5 Ways to Encourage Your Parents to Say Yes to Assisted Living

Considering senior living as the best option for you or a loved one? If youre just beginning, the search can often feel daunting. And knowing where to look for possible financial resources can seem like a mystery.Its often helpful to approach this as a step-by-step process. Answering the following questions can help get you off to the right start: What lifestyle, amenities and services are you looking for? Is help needed for physical or cognitive issues? If yes, at what level? Which of the 4 basic types of senior living listed below would provide the best fit? What is the cost of senior living? What options may be available to pay for senior living? Basic categories of senior livingFollowing are 4 types of communities available: Independent Living: Private residences for older adults to continue living independently and enjoy the activities, amenities and services offered. Assisted Living: Private residences and assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing. Amenities and other social activities included. Long-Term or Skilled Nursing Care: Full-time care by a trained staff for those requiring medical care for rehabilitation or for long-term chronic conditions. Memory Care: Specialized care for those with Alzheimers or dementia, included as part of assisted living, long-term care or in a stand-alone community. The cost of senior livingPrices vary among communities, services offered and locations. Talk to an associate at a specific community to confirm costs. Be sure to clarify what services are included or can be contracted for an additional fee.How to pay for senior livingEach type of senior living may have varying costs and different payment sources available.When you visit a community, theyll provide you with more detailed information about financial options. We also invite you to download our free guide The Dollars and Sense Guide to Senior Living.The following list offers an overview of a few of the financial resources that may be available, as well as options you might not have yet considered. Private money Personal funds are typically used to pay for independent living, the majority of assisted living and a smaller amount of long-term care. Some states do accept Medicaid for certain assisted living costs.Personal resources could include: Cash Checking and savings accounts Salaries, if youre still working Social Security payments Dividends distributed Investment accounts Retirement or pension plans Long-Term Care Insurance Depending on the policy, long-term insurance may cover the cost of home care, adult day care, assisted living, memory care and long-term care. These policies are sold by private insurance companies and other businesses or as additional insurance offered by employers.The cost of a policy is based on the age of the person at the time of purchase, amount of insurance, time period covered, deductible and any special options. Veterans Benefits Veterans or their surviving spouses may be eligible to receive monthly benefits to help cover the costs of senior living if they meet certain income and personal care qualifications. Known as Aid and Attendance, this federal benefit is offered through The Department of Veteran Affairs. It can help pay for care in the home, assisted living or a long-term care community. Life insurance conversions Your life insurance policy may be transferred to a financial account that provides monthly benefits to help pay for home care, assisted living, long-term care and hospice. These funds wont count as an asset in the Medicaid spend down process, described below. Your home Seniors may have equity built up in their home, which can provide a source of funds. If youre moving into a senior living community, selling your home may provide the money you need.Other financial options that your home may offer include: Access to cash through a home equity loan A line of credit based on your homes equity Reverse mortgage which also considers a homes equity. This funding is only available if one of the owners remains living in the home. Renting out your home. If your home is paid for, the rent received could be applied toward senior living expenses. Medicare Medicare is a federal health insurance program and will only pay for long-term care if you require rehabilitative care at home or in a nursing home, for a limited period of time and if you meet certain restrictions. It doesnt pay for general personal care, assistance with the activities of daily living, or room and board. Medicaid Medicaid will pay for long-term nursing facility care but in order to be eligible, you need to qualify for having limited financial resources. If you do have assets, however, you would need to spend them down in order to qualify. As a joint federal and state program, states may offer some assistance with assisted living costs.Considerations when calculating the cost of senior livingPeople often assume its less expensive to remain at home instead of moving to a community. But that may not be true. Look at the big picture when considering the costs of home vs senior living. If your home would need expensive renovations to make it accessible or if you would need to contract for services to come into your home, the costs may be more comparable than you might have thought.But dont forget to account for the non-financial benefits and advantages. If the safety and quality of life for you or your loved one can be achieved more successfully in a senior living community, youll want to consider the tradeoff of any monetary savings.

As we grow older, the right nutrition plays a critical role in supporting our physical and cognitive health. But eating a healthy diet can also become more of a challenge.If youve noticed your parents or another family member is losing weight, or losing interest in enjoying their favorite foods, youll want to consider why they may no longer be eating as healthily.  There are several factors that can affect an older adults dining habits. It may be harder for them to shop and prepare meals. Or depending on their health and energy, it may be easier for them to skip a meal or replace it with snacks or processed foods. If you think there may be an issue, consider taking these steps: Be observant of their eating habits. Are there specific foods they avoid? Do they still seem interested in mealtime or certain foods? Talk to your parents about the changes youre noticing. Ask them if they are having any problems that are interfering with their diet. Losing the sense of taste and smellOne factor that can have a negative effect on appetite is the loss of taste and smell. It can begin after the age of 60 as part of the natural aging process. But there are also several issues that can contribute, according to the Mayo Clinic, such as: Nasal and sinus problems, including allergies Certain medications Dental problems Smoking Head or facial injury Alzheimers disease Parkinsons disease   The impact of losing your sense of taste and smellYour sense of taste and smell work closely together. If you struggle to smell the flavors in a food, you likely wont experience the taste. And even though your taste bud cells are replaced every couple of weeks, after the age of 50 those cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate.People who have lost at least a partial sense of taste, thirst or smell can experience a significant impact to their appetite and nutrition. It can also lead to adding unhealthy amounts of salt or sugar in an attempt to create taste. Ultimately, quality of life can be affected.Losing your feeling of thirstYour feeling of thirst signals that its time to get something to drink. But as you get older, you can lose this prompt or at least its strength. If you arent paying attention, you may become dehydrated which can lead to serious side effects such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, kidney failure or a drop in blood pressure.You can address your feeling of thirst by being diligent. Check with your doctor if you are required to monitor your fluid intake but otherwise strive to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of liquid daily.You may also want to familiarize yourself with the signs of dehydration and call your doctor if you experience any of these: Little or no urination Dark colored urine Irritability, dizziness or confusion Low blood pressure Rapid breathing and heart rate Weak pulse Cold hands and feet Dry mouth Difficulty walking   Steps to take when losing sense of taste, smell, and thirstIf your parent or loved one is losing a sense of taste and thirst, there are ways you can help. Encourage them to speak to their doctor You cant reverse the natural loss of taste and smell but if there is another cause, you might be able to treat the condition such as adjusting medications, fixing any dental problems or treating nasal and sinus conditions. Experiment with spices and flavors Look for ways to make meals taste more exciting. Talk to a dietician for ideas on how to add special seasonings to enhance flavors or which foods might naturally be easier to taste. Make dining as enjoyable as possible Even if theyre unable to regain the level of taste they once had, try to make the experience itself as pleasant as you can. Dining with others or creating a pleasant environment can help. Set a beautiful table complete with flowers and add their favorite music. Provide helpful reminders to drink Remind your parents not to rely on their sense of thirst before drinking and to pay attention to how much they have during the day. Use a water bottle with measurements in the beginning or count the number of glasses theyve had and convert to ounces.

Are you exploring all that retirement life has to offer? If so, you may be considering how best to support the lifestyle that youve been looking forward to. Choosing how to spend your time is likely at the top of the list and is a well-deserved gift.While working or raising children, having time to call your own may have seemed illusive. But retirees often celebrate having the opportunity to take up a left-behind hobby or to rediscover a passion they once had.More than a few, however, may be unsure which activities might result in feelings of zeal. You may be wondering if youd like to rediscover an old passion or begin looking for a new one.If youre defining your retirement path toward aging well, the following tips may help you successfully with your search.What is a passion?When you feel passionate about something, you experience a depth of feeling that goes beyond just enthusiasm. People often describe the sensation as losing a sense of time and place when they are engaged with their passion.A few examples may include: Painting, sculpting, or creative writing Learning a new musical instrument Helping care for abandoned animals Visiting every major league baseball stadium in the U.S. Providing companionship to the elderly who live alone Helping elementary students learn to read Volunteering at a homeless shelter You may also be the object of your passion. Some retirees commit to finding ways to live their lives to the fullest to aging well. They may dedicate a certain number of hours every week for getting in physical shape or exercising to better their mental health.Others may decide to embark on an encore career and are determined to put their efforts where their passions can be expressed. Giving politics a try and running for a local office may be the focus for some. Becoming a kindergarten teacher might be anothers dream in order to fulfill a long-held passion to work with little ones.Aging and rediscovering your passionsThe journey of life can take us down many paths and along the way we may find we had to leave behind personal interests so we could concentrate on the more pressing tasks at hand. Growing older often returns the opportunity to finally have time to spend as you like.If youre interested in rediscovering your passions or creating new ones, consider these suggestions: Browse through a college course catalog This can be a wonderful place to jumpstart your search if youre feeling a little lost. You dont need to sign up for a class, although that can also be a great idea. But look for any subjects that pique your interest and let your mind explore from there. Talk to your friends and family If youre having trouble zeroing in on what your interests are, ask those who know you best what they think. They will likely point out your frequent topics of conversations or areas that theyve seen you become excited about. What do you do or think about the most? Sometimes we dont even realize how we like to spend our time. Look back on activities you choose, what television shows you watch or books you read. See if there is a pattern you can capture. This could be your starting point to define a passion. Dont be afraid to experiment Keep an open mind and dont reject any initial ideas because you assume theyre not passion-worthy. Be willing to try different options and you might discover something about yourself that had remained unnoticed. Have the right attitude It can help to view this process as an adventure instead of feeling pressured to pick the right passion. There are no wrong answers. Keeping a positive attitude can help open yourself up to new possibilities. Dont give up. Keep searching.Source: Forbes contributor Rob PascaleHow an independent living community can helpRetirement living can offer some of the best opportunities to age well. Where you live can make all the difference as it provides a supportive environment for you to discover and live your passions.There are also features in an independent living community that can play an active role in your passions. Consider a few of the advantages youll find that contribute to creating an enriched life, such as: Remaining meaningfully engaged Making friends and sharing your life experiences Participating in educational, informative and fun activities Enjoying an active social life with others Belonging to a larger community Youll find all of these benefits and more at an independent living community. Along with the easy and maintenance-free lifestyle, youll have even more time to spend on what brings you the most joy.