Autumn Years Spring 2024

HEALTH & WELFARE

A Change of Place: Know Your Options By Michelle Malikzay It is time to start looking at alternative living solutions when you or your loved ones start feeling like the current living situation has become burdensome. Often, an individual needs and prefers change as he or she ages so it is no surprise that downsizing becomes an appropriate option—why not live out one’s golden years with stress free and maintenance free living. Also, a medical condition may require selling one’s home and transitioning to communities that offer assistance with bathing, medication management and provide a warm atmosphere with robust social activities.

O ften families are faced with impor tant decisions about living options when these decisions need to be made in a very short period of time. So it is imperative to be proactive and do your research on living options ahead of time. Do not wait for a fall or hospitalization to start looking at communities and making life changing decisions. After all, how likely are you to pick the right community for you or your loved one while under duress? Also, if a loved one is the intended resident of a new home, be sure to take him or her with you as you visit the communities and ask for their opinion. This crucial step promotes independence. supervision, medication management, meal options, assistance with ADL’s (activities of daily living), socialization and promotes independence. Memory Care offers specialized care for people with memory loss and is often in a secured area of an Assisted Living com Alternative living solutions Assisted Living care offers 24-hour

munity. Skilled Nursing care provides 24-hour nursing care for those with declining physical health and high acuity medical conditions. Location is an important consider ation because seniors generally prefer to stay close to their family members or within areas where they have a deep rooted connection. Let’s use Mrs. Smith in Wayne as an example. She is need of assistance because she has become for getful. She leaves the stove on at home and forgets to take her medications. Living alone has become dangerous. Her family is unable to check on her every day and makes the decision to sell her home and assist her move into a com munity. The next step would be to look up the memory care communities in the Wayne area, make an appointment to visit them and check on pricing options. Keep in mind the person giving the tour is a salesperson for the commu nity. It is important that you see how the community operates so be sure to schedule tours during the lunchtime hours. While on tour, do not be shy to ask residents and their family members

about their experiences. Remember to look at the activities calendar as social engagement is vital in keeping memory impairment at bay. Inquire about the community’s medical director. Find out how often does he or she visit the resi dents and to which major hospital the doctor is affiliated. Check on levels of care Always ask what the rates will be for different levels of care even if your loved one does not necessarily need that type of care at the present time. Some private long-term care insurance plans pay for a portion of Assisted Living care. The representative at the community will discuss rates and insurance with you. Many of the longstanding assisted living and memory care communities, such as Sunrise, offer reasonable pricing and a home-like setting. The newer communi ties, such as Thrive and Allegro, offer a grand hotel-like setting at higher rates. There are a few communities in Bergen County that offer a very broad level of services such as the Actors Fund

16 AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024