Aging in Place Story

[hg8727]

The recent article on aging in place did not spend much, if any, space on people who live alone, don't have any family, and whose friends are about the same age or older. What resources are available for such people to negotiate the inevitable difficulties of old age, especially if one cannot afford independent or assisted living but whose house no longer has a mortgage. It would be great if you devoted an article to this minority.

[GailL1]

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@hg8727 wrote:

 What resources are available for such people to negotiate the inevitable difficulties of old age, especially if one cannot afford independent or assisted living but whose house no longer has a mortgage. It would be great if you devoted an article to this minority.

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Aren't you talking about having a caregiver or even shifts of them come into your home to care for you?  There are services that do that - they can do it a few days a week or be there every day - even 24/7.  They cook, light housekeeping, help with any ADL, they may take you to your appointments or buy groceries for you.   The more hours / the more care / the more it cost.

If you have a home, especially one that has no mortgage, you could always sell it and use the proceeds to pay for independent living or assisted living.

Assisted living works on a care scale -  room, board, some amenities are included in the base price.  Also included would be a care level of just checking on you or perhaps just giving some minor help type care.  Then as time goes on, more ADL care may be needed and the price goes up depending upon the care level needed.  When it gets to the higher level, the assisted living facility may advise you or your family that your care level is higher than their staff can handle - just depends on the need.

if you need little care or perhaps only help 

[lh4909]

Yes, this. I am looking for a few individuals who actually need assisted living services due to memory issues, incontinence, help with ADL's or the need to be "set with" for safety reasons...etc. but own their own cannot afford assisted living or memory care. I have a family member that would love to share the care expense with a couple other people so they can stay in a actual house for the home environment, yet get a better ratio of care than in assisted living and better food. The need for this is going to become more prevalent in coming days.

[GailL1]

Where I live, there are living arrangements called personal care homes (PCH)  - they are regulated by the state, within communities, have no more than (6) residents or less if not enough space for (6).  Some take Medicaid, others don't.  These are on the care level of assisted living.  

They still aren't cheap because the owner / operator has to have help, insurance coverage, etc.   Some are better than others and some are Great.  The potential resident has to be evaluated by the owner/operator to find out if the facility can supply / meet their needs -