 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
Senior Living
2009-06-01 10:29:00
Independence now - with help later on
Answer: Many children have found themselves in your shoes and have felt the same way – their Mom living alone, other siblings out of town and not available on a daily basis, a loved one who is basically independent now but may need some assistance with activities of daily living at some point in the future.
For whatever reason - a health related wake-up call, difficulty maintaining a private residence or a desire to be closer to the children - you or your elderly loved one may have recognized a need for a change in lifestyle and housing. Once the realization is made that a change of lifestyle is probably a change of address, many questions and concerns become apparent. What are the housing options available in my immediate area? What services are offered by these providers? How long can my loved one live there? Are support services such as bathing and dressing available in a retirement apartment community?
A majority of retirement communities consist of apartment homes but that is where the similarity usually ends. Today’s new and innovative communities offer an even wider range of specialty features and supportive services. It is important that consumers investigate all the options and understand all of the support services available in each community prior to making a decision.
The newer free-standing rental retirement communities are essentially an independent living community with a more user-friendly and supportive environment. In these brand new purposefully designed communities, residents will find a wide range of state-of-the-art building designs and services available to enhance or support their desire to be independent in daily lives. These features and the benefits of these features not only add to the resident’s ability to maintain independence longer but also provide peace of mind for their families. The common areas inside and outside enhance the resident’s opportunities to continue his or her social and cultural lifestyles.
Unique state-of-the-art design elements such as special positioning of electrical outlets, light switches and thermostats, provide ease of access for residents who experience mobility challenges. The design and location of windows and the special hall lighting provide additional light for seniors with vision disabilities. Optional emergency response systems provide residents with a 24 hour on-call responder.
Many of today’s newest independent retirement communities partner with home health agencies that can provide services for residents who need assistance with bathing, dressing or medication management. Others may combine this service with a unique concierge or companion service option that offers assistance with everyday lifestyle activities such as “pet care”, additional maid and housekeeping services, party and event planning, gift wrapping, catering services and more.
Remember when looking at senior housing options – don’t wait until you have to make a change. The key to staying independent, healthy and in charge of your life is to make the investment in time and research sooner rather than later.
