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Future Housing Options

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 08/15/2024

What if?

(Isn’t that a familiar question!)

What if the day comes that you realize you need help with daily living? It’s important to consider right now what the housing options will be, if and when that day comes.

What are the best options for you? As we age we are continually “adjusting our sails” so that we can keep “sailing” through life. Sometimes those adjustments we need to make require the help of others.

In July the Education Team presented an eye-opening conversation about options available to people who have modest to low budgets. None of us wants to leave our familiar and comfortable home, but the day may come. We surely don’t want to go to a nursing home if we don’t really need one.

If we have the means (and many of us do not), we can move into an assisted living facility that will provide us with meals, activities, cleaning services, transportation and so much more. Many of these facilities are also equipped to help us in additional ways as needed.

Home health care services can help us stay in our homes as we age, by providing services such as meals, cleaning, personal hygiene and managing of medications. Again, this is ideal if our budgets can afford it.

There is another option that is often overlooked: care homes. These are actual homes equipped and licensed to provide assistance with daily living. These are a bit more reasonable but may still be out of reach financially for many. Another consideration is that these homes are not designed to provide socialization, planned activities or outings.  Some might call them boring.  On the other hand, the staff-to-resident ratio is much better, often translating into better care.

All of these are things we need to consider when we look at options for ourselves. Locations of these facilities also factor into the cost. Ratings are important to look at. We need to understand that, while a place may be licensed, it may not have a good track record.

We don’t know what cards life will deal us but we do know that the possibility of needing help as we age is very likely.  It is imperative that we assess our finances and make ourselves informed about our viable options.

Did you know that approximately 80% of elders in nursing homes don’t really need nursing? Too often, people who need a little help with daily living, not nursing services, are placed in nursing homes. The sad truth is that Medicaid (MediCal in the State of California) only pays for nursing homes. Care homes and assisted living facilities are not covered.

Fortunately for us, we live in a state that is working on legislation that will allow MediCal to pay some portion of care homes. The fact is, it would cost the government less to help with care homes than nursing homes. It would be a win/win to have this legislation in place.  Here is a link to the recording of this informative presentation on housing options for seniors. It goes into much more depth about the legislative endeavors.

In the meantime, do your own research or consult with a placement agency that can help you navigate good options for you and your budget. These agencies do not charge you for doing this. They receive their commissions through the facilities themselves. Medicare can be of assistance, as well. They can let you know which ones have had violations and which have not. The more you learn about this ahead of time, the less stress you will have, if and when that time may come.

Once again, Pasadena Village continues to help us enjoy life to the fullest while also preparing and educating us for any “bumps in the road” ahead as we age in place.