Mar 8, 2020 | Planning for Retirement
Today’s senior living communities offer more services and amenities than ever, with perks that range from the convenient (like on-site healthcare facilities, transportation, and home maintenance) to the luxurious (like on-site 5-star dining options and indoor pools). Yet despite the seeming allure of many senior living communities, survey after survey reveals that today’s older adult still has a strong desire to stay in their own home for as long as possible, referred to as “aging in place.”
If you are one who feels that you want to stay in your own home, it’s important that you do the appropriate planning. Learn how to prepare for the research process and receive the tools that will help you determine where you’ll be most happy and thrive with our Formula for Success series.
Until then, here are a few important questions that you need to consider to ensure health, happiness, and safety in your home.
1. Will your home need to be modified to accommodate potential mobility challenges? Perhaps the top consideration is whether your bedroom is upstairs or downstairs, but other things to think about include the width of doorways (could they accommodate a walker or wheelchair?), height of the stove and cabinets, proper lighting, and floor surfaces. These are things that can pose particular challenges, and even safety concerns, depending on your physical capabilities in the future.
2. How will you maintain your home and yard when daily physical activity becomes more challenging? From routine housekeeping to yardwork and building maintenance, caring for a home is a lot of work even for a younger, able-bodied person. It is important to determine how you will continue with your home’s upkeep as you age.
3. What will you do to maintain your sense of purpose and stay socially active to minimize loneliness and social isolation? What about when your mobility and independence declines? One of the challenges of staying in your current home is the risk of becoming isolated because of physical decline and/or transportation issues. Seniors who want to stay in their own home must find ways to continue to get out into their community, socialize, and nurture relationships with friends and loved ones.
4. Who will provide transportation to doctors’ appointments and other necessary errands if you are no longer able to drive safely? While ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have begun testing ways to help seniors in this capacity, these services aren’t available everywhere. In addition, not all seniors may feel comfortable with a driver they don’t know, or using the necessary technology. So, you must look at how you will safely get from place to place if and when you are no longer able to drive yourself.
5. What will you do to make sure someone is alerted if you fall and cannot get up on your own? Technology is on your side for this one. There are numerous home alert systems available today. Some are the push button alert systems that have been around for some time. Newer technologies incorporate Bluetooth sensors, which essentially act as in-home tracking devices that notify the appropriate person if there seems to be a lack of movement for a period of time. You can begin exploring your options with a simple Google search for “senior assistive devices.”
6. If your cognitive functionality begins to decline, who will manage your household and finances, making sure your bills are paid, appointments are met, necessary services are provided, etc.? Who will help you prepare meals, get dressed, and perform other activities of daily living (ADLs) when you are no longer physically able? This is a biggie. Many people expect that their adult children will be willing and able to assist with these types of mundane tasks, but the reality is that caring for an aging loved one can be very taxing–physically, emotionally, and even financially. This is an honest conversation you need to have with family members before their assistance is needed. Alternately, it is good to research in-home care providers and/or care coordinators in your area, again, before you actually need help.
7. If you require facility-based rehab care following an unexpected injury, such as a fall, do you know the available options in your area and the quality of care provided by each? While aging in place may be your preference, life may have other plans for you. An injury, surgery, or illness can necessitate a move to a rehabilitation or care facility, at least temporarily. It’s good to know in advance which ones are the best in your area. Ask friends who have had a first-hand experience in such facilities, or ask your physician for their two-cents. Also find out if they typically have a waiting list. Learn more about Moravian Manor Communities’ short-term rehabilitation services.
8. If you require in-home care or assistance, who will manage scheduling and payments, as well as provide regular oversight to verify that adequate care is provided and help prevent elder abuse? While the majority of in-home care providers are excellent, there are a few unfortunate exceptions where seniors are mistreated or neglected. It’s important to have someone who can not only oversee the financial aspects of having care services provided in the home but who can also advocate for you to ensure you are receiving the quality care you are paying for. Also, turnover in the home-care services industry is extremely high. Finding and keeping high-quality care can be a challenge.
The big picture of aging in place
Aging in place has appeal for a lot of reasons: Your home is familiar, steeped in fond memories and comfortable. But there are drawbacks to staying in a home that may not have been built for an aging or elderly person, especially if health issues arise. So, it’s important to consider the big picture before opting to age in place. You may just decide that a Retirement Community, like Moravian Manor Communities, is better for you in the long-run.
Learn more about a secret formula for success in determining what option is best for you.
Note: The articles and postings on the Moravian Manor Communities blog are provided for general educational purposes only.
Mar 3, 2020 | Formula for Success
Remember those math and science formulas you had to memorize in school? While you may have not used E=mc2 or Speed = distance/time during your everyday life after graduation, chances are you approached major life decisions—which really could be considered “life investments”—with a “formula” of your own. With a car purchase, you looked at gas mileage, ratings and performance, financing terms, and warranties. With selecting a college—whether for yourself or a child—you looked at the available majors, location to home, cost of tuition, percent of students who were employed upon graduation, etc. If investing in real estate, you considered things like rental income, location, renovations needed and related costs, and down payment, weighing out the pros and cons of everything.
If you approached life’s major decisions as life investments, you’ll realize that making a lifestyle change is an investment as well, both financially and emotionally. Just like with past life investments, when looking at senior living options you’ll want to conduct thorough research and carefully weigh your options. What’s the secret behind doing this successfully? We’re about to share the tested and proven formula, which will help you quickly sort out the options and focus on the issues when making this decision. If you follow the steps below in respective order and do the homework before you start looking, you’ll avoid wasting time and energy as well as counteract the feelings of confusion and frustration. In addition, your best option will naturally reveal itself.
The secret formula to follow, in this specific order, is: Risks & Values + Health + Finances = Your Best Option. Now let’s look at each one of the three parts individually and see how it all fits together.
Step 1: Risks & Values
The first component of this formula for success is to define what’s most important to you and what are you comfortable with. This can best be called the “internal research”… the soul searching. Though it may be tricky to start, this can lead to wonderfully rich conversations that are a gift to the entire family. Most people want to start with the financial component, sometimes trying to avoid the internal research all together.
Questions you’ll want to review include everything from “How many times do you want to move?” and “Are you concerned about being a burden to children, family, or friends?” to “If something happened to your spouse, could you maintain your current lifestyle?” Regardless of how much money a person has, where they live or their resistance to making a change, these “soul searching” questions are the best place to start. Your answers to these questions form the foundation for your decision. You’ll be astonished at what you discover after an exploration of your Risks & Values.
We’ll explore the 16 Risks & Values questions in more depth in the next article…coming soon.
Step 2: Health
The state of your health will initially set the direction for your research. Can you start your research by exploring independent living options or do you need to begin at the personal care level? The first thing to do is take a realistic look at the current state of your health. Then project what any current health challenges may present five to ten years into the future. Remember, the better your health the more options you have.
Step 3 Finance
Now it’s time to get a handle on the finances. There is a golden rule with this: “Know Before You Go.” What that means is that you absolutely must know how much money you have to work with before you start looking at specific options. You’d hate to find an option you fall in love with, only to realize it’s financially unrealistic; so start by confirming how much you have in combined capital assets and annual income.
There’s much more to both Health and Finance, which we’ll touch upon in future articles.
Don’t Want to Wait for the Next Articles?
If you’re ready now to learn more, a residency counselor at Moravian Manor Communities is here to help you. Our unique marketing approach is to educate mature adults on their choices and the formula for success.
Contact us for more information on Moravian Manor Communities or a free copy of “Your Formula for Successful, A Practical Guide for Making Your Senior Housing Decision,” written by industry expert Randalyn Kaye.
So remember, do your homework and keep this simple formula in front of you…Risks & Values + Health + Finances = Your Best Option. Look for additional articles coming soon to learn more about Your Formula for Success. You’ll be amazed how it will guide and simplify your research and decision-making process.
Mar 2, 2020 | COVID Update
TO: Residents, Staff and Children’s Corner Parents
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO
DATE: March 2, 2020
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
I am writing to give an update regarding the widely publicized Coronavirus.
It is essential to know that we are in regular contact with medical authorities regarding the Coronavirus. Our Medical Director, Dr. Howse, is keeping us informed of any updates from Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Hospital. Also, we rely on resources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) regarding updates and guidance.
At this point, there are no known cases in Lancaster County (or Pennsylvania). While that may change in the coming weeks, commonsense procedures are the best way to fight the spread of all viruses. As a reminder, DOH has shared the following tips to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
• Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do NOT use your hands!
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other often touched items.
• If you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
In many ways, the best prevention includes practices that Moravian Manor Communities have implemented as standard protocols. Our well-trained nursing and housekeeping teams know how to clean and minimize the risk of spreading viruses.
We believe we are well prepared to keep viruses from spreading and ask that you participate in our efforts by following the commonsense guidelines stated above.
I also encourage you to check the following websites for updates on the Coronavirus regularly.
Pennsylvania Department of Health: www.health.pa.gov
Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov
The home pages of both sites have links to Coronavirus updates. Our team keeps the health and welfare of our residents at the forefront at all times.
If you have further questions, please email Dr. Lynn Swisher, NHA, Vice President of Health Services, lynns@moravianmanor.org or Donna Gerofsky, RN, ICP, donnag@moravianmanor.org
