ElderAuthority.com

“Anything Goes” in Ann Arbor

Seeking Out Fresh Experiences
Thirty days after moving to Ann Arbor from Dallas we have taken advantage of very few of the delightful and unique opportunities offered in our new town.  We did manage to catch a movie at the Michigan Theater.  Otherwise, most of our time has been spent completing renovations, unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, making trips to Lowe’s, paying bills, and getting to know our neighbors.
There were at least a dozen events I wanted to attend… More

SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS: AGING IN PLACE & INDEPENDENT

According to an AARP survey, 89 % of people 50 and older prefer to remain at home as they age. Almost everyone prefers to live as independently as possible.  Here are some of the best options for senior housing that allow for high to moderate independence:
AGING IN PLACE
Description: Live in own home, making modifications to house as needed.
Cost: Similar to average cost of living for area plus home modification plus ; in-home help (minimum wage – $20/hr) plus home health… More

SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS: UNDERSTAND ADLs AND IADLs

WHAT KIND OF HOUSING?
Adults usually need a certain set of skills in order to be able function independently.  The senior care professions calls them the Activities of Daily Living and use them to develop a functional assessment.  A functional assessment helps identify medical issues and diagnose cognitive abilities in addition to helping evaluate a person’s ability to manage every day tasks.
You can use the ADLs informally to help narrow down the kind of housing… More

ANOTHER KIND OF ELDERLY ASSISTED LIVING

For older people, safety is high on the list of what is important.  This  woman takes it to a whole new level.  Talk about Independent Living!
Your giggle for the day.
 … More

EMBRACE CHRISTMAS YET TO COME (Part 3/3)

CAN YOU CHOOSE “YOUR KIND OF CHRISTMAS”?
One of my girlfriends called me last Friday to tell me that she was celebrating Christmas Day without her family for the first time.  She sound breathless and a tiny bit scared as she announced she was spending the day with (gasp!) her friends.  She prattled on about all the things she just puts up with in her own family–especially at big family gatherings.  Yes, she loves them; and, Yes, she wants to spend the day with… More

CONTENTMENT IN CHRISTMAS PRESENT (Part 2/3)

Image by ElderAuthority

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET TO AGE 50
There is a turning point in the relationship between parents and children when the shackles of the past fall away and everyone can be the age they really are.  It is supposed to happen during the teenage years as children establish independence and learn to be adults, while parents learn to let go–benevolently.  I am not sure if that is really the norm or just a nice idea.  For me it only happened when my parents became… More

FAREWELL TO GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST (Part 1/3)

I often write about the joys of being over 50 years old.  The holidays are yet another time to be grateful for reaching that age of independence.
IN RECOVERY FROM FAMILY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

From my mid-twenties to my mid-forties I found the holidays something to be endured with as much passive grace as I could muster.   I referred to Christmas as “The Christmas Ordeal”.  During that period I lived in New York City.  Three of my four siblings lived nearby.… More

AGING -IN-PLACE WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal Design is a collection of ideas and designs for the development of buildings, environments, and products  accessible to those with and without disabilities.
REHABBING OLD HOUSES.
Before I became interested in old people, I was interested in old houses.  I learned about Universal Design as a real estate investor.   I bought properties at the bottom of the market, lived in them,  fixed them up over time, and sold them when the market rose or I could make a decent… More

SENIOR LIVING APARTMENTS: INDEPENDENT VS ASSISTED

Assisted (supportive) Living  and Independent Living are two different kinds of senior housing.  This short video explains the difference.… More

INDEPENDENT LIVING WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular Degeneration is an eye affliction that mostly impacts the elderly. The photoreceptor cells of the macula, which are also responsible for our detailed vision, degenerate or die.
While it is not blindness, it is a loss of central or straight ahead vision, making it difficult to read or to recognize faces.
It is possible to live independently with macular degeneration if you have patience, a sense of humor, and access to some useful new technologies.  It helps to be computer… More