Dear Raider, I read that it is Long-Term Care Planning Month, and last night Lester Holt talked about the rising cost of living for aging Americans. With most things continuing to rise in price, I can’t even imagine the cost of long-term care these days. Do you have any recent information about what someone could […]
Can You Reside with a Loved One in a Long-Term Care Facility when Your Health Situations Are Different?
Q. My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are one of those happy couples who spend every waking moment together and are still as much in love as the day they met. My mother has memory issues that are getting worse, and Dad needs dialysis several times a week. Mom will probably need […]
Assisted Living Is Failing to Meet the Needs of Seniors in the US
The senior population in the United States has quadrupled since 1900 and is expected to continue growing significantly, with 46 percent of the baby boomer generation now age 65 and up. According to the Administration for Community Living’s Profile of Older Americans, by 2040, there will be 80.8 million older adults, more than twice as […]
What is the Difference Between a Nursing Home and Assisted Living?
Sheila lives with her son, his wife, and her grandchildren in their home, and has been there for 3 years since her Parkinson’s started getting worse. They enjoy having her with them, but as her needs are becoming greater, they think she may need more support than they can provide. They have heard from some […]
What is the Virginia Auxiliary Grant Program
Dear Oakley, I was looking at your key elder law figures page to see if it had been updated for 2022. I see that there is something on there about Virginia Auxiliary Grants? What are they and how do you qualify? Thanks for your help! Grant Formee — Dear Grant, The Virginia Auxiliary Grant (AG) […]
These Non-Traditional Senior Living Facilities Have Almost No Coronavirus Cases
On a recent afternoon, Ruth Deardorff, 97, sat by the orchids and other potted flowers that she had chosen to line the windowsill of her room. After decades of gardening and growing flowers in the yard of her suburban home, she finds comfort in having flowers in her room. Ruth feels safe and content in […]
Futuristic Post-Pandemic Changes Coming to Senior Living?
Dear Angel, With the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the danger it poses to residents, some things need to change now and for the future. What changes are being implemented and/or planned? Thanks! Chan Jess — Dear Chan, While it’s uncertain how or when the COVID-19 pandemic will end, […]
What’s the Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Home Care, and which is Less Expensive?
Q. We are currently caring for my mother-in-law, Margaret, in our home. We enjoy having her with us, but as her needs keep becoming greater, we find that she may need more support than we can provide. I have read that when a senior has a progressive medical condition or serious health needs, assisted living […]
Some Uplifting Nursing Home Stories Amid Coronavirus
Dear Hayek, My grandmother is in a nursing home and I am worried about her. I write her letters and talk with her via phone and FaceTime, but I can tell she is still lonely. Are there any uplifting stories you can share about nursing homes during this difficult time? I’m hoping for some creative […]
How to Assess if Your Senior Loved One Is Being Well Cared for in Assisted Living
Dear Oakley, My mother has been in assisted living for a few months. I don’t hear much about how she is doing and due to my hectic work schedule, I don’t visit as much as I would like. I am planning on going with the family this Saturday to see her. Are there any good […]
Bait and Switch: When You’re Not Getting the Care You Were Promised in Assisted Living
Q. When my friend, Vicki, was shopping around for assisted living facilities for her mother, one in particular stood out to her. The lovely marketing materials showed beautiful landscaping, rooms that resemble those at a classy Marriott hotel, and lively group activities. The facility boasted that they had 24/7 licensed nurses on-site and promised a […]
How to Afford Assisted Living
Q. We are considering assisted living for my father in the not so distant future. He doesn’t quite need a nursing home yet, but he certainly needs more help than we can provide in the home. Although assisted living is not as expensive as nursing home care, it’s still quite expensive. I understand that she […]
Is Care Getting More Expensive or Has it Hit its Peak?
Q. My mother has lived alone for the past three years since my father passed away. She is starting to get lonely and needs more help these days. I recently started looking into in-home care as an option. I knew it would be expensive, but decided it was time to spend the money and get […]
How Do I Know if Assisted Living is Right for My Dad?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, My father is considering assisted living. He wants me to help him choose a facility. I honestly don’t know where to begin or if assisted living is even right for him. How can I know? Thanks!Anita Knowmore—Dear Anita, Determining if assisted living is right and choosing an assisted living community for […]
Can They Kick Her Out of Assisted Living?
Jeff Regan received a shocking phone call from Atria Assisted Living to inform him that his aunt, Marilou Jones, 94, who has dementia, was being evicted. The family was informed by the nurse who phoned them that Marilou can’t transfer into memory care as the family had planned; and that she would be kicked out […]
Has In-home Care Gotten a Lot More Expensive this Year?
Q. I’ve been a full-time caregiver for my mother for the past few years. Last year, when I noticed that my role was becoming more than I could handle myself, I started looking into in-home care. At the time, I decided against it because it was too expensive. This year has been particularly hard on me, and I […]
Comparing Aging-in-Place vs. Assisted Living
Q. My father passed away last year, and my mother has lived alone ever since. Her colonial-style home is becoming difficult to navigate due to her mobility issues. She has fallen several times and we are worried about her. She would like to continue to live in her home and age-in-place, but some major modifications […]
Mandating Overtime Pay for In-Home Caregivers
My mother-in-law, Stella, lives alone in her home in Florida, and her health has been declining for some time. About a year ago, we hired an in-home caregiver for her who comes 4 hours every day from a local agency. Now her health is deteriorating more rapidly, and we are thinking of hiring a live-in […]
Will Medicaid Pay for Assisted Living?
Dear Baxter, My father is in the early stages of dementia, and is considering assisted living. If my father is eligible, does Medicaid cover assisted living, or only nursing home care? Thanks for your help! Anita Sistance — Dear Anita, Assisted living has become an increasingly popular alternative to nursing care when our aging loved ones […]