Unlimited Care provides personal assistant services to seniors and their caregivers in their homes. These assistants help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, pet care, medication, and more. They can help lighten the load of a caregiver and offer services 24 hours a day.  All assistants are background checked, licensed, and bonded and are personally paired with seniors and caregivers based on personality and needs.

Through Unlimited Care, Tanya has become involved in promoting Dementia Friendly Denton County. Through this unique community program, businesses and professionals in Denton County can become Dementia Friendly Certified. Kim recently received her certification through DFDC and has benefitted from it so much, she decided to share the opportunity with her professional networking group at Harvest.

Listen in to learn more about Unlimited Care of North Texas, as well as Dementia Friendly Denton County, and how your business can join in supporting this vital part of the Denton community. For more info, please visit https://dementiafriendlydentoncounty.org and https://ucont.net/. Stay tuned for another video with more information on Dementia Friendly Denton County!

There are a few different setups you can have for a multigenerational home. Some families are just looking for an extra bedroom and bathroom. I’ve helped families that are looking for a property that has space to add a guesthouse, mobile, or tiny home for relatives that want their own separate space, but to be in close proximity to the main house. Something we’re seeing more and more with our new construction homes are complete Mother-In-Law suites. Some of them even have their own small kitchens and living areas!

In this video, I’m going to take you on a tour of one of my favorite floorplans in Harvest. It has a great Mother-In-Law suite on the first floor and would be wonderful for a multigenerational family. I’m excited to share it with you!

Do you or have you ever considered having a multigenerational home? As you start planning for the future, it’s definitely an option to keep in mind. I love how it fosters a tight-knit extended family and gives children the opportunity to be close to their grandparents!

I hope this Senior Series helps you learn something new and plan for the future! If you have questions about how to start planning for your future living arrangements and how to transition into that new phase, please reach out to me. I’d love to help! In Part II of this series, we will be talking about the different types of living: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Nursing Homes. There are many differences between assisted living care and nursing homes. Overall, the main difference is that nursing homes provide medical and personal care in a clinical setting, while assisted living primarily provides personal care in a home-like, social setting.

Assisted Daily Living

To kick things off, let’s start with explaining assisted living. Assisted Daily Living, also known as ADL, is a type of residential care for older adults who need help with normal daily activities. Assisted living homes offer housing, meal services, and help with daily living such as bathing, toileting, and walking. These typically average around $4,000 or more per month. Each community includes different things inside their monthly costs, so be sure to ask questions about what each specific facility includes in their rate.

Assisted living residents are generally active seniors who remain relatively independent apart from certain specific daily tasks. While they may have some health problems, seniors in assisted living don’t require 24-hour medical care and supervision. They may be interested in a maintenance-free lifestyle in a community that offers a variety of social activities and opportunities to stay engaged with friends and peers. One of the biggest differences is that seniors in assisted living don’t require skilled nursing services like those in nursing homes.

Memory Care

Next up, memory care. Memory care is a specialized form of long-term care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Today, many assisted living communities offer memory care in addition to assisted living, typically in a separate wing or building of the same facility. The key difference between these two options is that memory care is specialized for those with dementia, while assisted living is not. Dedicated memory care communities only accept residents with memory impairment. Every aspect of a memory care community, from activities to the facility layout, is intentionally designed to benefit those with cognitive conditions.

These communities offer a similar level of personal care assistance as found in assisted living, but with enhanced safety measures to meet the needs of those with memory impairment. Additionally, memory care staff are specially trained to work with people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and sometimes hold higher credentials like nursing certifications. This specialized training is intended to keep residents both safe and happy and provides them with the highest possible quality of life. In some areas, neighborhood businesses near the facilities are dementia/memory friendly. They display a certain sticker in their window that shows they understand how to serve a person with dementia and memory loss. This is wonderful for when someone with a memory impairment might need a little extra time to look at a menu, repeat things, or have someone talk to them with more patience and understanding.

Nursing Homes

Now, let’s talk more about nursing homes and their level of care. Nursing home services focus on medical care more than most assisted living facilities. These services typically include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, are also available. Finding the right nursing home takes time. It is important to begin the search for a suitable nursing home well in advance of seeking admission to the facility. There are often long waiting periods for available accommodations. Planning ahead also can make the transition of moving into a nursing home much easier.

Independent Living

What is Independent Living? Independent living is a type of community for seniors that might be new to the area, widowed, or who want to live closer to family, but also desire a community. Most of these facilities have housekeepers, servers at mealtime, and maintenance crews to help you as needed around your home. These communities also provide activities, three meals a day, and lots of fun interaction if you choose to participate.  Many seniors at the independent living centers are still driving and going out into the community but have support and a home to come to every night. These Independent homes do not provide any healthcare, but you are able to receive services from a home healthcare provider to help you continue enjoying an independent community.

As you explore these different ways of living, keep in mind that there is financial assistance for many of these options including: Medicaid, VA Benefits, Life Insurance. Medicare does not usually cover long term stays in a facility, but you should look into it and see if it is an option for you or your family members. I highly encourage you to look into all your financial options as you continue down this path.

The bottom line is, you should have a plan in place for yourself and for your loved ones. You want to make sure you are covered and prepared. Be proactive instead of reactive.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this blog. Watch the video version of this blog on my YouTube Channel and don’t forget to like and subscribe to follow along in this series. I hope you have a beautiful week and as always, remember, you belong here!

Kim Reding, Magnolia Realty – North DFW
940.300.5847
kimreding.com
kimreding@magnoliarealty.com

]]> https://www.kimreding.com/where-are-you-going-to-live-when-you-get-older/ Wed, 01 Jun 2022 21:41:10 +0000 https://kimreding.com/staging/?p=1323 Where Are You Going to Live When You Get Older?

Future Plans for Aging

As an SRES® Designated REALTOR® and a person who has aging parents, I want to share some information with you on how to plan for the future. The SRES® designation means that I am certified to meet the special needs of maturing Americans when it comes to matters of real estate. This designation means that I can approach my mature clients with the best options for them to make life-changing decisions. I hope this Senior Series helps you learn something new and plan for the future! If you have questions about how to start planning for your future living arrangements and how to transition into that new phase, please reach out to me. I’d love to help!

Let’s jump right in! Today we’re going to be talking about the different options seniors have for living arrangements as they age. The first option I’d like to talk about is “living in place.”

Living in Place or LIP

Living in place means you stay in your own home and build a community around you to support your needs as you get older. As a result, this community will help you stay in your home longer. Your unique community or team might include family members, home healthcare or caregiver staff, and other service providers. The community that surrounds you should be unique to your needs.

It’s also important to think about the current setup you have in your home and if it is living in place friendly. For example, are your floors carpet or tile? Do you have easy and safe access to a shower? If you might need a wheelchair or walker one day, would you be able to move around the house easily? Is the home one story?

There are also local resources for folks who choose to live in place, depending on your location. You may find that there are options for dementia and Alzheimer’s care that can come to your home. There may also be transportation services for seniors to help with getting around town for errands and appointments.

Like most things in real estate, what matters the most for LIP is location, location, location! You’re going to want to be as close as you can to your support community and local resources.

55+ Communities

Single living houses, condominiums, or townhomes that are neighborhood focused. They may include different amenities like a clubhouse, golf courses, swimming pools, recreational sports teams, retail stores, and restaurants. With an active lifestyle community, you will most likely have yearly or monthly dues.

Retirement Facilities

A retirement facility or an assisted living facility is usually set up like a large apartment building. The apartment types may vary from small studios to one – two bedroom apartment homes with full kitchens and living rooms. What sets a retirement or assisted living facility apart is that they usually have varying levels of care, which can be a good thing for those looking to plan longterm. They are great for those who want to be social within a community and offer lots of opportunities to make friends and get involved.

All of these options are great – what you choose is going to be completely up to you and unique to your aging journey! The most important thing is that you have this discussion with the people you love and that love you so that you can have a plan in place. I hope this Senior Series encourages you to connect with your friends and family and that you will communicate what your wants and needs are as you get older. With that, I’d like to invite you to follow along in this series over on my YouTube channel, Kim Reding, REALTOR®. Thanks for stopping by and as always, You Belong Here!