Retirement living is what you make it. Here is yet another example of how great art can transform lives. I laughed ’til I cried.… More
Retirement communities are for retirement age people who cannot or no longer wish to live in a single family residence. Most communities are expensive. Some are more affordable than others. Look for non-profit facilities or communities that offer rental housing if your budget is tight.
Communities differ in the amount of on-site assistance and care provided. Three types of retirement communities are:
Active (on site medical care not required)
Active and Supportive… More
EXERCISE AND SOCIAL GROUPS ARE IMPORTANT
On a crisp fall day, during a retirement community outing to the state park, an 81-year-old gentleman and a 79-year-old female acquaintance became separated from their similarly aged friends. At first they tried calling out in hopes their friends would hear them, only to soon realize due to the collective deafness of their aged friends, no one would hear them anyway.
DON’T WORRY IF LIFE TAKES UNEXPECTED TURNS
They followed… More
CONTINUUM OF CARE
During the last seven years of her life, my mother progressed through the continuum of care in a series of retirement communities. Initially, both of my parents moved to the independent living wing of a retirement facility that also offered assisted living and memory care. After my father’s death, Mom lived in their apartment until her Parkinson’s disease made it dangerous for her to live alone. For a year she had a live-in caregiver,… More
In the old days the options for housing as you got older were few. They were limited to continuing to live in your own home until health issues required you move in with the family or moving to the dreaded nursing home. There are a lot more choices today.
SENIOR HOUSING
Here are a list of some types of senior homes. There are lots of other terms besides the limited list below. Some terms are used to describe similar housing. It doesn’t matter what it is called. It does… More
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
A popular option for senior housing is the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also known as a Life Care Community. CCRC’s are usually licensed by the state and require long term contracts. The community is planned and operated to offer multiple levels of senior living at a single location. A CCRC is selected by people who do not want to move to another facility if their health declines over time.
LEVELS OF CARE
Typically… More
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When I moved to Texas from New York City in 2005, I drove with my two Maine Coon cats, Harry and Jack. While the trip was no treat for them, their presence made me feel less alone as I ended one 28-eight year phase and transitioned into the next major phase of my life. Upon arriving in Dallas, I discovered that my “newly renovated” house was nowhere near ready. My sister let me stay with her for several months while the renovations continued,… More
