though many newer senior-housing communities are tackling the issues of loneliness and proximity to activities, many are not confronting the huge risk that looms over retirees: long-term care.
Some of this housing will be for people 65 to 85, but wont be for 85- to 110-year-olds, Kramer of NIC says. What happens when they lose their mobility, or cognitive issues?
Independent-living facilities charge an average rent of about $3,050 a month assisted living costs an average of $4,577, and memory care is $6,301, according to estimates from NIC. But that is before incorporating the à la carte costs for the help that many people hire to augment what is offered in an assisted-care facility, for example. Those costs can spiral.
But managing the care and finding the caregivers is a problem even for people who can afford the cost, and many cannot: About half of middle-income seniors are not expected to have the financial wherewithal to pay for senior housing, even after selling their existing home, according to a recent report by NIC.
Here are some other things to consider:
Assisted Living And CCRCs
Editor’s Choice
What to Look forand Avoid
More on Retirement Housing
Whats Old Is New Again
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Levels Of Care Offered
Some senior living communities offer various services and levels of care as residents needs change, others may only offer one level of living. Communities offering multiple levels of care are often referred to as life plan communities or continuing care retirement communities. Independent residential living offers apartments and cottages for like-aged individuals. Personal care facilities provide additional services and levels of care to seniors who need more assistance with activities of daily living like meals, showering and reminders. Memory care is designed to assist seniors that are challenged by memory loss. Healthcare Centers offer skilled nursing for short-term rehabilitation or long-term care. You or your loved one may not need additional levels of care right now, but knowing that option is available in the future can help alleviate future worries.
When looking at the levels of care offered, make sure to ask if that community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental Medicare plans, and long-term care insurance.
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Get Your Family On The Same Page
Regardless if you are a senior looking for yourself, or you are looking on behalf of your elderly loved one, when you work with a similar goal, you will be more decisive and effective. Conflict between family members ultimately creates inefficiencies when choosing the best retirement home. Remember, the goal is choosing the best care for yourself or a loved one. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to start your search on the same page with other family members who may be helping you.
Assess The Cost Of Living
Given that the average pre-retiree can expect to spend 55% to 80% of their current income in retirement, a low cost of living and housing costs are critical to most individuals to help stretch their retirement income further. They’re also factors that will ensure that retirees come out whole, should financial circumstances change .
In these two respects, not all locations make for affordable retirement destinations. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee are the states with the lowest cost of living, according to a study by Blacktower Financial Management. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon are the most expensive.
With respect to housing, West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Indiana offer the lowest average property prices. Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest property prices.
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Valley View Simply Feels Like Home
Since 1988, Valley View has been home to so many who have opened a new chapter. Our unique ability to blend independent living and assisted living creates a vibrant, close-knit community brimming with laughter, exceptional care and fresh reasons to look forward to sharing each new day with a big family of friends. Your retirement money lasts longer. Valley View is also Lynchburgs best senior living valuea rental retirement community with no long-term commitment, no entrance fee and no buy-in expense. Plus, Valley View offers a quiet, park-like campus with mature trees, walking trails, and raised gardening beds, plus private balconies with every apartment. Residents enjoy gracious dining, housekeeping, a Wellness Center, an outstanding staff, a rich calendar of activities plus free chauffeured transportation to doctors and shopping and activities in Lynchburg, VA.
Medical And Safety Services At Mississauga Homes
A core benefit of retirement home life is the added health and safety servicesno matter what the care type of the suite/home.
However, different homes will offer different health amenities. When looking into communities, ask if any of the following are included in the rental cost or living package you chose:
- An on-site doctor, or a doctor who visits residents on a regular basis
- On-site nursing staff
- Recuperative programs
- Dietary programs
Mississauga homes often include 24 hour nursing care and doctor visits once or twice a week. Other services may include ongoing medical supervision and administration, oxygen assistance, physical therapy, or various care packages.
On the preventative end, many retirement homes in Mississauga also have wellness programs focused on keeping seniors strong and healthy. These programs may include full access to a nursing team, physiotherapist and personal trainer who work one-on-one with residents to maintain and develop their balance, core, cardio and strength.
Outside care
Residents needing care outside the scope of what the retirement home can offer may hire home care or another form of one-on-one care sometimes a will pick up the tab for this extra service.
Two of the areaâs largest and most advanced hospitals, Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre, also offer a range of outpatient programs and clinics with the referral of a physician.
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What Type Of Housing Options Does A Retirement Community Offer
First off, you need to narrow down the location in Ontario where you are interested in looking at retirement communities. This will help you trim your list while still leaving you plenty of options.
Many luxury communities offer suites that resemble high-end hotel rooms allowing you to bask in lush furniture and splendor. Other retirement communities offer townhouses that you own and are welcome to furnish on your own.
Before viewing potential retirement homes, decide whether you want to own or rent and how much space you want. In the future, when you start touring retirement living communities knowing what you want will make the right choice more accessible.
Choose Your Dream Retirement Home
Your retirement home will dictate the rest of your life. Since you want peace of mind, and entertainment all wrapped into one, choose a home that provides you everything you ever wanted.
Trusted places like Alondra Residences offer a whole experience to retired people. With health services, shared and open spaces, access to sprawling gardens and entertainment facilities like cafes and shopping centres, you have it all in close proximity. Since the maintenance is taken care of, you have all you need to live the rest of your life in luxury.
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What Are The Downsides To Living In A Retirement Home
For seniors, there arent many downsides of living in a retirement home. The biggest potential negative factor is that the cost of the retirement facility may be stressful or even out of reach for some seniors. Many seniors are living on a fixed income, which makes it difficult to pay for a retirement home. Some seniors get support from their families, but this isnt always possible. If youre struggling with the cost of retirement facilities in your area, try looking a few towns over, or looking for a retirement home with fewer amenities. This may help you find a retirement option with a lower cost. Another way to prevent this problem from happening is to take out long-term care insurance earlier in life. This will help pay for the cost of living in a retirement home.
Another potential downside to living in a retirement home is being away from extended family and friends, particularly if you are close with them. Luckily, retirement homes will still allow you to visit your loved ones or for them to come visit you, although some senior living facilities may have rules about how long they can stay. The community factor of living in a retirement home may also be overwhelming for some seniors, although this can be mitigated by choosing a retirement apartment in a more private location.
How To Find A Retirement Home For A 90 Year Old With $250k In Assets
He now lives in a senior’s apartment in Ontario which is subsidized, so rent is covered by his pension of $1800 per month. He is frail so independent living is getting beyond him. He gets meals on wheels daily but nobody to look for him on a daily basis, no family.
Subsidized long term care places have long waiting lists. Since he has assets can he put those towards a private home? How to go about this since we don’t know how long he will live.
Maybe there are places that will take his $250K and let him live till death?
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Research And Compare Homes
Narrow down your list of homes by doing more research.
You should call the home or visit its website to find out:
- does the home offer the type and level of service that you want?
- when you can move in? Is there a wait list? How long?
- can you talk to people who live there now? What do others say about this home?
- what services are included with your accommodation? What will cost you extra? How much?
Cost And Availability Of Retirement Homes In Mississauga
In 2021, the grew by less than 1% to $3,236 a month. One and two-bedroom suites were in greatest demand. In Mississauga and Peel Region, the average rent for a retirement home was $4,408, and the median rate was $4,351. Mississauga senior living communities listed above start as low as $3,400 for a seniors apartment in a building where youll have an active social life, surrounded by senior peers. Starting rates for memory care are as high as $4,495. Consult listings above for more details.
In 2021, there were approximately 67,399 senior housing units available in Ontario . In Peel Region, there were 3,495 total units with vacancy rates at a long-time high of 25.4%, attributable to the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020, vacancies were at 15.7%, a rate to which the regions communities should soon return.
Note that renting is only one way to finance a retirement home suite, . Other options include and . Some communities offer different financing options, but most are built around a single financing type, .
To help pay for retirement homes, most seniors use pensions, RRSPs, CPP and other income like the sale of their home. Many seniors now find the luxurious lifestyle of communities much more accessible thanks to the GTA real estate boom. Homes purchased years or decades before gnerate over a million dollars in equity. Look at a .
Take a full look at a .
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Comparing Costs Of Retirement Homes Vs Other Senior Living Options:
- Retirement home pricing range: $1,500 to $10,000 per month
- Average retirement home: $2,500 per month
- Average Assisted Living: $3,500 per month
- Average Nursing Home: $220 per day or $6,600 per month
Medicare does not pay for room and board so do not expect it to cover your retirement living costs. It only pays for medical services.
Ask About Recreational Activities
It is important to find out the types of educational, social, and cultural activities that a retirement home offers. Is transportation available or do you have to use public transport? Does the home have a staff member who plans trips and entertainment outings? Is there a gym or fitness room? How about a pool or golf course? These are all important questions to ask before choosing a retirement home for you.
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What Should You Look For In A Retirement Community
While it is easy to tour different senior communities, if you dont know what you are looking for or have never investigated senior accommodations before, it can be hard to make the right choice. For this reason, it can be helpful to sit down with family and create a list of wants and needs before anyone has to leave their home.
If you have friends who have already retired, they can be a great source of advice, but in the end, you will need to talk to your loved ones and family to decide which senior living community is the best choice for you.
Some factors are easy to figure out, such as location, while other factors like cost, long-term care, and support options are more complicated. It is also not uncommon to find top amenities within senior living communities such as pools, golf courses, and recreational halls.
These senior communities work hard to create a pleasurable atmosphere for all residents so that they can settle into their new homes without any regrets. This can make every retirement community you visit look like the right retirement home, but the search likely will not be that easy.
However, before making any sudden moves, sit down with your loved one to do some research and check out the following tips.
What Is Independent Living
Independent living is simply any housing arrangement designed exclusively for older adults, generally those aged 55 and over. Housing varies widely, from apartment-style living to single-family detached homes. In general, the housing is friendlier to aging adults, often being more compact, with easier navigation and no maintenance or yard work to worry about.
While residents live independently, most communities offer amenities, activities, and services. Often, recreational centers or clubhouses are available on site to give you the opportunity to connect with peers and participate in community activities, such as arts and crafts, holiday gatherings, continuing education classes, or movie nights.
Independent living facilities may also offer facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, even a golf course or other clubs and interest groups. Other services offered may include onsite spas, beauty and barber salons, daily meals, and basic housekeeping and laundry services.
Since independent living facilities are aimed at older adults who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living, most do not offer medical care or nursing staff. You can, however, hire in-home help separately as required.
Other common names for independent living include:
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