If you’ve started to think about changing your living situation, or you’ve been thinking about your parents’ or loved ones’ need for a change in the future, you’ve probably thought about some of the issues this article discusses (another great article on senior housing from nextavenue.org) – high cost, little convenience, and some of the challenges of “aging in place.”
This entry should remind seniors and caregivers of seniors that, like everything else in life, planning ahead and understanding your options in advance is to your advantage. I talk with clients regularly who are surprised by the cost of “senior living” facilities, the complications of being able to move to a facility and stay there as more needs are evaluated and assessed (especially if Medical Assistance may be in their future), the lack of convenient choices, and the fact that staying at home and “aging in place” is not always as easy as it would seem.
Where you live, what your housing needs are, and how you can access services you may need becomes an essential part of taking care of yourself as you age, or taking care of your loved ones as they need more assistance. Your housing choices can have a direct effect on your financial stability and estate planning, your eligibility for services and assistance, and the cost and availability of those services.
As we age, the issue of appropriate housing and safe living situations can get very challenging, sometimes very quickly. There are, of course, often many options – so many, it may be overwhelming. But, like most everything else as we age, the more we educate ourselves in advance, the better we can plan and prepare for our future needs. I hope reading this article helps seniors and their caretakers start to think through the realistic options for the future, so everyone can make quality choices for themselves and their loved ones as circumstances present themselves.
This blog is written by Bridget-Michaele Reischl, Attorney DECORO LAW OFFICE, PLLC www.decorolaw.com