Senior Living, From Facilities to Aging in Place
Written by Harry Cline
When it’s time to decide how you’ll spend the last years of your life, it can often feel completely overwhelming. You have thousands of senior housing and care options available, yet there is a one in three “chance that a senior citizen will enter a nursing home,” according to statistics put together by Paying for Senior Care.
Your personal budget might not allow for the monthly fees that come from a nursing home, or you might not wish to end up in one and opt to age-in-place. Explore all senior care options available to see which of these is the most agreeable: buying a senior-accessible home (contact Lori Lynn to help you find the right home for your needs), modifying your current home, or moving into an assisted living facility.
Skip the Stress and Buy a Senior-Friendly Home
When you want your own space but your home doesn’t accommodate aging, opt for a new home with universal design. Don’t bother modifying a home and racking up expenses that you might be paying on for years. Let the home go, and secure a new space for yourself.
Homes constructed using universal design are single-level homes with wider entryways, countertops, grab bars and more. Not all homes that are senior-friendly will boast a universal design, so don’t let the omission of the phrase turn you off.
After all, depending on the city you live in, your senior-friendly choices might be limited by your budget alone. Since your budget can be significantly affected by the local market, make sure you do your research to learn the latest home sale prices.
Does Your Fortune Lead to a Facility?
There are all sorts of communities available for seniors to choose from these days. No matter what you’re looking for, you can easily find a facility that’s well-suited for your lifestyle — it’s just a matter of finding the right one.
By moving into a facility, you’re giving up the responsibility to perform tasks like mowing and cleaning gutters. You can safely age in a community with other residents you can socialize with during group activities. This sounds great, and it is the top choice for many seniors today; however, there are some downsides to assisted living.
Some of these facilities will have rules to follow and not all of them are equipped to handle medical conditions, like Alzheimer’s. Also, the space you’ll move into will probably be much smaller than the home you’re leaving, which means you’ll need to downsize.
Visit the facility, ask questions, and see if everything feels right for you. Remember that there are programs in place to help you age at home, too. So, if you can’t afford the facility of your choice, then stay right at home.
Age in Place, Avoid Uprooting Your Life
After spending 20 to 30 years paying off your home, you might not want to leave it behind. Thankfully, there are plenty of modifications you can do yourself to senior-proof the house. Once everything is safe, you can easily age in the comfort of your own home.
Think of the savings you’ll keep by staying at home rather than taking on the monthly cost to live in an assisted living facility. Stash the money you save for the inevitable medical costs that will stack up over time, or use them for larger remodels in your home.
The list of to-dos to bring your home up to senior code can go from doable to impossible very quickly. If you live someplace with lots of step-ups and staircases, it would be smart to install a residential elevator or lift and replace step-ups with ramps wherever they occur. Larger jobs, like
widening entryways for better mobility (which easily cost upwards of around $350 per entry), can go beyond your budget or not be structurally possible. If you need an infusion of cash to modify your home, consider a cash out refinance.
Enlist a trusted professional like Lori Lynn to help you find the best route to financial and physical security in retirement. Not all homes have the same atmosphere, and it’s important that you’re comfortable in the environment — no matter where it is. Start your search today, so you can unwind sooner.
Image via Pixabay
