Moving To Assisted Living: Effective Transition Tips

If you have decided to move into an assisted living community, you might be wondering how to make this move as easy and stress-free as possible. As with any move, this can be a stressful transition, but here are a few ways to make the move a little bit easier.

The typical scenario is that you will be moving into an apartment much smaller you’re your own home. Depending on the number of bedrooms, most apartments size from 400 square feet to 800 square feet. All of your belongings then are unlikely to fit in the apartment. Leaving some of your belongings behind may be a sad thing indeed however it also makes dealing with lesser things easier as well especially in getting organized. The fact remains still that many of your things can be brought with you.

One item that can be quite bulky, but is highly treasured is all of your family photographs, which might constitute a large number of boxes or albums. In order to address this, have your photographs digitally scanned and stored in flash drives you could bring and store on a computer. It is still possible to decorate your walls with family photos even when they may number to only a few, still it could cheer you up each time. There are also digital frames that can store hundreds of pictures and change every few seconds to reveal a new picture. This can be a fun decorative item that allows you to bring photos without taking up a huge amount of space.

Making a choice of which items to sell or give away can be hard when it comes to those with personal memories attached however can be easier when its impersonal items like a cookware or a TV. Some of the items that can truly make us feel “at home” includes our favorite books, favorite chair or a handmade quilt. Therefore stop worrying about the other things and bring the ones that matter. When you feel it’s hard to let go of things, remember that life is not about the stuff we have but our experiences. Putting things in storage could resolve your inability to decide which to give away or donate. You can then have time to think things over and paying for storage could not be as expensive.

While you definitely will meet many new people in your new assisted living community, it is a good idea to select an apartment that is close to friends and family. This way, it’s easier to continue attending your local church, going to your club meetings and hanging out with friends and family. Until you feel comfortable in your new surroundings, being close to loved ones can make those first weeks much easier.

Perhaps you should learn to look at assisted living positively. Note that you will have the advantage of lesser time spent on doing chores, you have people cooking your meals and these staff members can even help you accomplish tasks including bathing, dressing, grooming, housekeeping and laundry. You can also get busy while being relaxed through activities there. If you contact Care Placement now, you are most likely to start looking for that ideal assisted living community you will like.

Rue Nichols enjoys reading home health care blogs. To get additional info regarding assisted living Dana Point facilities or to find more about board and care Laguna Woods services, please visit the CarePlacement.com website now.

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The Basics About Eldercare

The fact that Americans these days seem to be living longer and often seniors seem to be in need of personalized care options from day to day, the eldercare industry is thriving. Although most seniors still live completely independently, there are those in need of more help with some even requiring round-the-clock care. In order to address individual needs and tastes different eldercare options are made available for seniors.

For that wide range of options for eldercare, you can check out California with its offerings of inclusive of board and care homes, the more chic assisted living facilities and the skilled nursing facilities wherein residents can get medical care as well as rehabilitation. Consider always the two main factors when determining the right eldercare for you – physical needs and budget.

Assisted living is perhaps the most expensive option, but typically also has more amenities and a wider mix of activities, room options and meal choices. More than 160,000 seniors in California live in some type of assisted living community. The average monthly cost for assisted living in California is about $4,000 per month, depending on where you live.

Often referred to as skilled nursing facility, a nursing home is pretty expensive however most homes accommodate payment using Medicaid or some type of insurance or assistance. Because of this, seniors with lower incomes can choose this option. The United States houses more than 17,000 nursing homes and about 1.5 million Americans are living in nursing home. For those recovering from a serious illness or injury may sometimes consider these homes as their temporary home no matter their age. It is in places like these that those who have just recovered from stroke could avail of rehabilitation services until such time that they can return home or maybe live in assisted living or be with in-home care.

Another option for seniors to have is one located in private homes, the board and care homes. There are six or fewer residents accommodated in such homes which are required to be licensed by the state. California is home to about 8,000 licensed care facilities for seniors and majority are board and care homes. These homes are less expensive than assisted living and residents can get help for daily tasks however not including medical care of course. SSI or Medicaid 1915c waivers are sometimes welcome to use in lowering monthly costs for these homes as opposed to assisted living.

If you are looking into board and care in San Diego or Orange County or assisted living in San Diego or Orange County, contact Care Placement. They have screened a wide variety of senior care options and can help you select a facility that best suits your needs or the needs of your loved one. You can begin the process by filling out their simple questionnaire and a staff member will get in touch with you and discuss your options.

Rue Nichols enjoys reading home health care blogs. For more information about assisted living Carlsbad facilities or for expert help finding board and care Del Mar services, please check out the CarePlacement.com site today.

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The Basics About Eldercare



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Common Terms In The World Of Eldercare

If you or a loved one is thinking about moving into some type of eldercare facility, this can be a confusing world to navigate. There are all sorts of commonly used phrases and terms to describe different types of facilities and benefits that you need to learn about before you dive into the sea of eldercare. Here is some helpful information that can make it all a bit easier.

There are many types of care and they all seem to have at least half a dozen different names associated with them. For instance, one choice is assisted living. This also can be called an adult living facility, domiciliary care, sheltered housing or even a community based retirement facility. In general, these are communities that include private apartments for residents. The monthly fees vary on the size of your apartment, but services typically include full meal services, a host of activities, an exercise facility and some basic help with daily personal chores. Rarely is any type of medical care provided, and the monthly fees are not covered by any type of government assistance.

Another option, though smaller, is the board and care facilities which cater to only five to six people or maybe less. The typical board and care is found in private residential homes and rates often include meals, services for laundry and housekeeping as well as daily help for chores but residents have private bedrooms, not apartments. Another term for this type is boarding home, group home or residential care home. There are times when Supplemental Security Income as benefits can pay for the fees, a portion or all. Also, a Medicaid 1915-c waiver can be equated with costs when living in some of these facilities.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides extra income for seniors with very low incomes. This income can help pay for basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. Generally, this program is designated for the elderly or those who are disabled or blind. SSI might be used to pay for some board and care facility costs, but typically not nursing homes.

One more government program giving solutions for the seniors would be Medicaid. It is a social health care program, where seniors receiving benefits from SSI also gets enrolled and given health insurance. Medicaid and Medicare are different entities although they sound similar. Yes, Medicare provides insurance too however it is a trust fund paid for by those who work. Theoretically speaking it is like Social Security. Workers’ paychecks get deducted in order to pay for future Medicare costs. Not like Medicaid and SSI where in order to help the poor, disabled, aged and those with the inability to work given valid reasons are helped using the general tax dollars.

One living in skilled nursing facilities can make use of Medicaid. It may present a good option for the older adults unable to live on their own but at the same time can’t afford having in-home care, be in assisted living or board and care homes. One can use Medicare in paying for medical expenses in nursing homes however residential costs for those living there without the need for medical care can’t be covered. The common name for these facilities is nursing homes. Those with small incomes can opt for Veteran’s homes, though obviously these are only open for veterans and spouses. Care you can avail of range from assisted living, independent living or full skilled nursing care.

When selecting an option for eldercare anywhere in Orange or San Diego counties, consider contacting Care Placement. They can help you figure out what type of care is best suited to your needs and what fits best into your budget. From there, they can provide a list of suitable facilities for you to visit and compare, helping you make the best possible decision for care services.

Rue Nichols likes reading about home health care blogs. For more information about the different type of eldercare options such as an assisted living Aliso Viejo facility or to find more about options for board and care Laguna Woods, please visit the CarePlacement.com site now.

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Assisted Living Communities Offer A Variety Of Amenities

Any senior adult looking for independence yet with access to some daily help will find it a good option to live in an assisted living community. Sometimes it’s quite tough to leave your own home and opt for the option of an assisted living community. But these communities can be very appealing because of the amenities as well as activities that come in a wide range. To know more about what to expect in assisted living facilities, read on.

As a whole, those living in an assisted living facility will have help in basic grooming tasks along with housekeeping and laundry service in a certain level. If the resident takes medication, the staff can ensure that all medicines are taken on time and properly. There is also the meal service included in monthly fees typically which gives residents three meals daily and snacks as well. You will of course still have a small kitchen or kitchenette in your apartment or at least a refrigerator and microwave so that you can store your own personal snacks.

In addition to these basic features, there will be an assortment of other amenities provided to keep your quality of life at a high level. After all, the residents are all retirees, so there should plenty of fun and interesting activities to help you make the most of each day. For example, at one Escondido assisted living community, there are several different clubs and classes. Residents can join a book club, bridge club, take an art or poetry class or participate in a walking club, to name just a few options.

These assisted living facilities such as a La Mesa assisted living facility also often offer residents with game nights, movie nights and at least one monthly event in the form of Hawaiian luau, a dance or perhaps a festive Cinco de Mayo party. There are also off-site excursions where residents can visit museums or nearby parks, be involved in community activities or maybe watch a concert by the local symphony.

Exercise facilities and swimming pools also are common amenities at an assisted living facility. In addition to being able to swim or work out on your own, most communities offer a variety of exercise classes, such as yoga classes, swim aerobics and other options. Many communities offer transportation to local parks and trails so that residents can enjoy time off-site and some exercise at the same time.

When you need to find an assisted living community make sure that you visit many different facilities before choosing. Check out the different apartments and maybe chat a little with the staff members or eat a meal at the facility you visit. You can always bring a list of questions you have prepared and even jot down notes while on tour in order for you to make that best decision in your choice of a facility you think will be able to cater to the active and interesting lifestyle you want.

Rue Nichols loves reading home health care blogs. For further details about assisted living Lake Forest facilities or to discover more about board and care Dana Point services, please go to the CarePlacement.com website today.

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Information About In-Home Care For The Elderly

One of the perks of adulthood is being able to live your life the way you choose, and the loss of independence that sometimes occurs during our later years can be extremely frustrating. While you might think that you need to leave your home and move into some type of eldercare facility, it is possible that you can stay at home and have assistance come to you. Here is some information about in-home eldercare.

When discussing in-home care, there are two different types. Health care that is provided in your home is one type and that very well might be covered by insurance. This means that a licensed nurse or perhaps an occupational or physical therapist is coming into your home to provide some amount of medical care. It could be to help you deal with the after effects of an injury or a stroke. It could be to provide home hospice care for a loved one with a terminal disease, such as cancer, Huntington’s disease or ALS.

In-home care, on the other hand, is non-medical in nature and typically refers to having someone come in and help with the tasks of daily life. This could be as simple as helping with laundry and house cleaning. It could also mean completing tasks such as shopping for groceries or other supplies. Meal preparation also might be included in these services. Other services might include help with bathing, toileting, grooming and dressing, as well as ensuring the medications are taken properly.

In-home services can be attractive for several reasons. First, it often costs less to hire a caregiver to come in and help as opposed to moving into a nursing home or assisted living scenario. Hiring someone to help also reduces the burden of care from your spouse, your children and friends, who might be worried about you and are unable to provide constant help because of their own health or family and work obligations. They probably want to help but simply cannot provide a consistently high level of care. In addition, in-home care allows you to stay at home, which is probably your top goal.

Of course, you have to find that special person or service that truly fits your needs. There are companies, such as CarePlacement.com, that match people to caregivers or to different care options. After filling out a detailed application, they can find a list of caregivers that can provide the services you need at a cost that you can afford. Once you have a list, you can interview candidates and find someone with whom you have a good rapport.

If you decide a different level of care beyond that of in-home care is required, there are certainly other options to consider. Assisted living can be a good option if your budget allows as this not only provides all the help you might need, aside from medical care, there are many social activities and amenities included in the monthly fee. A skilled nursing facility or nursing home can be a good option if you need round-the-clock medical care or really any type of true medical care. Assisted living facilities do not provide medical or nursing care nor do they accept insurance.

Kristana Jenson loves reading home health care blogs. To get further details regarding assisted living Oceanside facilities or for expert help finding board and care San Marcos services, please check out the CarePlacement website today.

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