Senior dogs are often ignored when people adopt, but they make great experienced companions for people of any age. Rescue a senior dog and let ’em teach you a few new tricks. For more information on adopting a senior fellow visit www.topdogfoundation.org or call 952-353-2122.
Are you thinking about moving to an Assisted Living or another type of housing with services setting?
Studies show people who do not plan ahead, often spend more of their hard earned money and are less informed to deal with a long term health crisis. Don’t wait, plan now. Get information and assistance to understand the risks you might have that could lead to the need for an expensive move. Understand how to manage those risks. (more…)
“Market rate” means that a housing unit is paid for by rent, in the same way as any apartment. A lease is signed that states the monthly rent for a period of time and at the end of the lease the landlord can increase the rent. Apartment sizes can vary greatly. Studios and efficiencies are available to 1, 2, and 3+ bedroom apartments with one or more bathrooms. Complexes may offer several different versions of an apartment and costs can vary by adding a bathroom, sunroom, square footage, or view. Costs can also be affected by the addition of services, (if any are available) such as meals. Usually there are very few services (more…)
A growing number of residences specialize in care for people with Alzheimer’s and related symptoms of dementia. Some are stand alone facilities that are “Dementia Only” while others are a specialized unit in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Another type of residence for people with memory care needs is Residential Care Homes. Residential Care Homes are typically single family homes that have been turned into a residence for 5 to 10 people, but they can also be purpose built. Residential Care Homes usually provide general care and/or memory care.
Residential Care Homes offer the opportunity to receive the assistance you need in an intimate home setting—in a real house located in a residential neighborhood. They offer professional services with a high ratio of staff available to assist as needed. These services range from very basic assistance or reminders, to memory care and complex service needs. The small setting offers the opportunity for individualized care which caters to unique needs and (more…)
Many buildings have a social worker and/or an on-site service coordinator. This person helps residents access community based services, such as help with housekeeping, laundry, meals, personal care, and transportation. Some buildings have services onsite which may be nonmedical or medical in nature. There are also a few buildings that actually have assisted living and memory care. Rent for subsidized housing is usually a percent of the resident’s income and payment for services is also based on income on a sliding fee scale. (more…)
It can take time to find housing that is affordable, but the result can be worth the effort. Rents in these communities vary according to ability to pay, based on gross income, (before taxes or Medicare deductions), and assets. Assets include income from Social Security, wages, pensions, welfare, etc. and interest or dividends from IRAs, Certificates of Deposit, stocks, and bonds. With assets such as stocks and bonds only the interest from the asset is counted as income. Assets such as cars and clothing are not counted.(more…)
Market rate rental housing offering two or more supportive services is similar to other market rate rentals where you pay a monthly fee to occupy a space. Typically, there is a deposit with a one year lease and at the end of the lease, the rent increases. Rentals offering services may include the cost for services in the rent or they may be purchased a-la-carte. If you are a person who likes to winter in Arizona, you will want to consider how the services are paid for, in the rent or separately. You may also be able to purchase a package of services and they usually have different packages available, so you can chose the one that best suits your needs. (more…)
Choosing the Right Assisted Living for Memory Care
Not only is the decision to place a loved one in a memory care community difficult, but making the decision on which community is just as difficult. Do you plan for the present or do you plan for the future? When it comes to memory care, that decision is often crisis driven and the decision is frequently made for the present. Unfortunately not all communities can or are able to provide care for the future thus the decision made for the present frequently results in another difficult decision in the future. That’s why it is so important for families to plan for the future, to know what is available and where they would like their loved one to be when the time comes for professional care. (more…)