Senior Living Alternatives – You Don’t Need To Live In An Old Folks Home
Speaker: Veronica Sibley, Director of Marketing, Senior Alternatives Care Management & Home Care Services
230 Grand Ave, Suite 100, Oakland, CA. Phone: 888-451-4290. Website: www.BayAreaSeniorCare.com
Demographics: Currently 54 million of the US population are 65 or older and 17% of adult children are providing care for their elderly relatives full-time or part-time. By 2040, the number of 65-year-olds will reach 80 million. Having the knowledge will help seniors make informed decisions when the time comes.
Seniors’ Fears: Fear of financial challenges, being alone, falling victim to scams and abuses or being a burden to others (family and friends).
Below are the options in the marketplace:
Home Care: This level of service provides non-skilled caregivers and personal assistant type services. Caregivers are paid by the hour and with flexible minimum time frames. Live-in help is also available for this type of service. The hourly rates range from $35 per hour to $48 per hour depending on the level of service needed. Live-in help or overnight caregivers will have lower hourly rates. Check with your healthcare provider for details. It is important to check online reviews and work with agencies with a good reputation. Reputable agencies’ caregivers are fully vetted, including an FBI background check.
Home Health: This level of service provides skilled caregivers like registered nurses (RN) or licensed vocational nurses (LVN). They will be your clinical assistant at home. Hospitals and your healthcare provider are the greatest referral sources for this type of care. Minimum time frame, hourly rate, etc.
Board and Care Homes: This type of care facility is usually owned by doctors and nurses with the help of non-skilled caregivers. They are usually available in residential neighborhoods where a home would have three to five bedrooms and the care level is closest to one-on-one. You pay one monthly rate, currently at about $7,000+ per individual. This level of care is for high acuity individuals.
Assisted Living: These are large communities offering resort-like lifestyle with multiple apartments within the complex. Costs involved are entrance fees and monthly fees. Residents usually have to sign a month-to-month lease. Some of the facilities near us are Atria, Kensington Place, etc.
CCRC Life Plans: CCRC stands for Continued Care Retirement Community. These are campus-like communities with studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments. These are rebatable contracts where you will purchase your apartment that comes with the amenities and services. You will be able to get 70% – 80% back when you leave the community. As your health progresses, they offer four stages of care that you may need. In addition to your purchase, there is a monthly fee for the duration of the time you live in the community. Via Monte is one of the CCRC communities near us on Via Monte behind Safeway. These are usually not-for-profit organizations.
Planned Adult Communities: Like Rossmoor near us. You purchase your living unit, pay an entrance fee and then the monthly HOA dues and enjoy a great variety of amenities, interest groups and classes. Rossmoor bus lines are available to take its residents downtown shopping, doctors’ visits and more.
Skilled Nursing and Hospice and Palliative Care are also something to consider when the time comes for short- and long-term care at the recommendation of your healthcare provider.
Other resources available are transportation help, including Wheelchair Van, Adult Day Care, Connected Horse Therapy, Meals on Wheels (daily meal delivery services). There are also home organizers and downsizing experts available if you need help in those areas. More information is also available at Area Agency on Aging. Phone number is 800-510-2020.
Email me at Ellen.Osmundson@gmail.com if you would like to receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.
