Helping Seniors Afford Independent Living

Many of the seniors I work with are at a point in life where they’re exploring whether to age in place, move in with family, or transition to a senior living environment where additional services are available.

The main concern with senior living facilities is the cost — it is sticker shock for many seniors and their families who see prices starting at $4K a month with many communities charging significantly more.

Families then begin to explore what assistance is available to help them afford it.

I recently read an article from the Council on Aging about whether Medicaid can help seniors with the expense of independent living. The short answer is no, though Medicaid may cover other services that are needed as part of the independent living arrangement. Specifically, seniors should understand when and how to apply for  Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waivers, or 1915(c) waivers. They can help seniors with disabilities remain independent by covering things like home health aides, personal care, housekeeping assistance, adult day programs, respite care, and case management.

You’ll want to check with your state to better understand how the waiver program work where you live.

>>Click here to read the full article from The Council on Aging.

Veterans Benefits Helping with Long Term Care

What you need to know about VA Aid and Attendance benefits.

As Seniors Real Estate Specialists, we come across many veterans who are preparing for alternative accommodation due to their health conditions and they are not always aware of some of the benefits that they may be eligible to receive. Our initial consultations often reveal details that allow us to offer support and or services that will assist them on their journey.

Veteran benefits are just one of the services we have shared with our clients that allow them more flexibility to afford their preferred senior living community. Such as in the case of Mr. & Mrs. B, who would have settled in a place not close enough to their adult children, if we didn’t help them find out about a veteran benefit that would help them. It provided them with more than $2,000 per month which would go directly toward their living expenses for a beautiful 2-bedroom cottage located in a Senior Living Community within 10 miles of their children (they were over 40 miles away before the move!).

In today’s economy, families are having to make tough financial choices, but some have relief available when it comes to long-term care for their loved ones. Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit (not widely known about), is a government program that can help families better manage the costs of caring for an elderly veteran or dependents.

So, what is Aid and Attendance?

VA Aid and Attendance is a monthly pension benefit that provides tax-free payments to Veterans who served during wartime. In addition to being available for Veterans, single surviving spouses and dependent children are also eligible for this benefit.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension, and you meet at least one of these requirements.

  • You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or
  • You have to stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of illness, or
  • You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or
  • Your eyesight is considerably limited

For more detailed information please visit VA.gov.

Signs It’s Time to Get Organized

(Posted with permission from Mike DeLeon at Caring Transitions of Northeast Atlanta)

Has your “stuff” taken over your space?

The items that fill our homes can be cherished, but when those items start to get in the way, it may be time to clear clutter. If you care for your home and an aging loved one too, this can become even more complex.

We have signs to help you decide if your possessions are holding you or a loved one back from being organized. In both cases, we can easily become blind to the number of items we accumulate over time and grow accustomed to clutter being there. If you’re not sure you need to remove excess “stuff” from your living environment here are signs clutter has taken over and it’s time to get organized.

In Your Home

Streamlining in your home to save space will help you stop clutter from taking over your space. Each room should have designated spaces for everything that belongs in the room.

Signs you may have too much “stuff” in your home:

  • You planned to clear clutter and get organized for a while, but haven’t had time.
  • You have more clothing and shoes in your home than can be worn in a specific season and laundry has become overwhelming.
  • You have trouble finding items like keys or other daily essentials frequently.
  • You have multiple spaces where “stuff” consistently continues to accumulate.
  • You have a large amount of items connected to memories or emotions that have taken up too much space.

3 Tips to Start Getting Organized

  1. Create a plan. Start the process by deciding which items are most meaningful to you and what you need for your family’s daily routine. Then identify heirlooms and keepsakes you are certain you want to keep.
  2. Know your space. Understand the layout, limitations, and organization wishes for your home. Decide what you believe should comfortably be in each room.
  3. Sort your items. Decide which items you want to donate or consider selling. Evaluate the best options to help you with that task.

In Your Loved One’s Home

Here’s a list of significant changes that could indicate your parents may currently or soon need additional support streamlining or professional decluttering help:

  • You observe stacks of unpaid bills or late notices.
  • Your loved one has trouble finding important or daily use items.
  • Changes in housekeeping that indicate parents are having trouble with clutter.
  • Clutter is causing numerous safety concerns in the home, such as covering heat and air conditioning ducts or trip and fall hazards.
  • Clutter is leading to issues with disorganized medications, spoiled food in the fridge, lack of healthy food items, infestations or mold.

3 Tips to Help Loved One’s Streamline

  1. Help your loved one get rid of items that belong to other people. Have they held on to your childhood furniture and keepsakes or stored items for family and friends? If your answer is yes, start clearing those items.
  2. Dispose of broken and outdated items. In most cases, broken items are no longer useful or functional, but a hazard. Be sure to discard these items to clear room as well as for safety.
  3. Be patient and prioritize the well-being of everyone involved. In a world driven by immediacy, we often want instant results. Remember this is a process that works best with a plan and lots of patience. If the task exceeds what you comfortably do, experts like those at Caring Transitions can help.

If these signs describe your home or your loved one’s home, it’s time to reclaim your space and get organized! This can be an overwhelming task, but you don’t have to do it alone. Experts at Caring Transitions can help you clear space. Learn more by contacting Mike DeLeon at Caring Transitions of Northeast Atlanta – mdeleon@caringtransitions.com.