Assisted living

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 3:24 pm

There will come a time for each of us when we physically cannot do many of the daily chores of cooking, cleaning, bathing or can do some but not all. At that point we may need some help and are faced with the decision of staying in our own home and getting the assistance brought in, or selling/leaving our home and moving into one of the many different kinds of facilities that offer Assisted Living. I turned 80 in July and though I am single, physically active and do my own cooking I am trying to plan for that time that I need Assisted Living. I sold my home and moved to a age 55 plus apartment complex where I now have a two bedroom two bath apartment that cost considerably less each month than the property taxes/insurance/maintenence/upkeep on my former home. I also now have the cash from the sale of my large home to use for any assisted living that I may require. I also have a Long Term Care Policy that was part of a retirement package when I retired at age 58.

What do theGardeners think about Assisted Living?

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:02 pm

I am glad you have planned so well.

Me, I am one of those 'Tech Bubble Millionaires' who didn't diversify in time.

As long as I can fish, I will be OK. When I can't fish, anymore, my Assisted Living Plan is probably hoping that the grandkids remember to feed me, now and again.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:52 am

Long term care is becoming a political issue in the UK with the tories tryimng to privatise the NHS. In scotland care at home - what you seem to call assisted living - is free of charge but if you need to go in to residential care then dependiong on circumstances you may have to pay for some of your care.

Paying for Your Long Term Care in Scotland

For residents of Scotland over the age of 65, care at home is given free of charge, provided the local council has assessed that care is required. In such a case, the cost of care to be met by the individual is limited to personal living costs, and the potential cost of day care. This type of assistance from the local council does not affect other benefits such as attendance allowance, disability benefits etc.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 1:59 pm

Lately, it seems they are building assisted living complexes just about as fast as they build churches. Hopefully that will create some competition and the costs will be more affordable than it is now. I am known to say that, "here is America we don't take care of our old people, we bankrupt them."

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:04 am

I'd find only being with old people & care-givers very depressing. I have a weekly situation where I am in that atmosphere & although I usually enjoy the activity I'm doing it still gives me thoughts of suicide. I don't like this getting older thing, not one damn bit.

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:03 am

Being fairly restricted in my ability to walk anywhere, I have to rely on others for my transport to places, except in good weather when I can bugger off on my electric 'buggy'. This feeling of dependency on others gets very depressing and is a constant reminder of my mortality. I tell myself that I am lucky to be able to do as much as I can, and I am truly fortunate in having a wonderful caring husband and a lovely son who says there is no way that either of his parents will be stowed away in one of those 'homes', as he would look after us if we needed helpers. I'm not sure if he would still feel the same if either or both of us got alzheimers because I know that this disease can be very traumatic and heart-breaking for a carer who is a relative. I reassure myself that that does not run in the family, so maybe we will retain all our marbles till the day we die !

Neither my father nor my mother went into a 'home', as my mother remained fairly fit and out-lived my father by 10 years, and still lived in her own house and cooked for herself. She did have somebody to come in and do general house cleaning and clothes washing and ironing, a couple of times a week. She really enjoyed her continued independence, and able to choose what SHE wanted to watch on the TV ! :wah:

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:10 pm

'Old' is relative. When you reach that age bracket the others who are also in that age bracket, plus or minus 20 years, are your peer group, and may even be viewed as 'youngsters'.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Nov 16, 2014 5:40 am

Presumably that the way you all want things to be?

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:30 pm

I hope I have planned adequately for that.

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:23 am

FourPart;1467703 wrote: 'Old' is relative. When you reach that age bracket the others who are also in that age bracket, plus or minus 20 years, are your peer group, and may even be viewed as 'youngsters'.

I like being amongst people of all ages, especially children, teens & up. That's where the energy & openness is. I wouldn't want, as I have said, to live in an age segregated place.

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:46 am

AnneBoleyn;1467826 wrote: I like being amongst people of all ages, especially children, teens & up. That's where the energy & openness is. I wouldn't want, as I have said, to live in an age segregated place.

Well said, Anne. I agree. I would not want to be out of touch with the young'ns.