Continuing-Care Retirement Communities Expensive For A Reason

On August 9, 2010, In Aging in America, Assisted Living, Caregiving, HUD - Affordable Senior Housing, Home Health Care Agencies |Visiting Nurse, Senior Home Care, Senior Living, The American Economy Affecting Seniors, By SilverCensus

Continuing-Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are sought after for a reason. They offer health care, fine dining, community centers, and health clubs and are generally more active than nursing homes. However, the CCRC community is suffering because of the economy.

Keeping CCRCs at full capacity is extremely important for its success. They need to make a lot of money to continue to provide the services they offer and without this expected income from inhabitants it is hard for them to do so. To make up for the lost income, some CCRCs have resorted to going bankrupt, charging more, charging for things that previously were free or keeping entrance fee deposits which average $249,857.

The monthly cost of CCRCs depends on what services you have. There are many degrees of care they provide, but most offer health care and have a nursing staff to help. It all depends on the needs of residents and what they are willing to pay.

A recent post by the Wall Street Journal wrote about the problems with this industry and offered some tips when searching for the right CCRC.

  • Research consumer guides. www.carf.org and www.aahsa.org were listed as important websites to check out.
  • View the CCRC’s audited financial statements
  • Find out the CCRC’s cash-to-debt ratio, which should be about 35%
  • Find out the meeting terms of bond financing
  • Look at the CCRC’s history to see who and what they are affiliated with

The care advisers at SilverCensus educate consumers seeking senior care services with the most comprehensive licensed providers worldwide. By giving consumers access to this information, SilverCensus is able to assist them in making well-informed, well-thought decisions regarding their health care needs.

Post by Kate Valdovinos. Information obtained from http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704499604575407290112356422.html.

SilverCensus is an unbiased senior living and health services resource where consumers are educated on options, facilities & rights. Our services are completely free for seniors and their caregivers as well as Hospital Case Managers & Social Workers who are committed to proper discharge.  Clients include assisted living residences, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing homes, home health care agencies, HUD housing & independent living communities. We also provide free VA assistance for Veterans and their spouses.  Our Care Managers are standing by 24/7 at 888-776-1311 or through the web at: SilverCensus.com

 
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Music Therapy Alleviates Stress From Dementia

On July 1, 2010, In Aging in America, Alzheimer's/Dementia Care, Assisted Living, Caregiving, Healthy Aging, Senior Home Care, Senior Living, By SilverCensus

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Ward at Morse Geriatric Center in Florida utilizes music therapy to help dementia sufferers. Tony Sanso, a former nightclub singer, is welcomed by the staff to provide routine music therapy sessions.

The patients end up singing and clapping, and are generally upbeat during the session. Doctors notice that it also increases the thirst and appetite of the patients, which helps them get better sleep and have an overall better quality of life.

The music is chosen based upon the ages and tastes of the patients, and therefore provokes emotions that keep the patients happy. The process also increases socialization amongst the patients, which has proven to be good for their overall health.

Information obtained from http://archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/conditions/12/26/alzheimers.music/index.html. Post by Kate Valdovinos.

 
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The Sterling House Assisted Living of Stuart, Florida

On April 12, 2010, In Aging in America, Assisted Living, Caregiving, Senior Living, Senior Tour Reviews, By Carlyn Porter

The Sterling House of Stuart is located on a quiet street conveniently located close to sandy beaches, shopping, and quaint dining in heart of Stuart.   Considered part of the Treasure Coast of South Florida, the community itself is small enough to be as welcoming as a home and large enough to accommodate a variety of senior care needs.  Each resident is provided with a personalized care plan that is molded to the needs of the individual resident.
Personal apartments are complimented with the care provided by the well-trained staff.  They keep a watchful eye on the health and comfort of their residents without being overbearing. Depending upon personal needs, staff is available for medication management, assistance with moving around the building,  as well as a relatively uncommon personal request service (pet care, room service, whatever you need within reason).
Meals are provided three times a day with snacks readily available between meals.  Residents’ suggestions are taken into account when preparing meals and there are always various meal options. The dining room is an prime example of how at The Sterling House, the INDIVIDUAL is reminded of their importance—the chef has even been known to prepare dishes according to residents’ recipes.
Socially, residents are free to be as involved or uninvolved as they choose. The atmosphere is warm and friendly throughout the halls. The men and women I encountered seemed healthy, engaged, and thriving in their home surroundings. Based upon that insight and the pleasant staff, it seems The Sterling House of Stuart is doing more than one thing right.

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Click Here to Request Information from The Sterling House of Stuart, Florida

About SilverCensus:
SilverCensus is an unbiased senior living and health services resource where consumers are educated on options, facilities & rights. Our services are completely free for seniors and their caregivers as well as Hospital Case Managers & Social Workers who are committed to proper discharge.  Clients include assisted living residences, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing homes, home healthcare agencies, HUD developments & independent living communities.  We also provide free VA assistance for Veterans and their spouses.  Our Care Managers are standing by 24/7 at 888-776-1311 or through the web at: SilverCensus.com

...a Goliath-SilverCensus Company

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Luxurious Senior Living Emeritus at Jensen Beach, FL

On March 31, 2010, In Alzheimer's/Dementia Care, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Senior Living, Senior Tour Reviews, Skilled Rehab/Nursing Homes, By Carlyn Porter

Ultimately the quality of care provided is the most important feature of an assisted living facility. Emeritus personalizes care for each senior to match their personal needs. You can be assured that comfort, safety, and well-being are all top priorities at Emeritus. Their basic assisted living services include assistance with bathing and dressing if needed, medication management, dining assistance, diabetic assistance, as well as other helpful services. Different levels of care are available for those requiring additional assistance. There is an onsite provider of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
The third level of the building houses the Memory Care Neighborhood, easing the transition for seniors in assisted living who are faced with Alzheimer’s or Dementia as they age. Despite the castle-like appearance of Emeritus, you don’t have to pay a fortune to live like royalty. Studio rates start at $2600 and a Memory Care studio starts at $4200. If $4200 is out of your price range for Memory Care, consider a Friendship suite for only $2600. Short term care is also available, (starting at $125 for Assisted Living and $175 for Memory Care) which may be useful in determining if Emeritus is a good fit. Whether you’re here for a couple days or couple weeks, it’s likely the friendly staff and residents as well as the resort-like amenities will draw you back for more.

At Emeritus you can start your day at the Cappuccino Café and have a cup of coffee as you share a friendly conversation with fellow residents. Afterwards you might find yourself at breakfast enjoying waffles, bacon, or whatever traditional breakfast food strikes your fancy. There are countless ways to spend your time afterwards. Whether you prefer lounging by the outside pool, reading in the library, or getting a manicure at the beauty salon, you are sure to find an activity to keep you happy, alert, entertained, and growing as an individual. Jensen Beach is located within the Treasure Coast of Southern Florida, about a 45 minute drive north of Palm Beach.

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Tips to Selecting an Assisted Living Facility

On March 24, 2010, In Aging in America, Assisted Living, Caregiving, Independent Living, Senior Tour Reviews, Skilled Rehab/Nursing Homes, VA Benefits for Assisted Living|Home Care, By SilverCensus

Placing an aging parent has got to be one of the most difficult task one may ever face. Let’s face it, we all want what is best for our parents and when safety is compromised, selecting the “right” care home becomes critical. Here are some factors that you should consider when shopping for the best senior care facility for your Mom or Dad.

1. Location – Select a location that will allow your Mom or Dad to have visitors. There may be an esthetically pleasing assisted living facility fifteen miles away but the reality is that perhaps you should settle on a location closer to your home where mom’s good friend lives so quality time and frequent visits will not put a strain on your relationship. Ultimately you are looking for good quality senior care and that should always be your priority. Thirty minutes of just “people watching” will allow you also to observe the lifestyle of the senior retirement community to help you determine if you can envision Mom or Dad living there.
2. Fees - Caregivers and seniors alike should investigate the assisted living/nursing home management company. Often times senior retirement companies buy out various properties. If you select a property that has a financially strong Parent Company backing them then chances are Fees will change with the trend of the location. The worst is your loved one selects a property to relocate and the property is sold to another management company with a significant price increase and the uncertainty with new management altering the overall lifestyle of a community.
3. Food – If food is important to you, you better sample the food. Often caregivers and seniors alike do not take the time to sample the cuisine from the dining room of a community. From simply observing the variety of meals a senior retirement community offers can alleviate the unknown of “what’s for dinner”.
4. Tour – If your tour is scheduled for 1pm, show up half an hour early. Scope out the parking lot for other caregivers and inquiry about their own satisfaction about the community. Everyone has an opinion and its best to collect as many unsolicited comments regarding the property and quality of care as best as possible.
5. Turnover – Be sure to inquiry about community staff turnover. Employee turnover is critical to gain an understanding of the type of care you can possibly expect. I toured recently Arden Courts Alzheimer’s Assisted Living in West Palm Beach, Florida and met Rosalie. Rosalie is a home health aide employed at Arden Courts of West Palm Beach for over 10 years!!!! Outstanding! There are plenty of compassionate health care professionals that truly are out to promote quality of living and work becomes family. Be on the look out for these shining stars when narrowing down your search for the “perfect” senior retirement community.

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