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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
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I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
It depends on a host of things, especially your financial situation and how your health is. My aunt is in her mid 70s and lives alone, drives and has an active social life. The land around her however is not going down hill. It might be time for you to consider cleaning out your house and looking at your options. Assisted living may be soon for you, but it doesn't sound like it. You might want to sit down with family and discuss your plans.
Make your home easy to clean and keep up on maintenance, but surround yourself with what brings your joy (borrowed from Mari Kondo). Try to automate bill-paying so you have less work on finances. If yardwork is getting difficult, hire a service and/or streamline those garden beds with easy care perennials and lots of mulch. Sort through those closets and donate all those clothes you don't wear often. Keep 1-2 special outfits and donate to outreaches to help those in need. Work slowly through each area of your life to make it easier to manage.
When/If you need more help, consider ways to meet those needs that do not involve "senior services" - which are expensive. Grocery delivery is cheaper than home health aides bringing groceries into your home. Housecleaning services are less expensive than home health aides. Food plan companies are more expensive than ready-to-eat/heat foods from the grocery store. Uber/Lyft/taxis/senior bus services are less expensive than medical transport - but be honest about your limitations and needs when booking them.
Generally, assisted living is expensive and not covered by insurance. Home health care is usually covered for a limited time after hospitalization (usually up to 20 days) and then you must pay for the services. Expect that any worker through an agency makes minimum wage and the agency doubles or triples that hourly wage for using their services.
Since you are still able bodied, you have options!
Since your neighborhood is going down, you could sell your current place and move to another neighborhood
...or, you could move into a senior community.
We have places that provide independent living, that when the time comes, will move you into assisted and if needed memory care for a fraction of the cost of other options.. Independent living can mean having a small kitchen, stove, fridge in the room, to a more dormitory style where there is a communal dining room and you have a small fridge in your room for cold drinks and perishable snacks. Some have parking and some don't. Some allow pets and some don't. Some include housekeeping service and laundry and some don't.
Some have floors/buildings of independent living and right next door is the assisted living. These places generally have rehab facilities also.
We have one facility where the apartments are sold on the MLS, however the services are managed through the HOA....and they have the entire range of facilities of independent, assisted, memory care, rehab and nursing..and parking.
Financially, some people pay a lot of money up front, then pay a minimum monthly fee, then get some of it back after they leave. Others pay less in up front, and pay a higher monthly fee, however get nothing back when they leave. Others are more like month-to-month rentals
I suggest that you start doing your research. If you are interested in a place, you probably will have to put some money down to be on the wait list. I know of people who have been waiting for an independent living spot for 2 years and are still waiting.
Now, while you have the energy and are in good health, is good time to start the research and perhaps, secure a spot on the waiting list.
Since you are young and can still care for yourself you have more options than some people do. If you are open to a "roommate" or "Housemate" that might be an option. Although it is one fraught with potential problems. That might give you some sense of security if you feel your neighborhood is becoming unsafe. And if it is becoming unsafe it might be wise to sell before it gets worse so you get the most for your property.
A Continuing Care Community is another option for you. Independent Living now and the ability to travel, have activities and not have to worry if your home will be safe. Add in the "all inclusive" amenities most have it sounds appealing. Then as you need more help you have the option to transition to the Assisted Living And if it is needed transitioning to Memory Care of Skilled Nursing. All within the same community.
That is a massive subject. You are talking physical, mental, emotional needs that increase with aging. As you are young still, in your 60s, I wonder why you are concerned with this at this time. You are aware of your home, and the care required, and aware of your ability to continue to do it, aware when and if you should downsize dependent on your finances and ability to hire in some help for yourself.
Be a bit more specific, if you will, about your concerns, because I am having difficulty knowing what you are wanting to plan for, how much family support or friend support you have, and etc.
Glad you're thinking about it now and it's not only about the neighborhood but how long you can keep up with maintenance of being a homeowner. Assisted living is pretty expensive but they do have a plus side to them. Three meals a day and outings to go out to shopping or events in case you become immobile and staff that checks in on you. There's a link to get help in finding Assisted living in the forum headers. You can weigh your options after getting some information from them. Maybe all you need is a senior apartment complex? Some place where you don't have any more responsibilities of property maintenance and you feel safe and secure. Yes,definitely a security apartment with coms and buzzer for admittance. I live in a 7 apartment building with key entry as security,really quiet! Why are you wanting to know about home health care?
You can sell your home now, before the neighborhood declines further and property values decrease, and move into a Independent Senior Living apartment with Assisted Living available if needed at some point. You can take your car too.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
I'm also going to:
replace 2 standard toilets with ADA toilets (taller)
put a railing on wall for 2 steps from garage to house
I'm maintaining my house. I just replaced my roof and gutters. I have some windows that have fogged and am going to replace those.
Make your home easy to clean and keep up on maintenance, but surround yourself with what brings your joy (borrowed from Mari Kondo). Try to automate bill-paying so you have less work on finances. If yardwork is getting difficult, hire a service and/or streamline those garden beds with easy care perennials and lots of mulch. Sort through those closets and donate all those clothes you don't wear often. Keep 1-2 special outfits and donate to outreaches to help those in need. Work slowly through each area of your life to make it easier to manage.
When/If you need more help, consider ways to meet those needs that do not involve "senior services" - which are expensive. Grocery delivery is cheaper than home health aides bringing groceries into your home. Housecleaning services are less expensive than home health aides. Food plan companies are more expensive than ready-to-eat/heat foods from the grocery store. Uber/Lyft/taxis/senior bus services are less expensive than medical transport - but be honest about your limitations and needs when booking them.
Generally, assisted living is expensive and not covered by insurance. Home health care is usually covered for a limited time after hospitalization (usually up to 20 days) and then you must pay for the services. Expect that any worker through an agency makes minimum wage and the agency doubles or triples that hourly wage for using their services.
Since your neighborhood is going down, you could sell your current place and move to another neighborhood
...or, you could move into a senior community.
We have places that provide independent living, that when the time comes, will move you into assisted and if needed memory care for a fraction of the cost of other options.. Independent living can mean having a small kitchen, stove, fridge in the room, to a more dormitory style where there is a communal dining room and you have a small fridge in your room for cold drinks and perishable snacks. Some have parking and some don't. Some allow pets and some don't. Some include housekeeping service and laundry and some don't.
Some have floors/buildings of independent living and right next door is the assisted living. These places generally have rehab facilities also.
We have one facility where the apartments are sold on the MLS, however the services are managed through the HOA....and they have the entire range of facilities of independent, assisted, memory care, rehab and nursing..and parking.
Financially, some people pay a lot of money up front, then pay a minimum monthly fee, then get some of it back after they leave. Others pay less in up front, and pay a higher monthly fee, however get nothing back when they leave. Others are more like month-to-month rentals
I suggest that you start doing your research. If you are interested in a place, you probably will have to put some money down to be on the wait list. I know of people who have been waiting for an independent living spot for 2 years and are still waiting.
Now, while you have the energy and are in good health, is good time to start the research and perhaps, secure a spot on the waiting list.
If you are open to a "roommate" or "Housemate" that might be an option. Although it is one fraught with potential problems.
That might give you some sense of security if you feel your neighborhood is becoming unsafe.
And if it is becoming unsafe it might be wise to sell before it gets worse so you get the most for your property.
A Continuing Care Community is another option for you.
Independent Living now and the ability to travel, have activities and not have to worry if your home will be safe. Add in the "all inclusive" amenities most have it sounds appealing.
Then as you need more help you have the option to transition to the Assisted Living
And if it is needed transitioning to Memory Care of Skilled Nursing.
All within the same community.
Be a bit more specific, if you will, about your concerns, because I am having difficulty knowing what you are wanting to plan for, how much family support or friend support you have, and etc.
And do stay tuned to a Forum just like this one!
You’ll be happier in a new, safe environment.
Good luck to you.