Senior Connections - Senior Living Made Simple Part 2

Since in the inception of my first blog - Having the Talk - I've shared the importance of discussing with your aging loved ones their wishes, and about the many different kinds of communities available when it comes to retirement living. 

Today, I will share with you some wonderful resources as you and your loved one(s) begin the journey of selecting just the right community for them.

To begin, most retirement communities, such as Independent Living and some Assisted Living, are private pay. So, the first thing you need is to determine is what your loved one can afford and how much the family is willing to contribute. Perhaps your loved one has a long-term care insurance plan or they've been frugal enough to set aside funds for their retirement. Additionally, they may have a home or condo that can be sold to supplement their social security - all of which will help in paying the monthly rent in a community.

Second, determine what kind of community is the best... independent living, assisted living or even skilled nursing or an adult family home. The chosen residence must be selected based on the needs of your loved one. Are they still cooking and very independent? Do they require some light or heavy assistance with their active daily living skills? Perhaps they need 24-hour skilled care or a secured memory care environment. These things must all be taken into consideration. To save on some cost your loved one could choose to rent a shared unit with another resident. This can reduce the cost up to one half.

Third, you should consider the environment. Does your loved one prefer the   country or city? Do they mind noisy streets or quiet park-like settings? Would a community close to family be more convenient, or is distance not a worry? What kind of hobbies or interests does your loved one have? Does the community you are considering provide such opportunities? What about the food? Is their meal service considered Leisure Dining or are the meal times scheduled at specific times of the day? Are they required to sit in the same place or does the community encourage socializing and therefore residents may sit wherever they choose.

To some, all of this may be incredibly overwhelming. It certainly is a lot to take in when trying to make decisions... sometimes very quickly in cases of urgency. 

Fortunately, there are some wonderful agencies ready and willing to assist you in this process that will cost you nothing. Their job is to act as an advocate for you and your loved one. They will conduct an interview with the family and potential resident to determine all the above. Then, they will provide you with the best potential matches and will even with you during the touring process to act as a liaison between you, your loved one and the community. Should you choose one of the many establishments they've referred to you, then that community pays them a commission or referral fee. So, it is in their best interest to do the best job possible for you and your love one.

With that in mind, listed are several referral agencies that can provide you assistance. A Place For Mom specializes in FREE Assisted Living and Memory Care placement. You can view their website at http://www.aplaceformom.com/ or call them at (877) 311-6099.  They've been in business since 2000 and are one of the quickest and most successful growing referral sources in Washington.

Choice Advisory is another well-established source with glowing credentials. You can visit their website at http://www.choiceadvisory.com/ or call them at 800-361-0138. Their Elder Care Advisors are very caring and will assist you in a step by step process to help eliminate the frustration and stress usually associated with this journey. While there are many others, I highly recommend these two placement services because of their stellar reputation and professionalism.

One final note: there is a widely unknown benefit provided through the VA called the Aid and Attendance Benefit. This benefit was established for those veterans or spouses of veterans who served during war time. This veteran must have served 90 consecutive days with just one of those days being during war time. Perhaps your loved one served in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War or even Desert Storm. If so and if they require assistance on some level with their ADL's (active daily living skills), or if their monthly income is under the maximum allowed, then they or their surviving spouse may qualify for the benefit. 

Please note, this is a Pension Benefit and IS NOT dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, Nursing Home or Assisted Living facility. A veteran is eligible for up to $1,704 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,094 per month. A veteran with a spouse is eligible for up to $2,020 per month and a veteran with a sick spouse is eligible for up to $1,338 per month. All is TAX FREE!

While I wish it was not true, there are many communities that have tried to take advantage of this benefit by encouraging seniors to move into their more expensive communities by promising to get them qualified. Usually within a year, you can expect a rent increase that will like force your loved one to move out as the rents are not generally in an affordable range to begin with. In fact, many communities use what is referred to as a Veterans Assistance Advocate or VAA. 

VAA's are really financial planners who must be certified to assist with the application process of this benefit. Please note: They CAN NOT charge you for this assistance or tell you that unless you work with them as a financial planner, they can't assist you. It is UNLAWFUL for them to charge you, or talk you into having them handle your finances. That option is strictly dependent upon the you and your loved one.

There are many qualified organizations that are not "on the take" and will do a good job walking you through the application process. The Veterans' Administration or VFW can help too. And, there are wonderful communities that won't use this as a ploy to get you to sign rental agreements. All involved should understand the Aid and Attendance Benefit is there to help with the cost and care of your aging loved one.

Now, some hidden practices you don't know about when you tour. Always ask what their occupancy is. If it is less than 85 percent, inquire as to why that occupancy is low. You may also inquire about turnover. The staff will likely not be honest about this as they know this can send a tour right back out the door without signing an agreement. 

So how do you get around this? Ask a resident. In fact, as you pass residents in the hall or see one sitting nearby (as you wait for your tour to begin), ask them about the community. Ask them what they like about living there. Ask about the housekeeping services or turnover of the staff. Inquire about the managers to see how they respond to resident needs. Finally, be sure to ask about the daily activities for residents to see how they will fit in with the interests of your loved one.

Everyone hears horror stories about the food in establishments like this.  However, many now have executive chefs to plan wonderful menus and meals.  The cost to feed a resident each day is about $3.75. Some communities have a larger budget and others even less. No matter, be sure to ask to have a complimentary meal. This is a great time to not only taste the food, but to observe the interaction of the staff with the residents and visa-versa. You can learn a lot from what you see, hear and sometimes, what you don't see or hear.

Another opportunity communities offer are "stay-cations" or guest stays. This provides the prospective resident a chance to stay at the community they are considering for a few days to see how they might fit in. Most communities have a guest room just for this purpose. This should be a no-charge stay and will include all meals.

Some things to expect when your loved one finally chooses a community in which to reside. First, you can expect annual rent increases ranging from 5 to 10 percent. Some communities will offer incentives that may include a rent freeze for 1-3 years if their occupancy is low. Their goal is to fill the building at any cost. For you or your loved one, that could be a good thing. But if occupancy is low... then there is a reason. Sometimes, good deals are not a good thing. Remember, you get what you pay for.

You can also expect to pay a one time fee known as a Community Fee or Move-In Fee. For many communities, the Move-In fee goes toward the long-term maintenance and asthetics of the building (interior/exterior) or toward staff training. This fee can range from $1,000 to one time the rent. So if you rent will be $3,500, then that is what your Community Fee will cost. Again, a community can waive this fee. Most people come unprepared to ask for what they want. Don't be afraid to ask for a reduced or no Community Fee at all. 

Commiunities might also charge pet fees (monthly or a one time deposit). While it is nice to have a favorite pet, sometimes these rates are a bit over the top. Other hidden fees may include room tray service. Some communities are all-inclusive and won't charge for this service. But most charge between $5 & $7 for each service after allowing for three free services due to illness.

Don't feel pressured to sign an agreement the day you tour. When I worked in this industry, I felt frustrated by the urgency from management to push for an immediate signature on a rental agreement. No decision worth making is worth making too expediently. If there is no urgency in your situation, then certainly take a few days to make your considerations. You could always ask to place a fully refundable deposit down on a unit you may be considering. This will ensure you are contacted first should someone else be considering that same unit.

Be sure to check out a minimum of three communities to help you in your assessment. The more you are aware of in this industry- of what is available, the easier your decision will be. Come prepared with questions and concerns. No questions is stupid as information is knowledge.

When and if your family member should choose to leave a community or if they should pass, Independent Living communities require a 30-day notice as they are not governed by the same state regulations as Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, or Memory Care communities. Independent Living is considered multi-family housing and therefore operates as such.

All other types of care communities offering care services must follow the guidelines in the Washington Administrative Codes. So, the guidelines are not only regulated but may vary. These kinds of communities are also required to maintain a census (the state review) and have it available for your review should you desire. This will tell you where the community has short-comings and where they are thriving.

Please know I am more than willing to answer your questions, make suggestions or even connect you with someone who can help you in this process. Many attempt to do this alone without understanding the journey or what they can expect. As an advocate for seniors, my goal is to arm you with the tools and information to make this process a pleasant one.