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October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

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Future Housing Options

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 08/15/2024
Tags: karen bagnard, education team, housing

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.

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