Decisions about Retirement Living

There really is no place like home. When asked about their preference for housing, most seniors answer, "What I would really like to do is to stay right here." The person's own home represents security and independence to most Americans.

Most housing, however, is designed for young. active and mobile people. To live at home, a person must, at the very least, be able to drive, go shopping, cook. and do household chores. Many of us will lose one or more of these abilities as we grow older.

One option is to purchase inhome services, to cope with declining abilities. For a fee, an army of workers will appear to cut your grass, wash your windows, cook your meals, do the shopping, and even provide personal care and/or skilled nursing care. This may be the option for you, depending on the amount of help you need. However, this can be expensive and will require a lot of management and coordination.

For people willing to relocate, there are plenty of options, although there may be some confusion about what all the terms mean. You may hear about "board and care homes," "personal care homes," "life care" and "continuing care retirement facilities." All refer 'to some type of "assisted living" or service-oriented housing.

Housing options generally fail into three categories, based on level of services and/or care provided: 1) independent retirement housing, providing meals, activities, house-keeping and maintenance to more active seniors; 2) "assisted living," providing housing along with supportive services for seniors needing assistance with personal care or medication taking; 3) housing providing nursing care services for seniors who become temporarily ill or who require long term health care. Some examples of these retirement options are:

Independent Living Retirement Communities

These complexes are for seniors who are able to live on their own, but want the convenience of a comprehensive service package. Meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation and security are provided to active older adults.

"Assisted Living" Facilities

In addition to the services mentioned above, these facilities provide personal care assistance to residents. This means that, in addition to housekeeping services, residents receive assistance in managing their medications. and a helping hand with bathing, grooming and dressing.

"Assisted Living" facilities come in all shapes and sizes. Settings can range from three or more older people in a homelike setting, to dozens of residents in an institutional environment.

Nursing Homes

For individuals already disabled to the point of requiring daily nursing care as well as other support services, nursing homes provide comprehensive care services in a single setting. While most older persons and their families see nursing home care only as a last resort, they may in fact be the best setting for disabled persons with multiple problems and requiring multiple types of services.