Victorian Housegrass houseMobile HomeRow HouseShoe HouseBungalowTeepeesplit level

 

Finding Your Ideal Retirement Community

RetireNet.com

 

Leaving one's home for a retirement community is a highly emotional, often difficult , decision facing seniors everywhere. While its tough to leave the comfortable confines of a home you've grown to love there are a multitude of excellent retirement communities out there, each with its own unique personality and features. The key lies in finding the community that is just right for you. >> More


What Is A Certified Retirement Community?

A handful of states have created programs to recognize towns and cities that provide facilities and an environment to attract retirees.>> More

Do you follow the ElderThinker?

ALFA Logo

 

ALFA members subscribe to a 10-point philosophy of care

>> More


CCal Logo

Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living

10 Tips for Choosing an Assisted Living Facility >> More


Medicare Logo

Medicare/Medicaid

Paying for Long-term care >> More

 

     

Add to Google Reader or Homepage

 

 

Moving Mom

Moving an Aging America Forward

Mary Kay Buysse | Executive Director | NASMM

 

This excellent article provides more details about the Association and services of Senior Move Managers.>>Download


AoA Logo

About Assisted Living

Administration on Aging

>> Download PDF


AAHSA Logo

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

>> Find Members


American Healthcare Association

 

Moving Into An Assisted Living Residence: Making A Successful Transition

>> More


 

Very Helpful Book

 

Book about moving and downsizing

Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize, and Move

 


Mayo Clinic Logo

 

Long Term Health Care Plan Ahead

If you're considering long term care options for yourself, your parents, or a loved one, start the discussions early. If you wait until you're injured or sick, you might find yourself under pressure to make a hasty decision that everyone may later regret. Get to know your long term care options now and start the discussions with your family.

>> More


How To Manage

Difficult Conversations With Elders

Maureen Lopez | TopEldercares.com

 

You have taken the first steps to become involved as a caregiver for an elderly family member or friend. One of the first things on your To Do list is to have a conversation with the person to find out their concerns, plans and dreams for their final years.

 

Surprise – the senior doesn’t want to talk. Their immediate response is that “everything is fine” and that they are taking care of themselves and their spouse (if there is one). Elderly men may be especially resistant to sharing decision-making for themselves and their spouse with children or other younger family members. This period of their life is an entirely unfamiliar situation for someone who for 60 or 70 years has been the family leader. Sharing responsibility and decision-making is emotionally difficult for both the senior and their family members.

>> More

 

 

Senior Villages

centerBar

 

Different Kinds of Villages for Elders

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 01.26.10

 

The Senior Village idea involves a community of seniors, usually over the age of 55, who have similar interests. For example, homes can be clustered around a golf course or lake. There is a central location for social gatherings and organized activities, vans for shopping trips and expeditions, and a trained staff who focus on entertainment. Most senior villages also offer an assisted living component for those who are slowing down and need more care.

 

Senior villages are also called "retirement communities."

 

Different Kinds of Senior Villages

 

Active Adult Communities provide activities and services for community members. These can include golf, tennis, ocean views, a marina, country and mountain views, a country club, walking and biking trails, a swimming pool, exercise room, and community gathering place. >> Search for Active Adult Communities by State

 

Independent Living describes a village for older adults that might remind you of your college days. The village is made up of private apartments or houses exclusively for seniors. They come and go as they please and have their own furnishings, but have centralized meals delivered to them or served in a community setting. The village also may provide social functions, cleaning services and laundry, and some transportation.

>> Search for Independent Living by State

 

Assisted Living (also called residential care) is a special combination of housing and health care. Elders in assisted living usually require medical care, bathing and hygiene. Assisted Living is a non-institutional setting that promotes maximum independence and dignity and encourages family and community involvement. Staff is available 24 hours a day to for both scheduled and unscheduled needs. >> Search for Assisted Living by State

 

Continuing Care offers three levels of support within the same community. If needs change, the appropriate level of support is available from independent living, assisted living and nursing care. Continuing Care Communities are also known as "CCRC"

>> Search for Continuing Care by State


 

10 Top Design Trends In Senior Living Facilities

Bradford Perkins, FAIA, MRAIC, AICP | Building Design & Construction | 01.19.09

 

Trends in senior living

 

1. Optimizing resident privacy and dignity

 

2. Creating homelike settings

 

3. Introducing hospitality design concepts

 

4. Expanding individual choice

 

5. Using technology to enhance senior living

 

6. Filling in the continuum

 

7. Taking the 'R' out of CCRC

 

8. Expanding urban options

 

9. Seeking more sustainable environments

 

10. Capitalizing on globalization

 

The surge of silent generation retirees and the impending burst of baby boomers marching toward retirement age are creating a burgeoning market for senior living. What is less widely appreciated is how much creativity is being applied to addressing this critically important part of the built environment. All the old design models are being challenged, serious environmental design research is being done, and a wide range of new models is being planned and built based on this research. >> More

 

 

Assisted Living: Helping Parents Understand When It's Time

TopEldercares.com | Unknown Author

 

One of the most troublesome challenges is when it's obvious to everyone - except to the person that needs to make the move - that the time has come to move from a private residence to an independent living, assisted living, retirement home, CCRC, or nursing home. >> More