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Simplify Your Search for Senior Housing |
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Saturday, November 07, 2009
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Independent Living Resources and Tools
With the help of leading senior housing and independent living professionals, we've assembled the best resources available to help you learn about, assess, and choose the right independent living options for your needs.
We recommend you download and print each of our checklists. You'll find them invaluable tools when evaluating a community you are interested in and determining the costs you can expect. You'll also find our Independent Living Glossary and Frequently Asked Questions sections to be great resources as well.
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| Downloadable Checklists, Worksheets and Documents
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| Long-term Care Conversation Checklist | This conversation guide offers helpful tips for family members to begin talking about senior care and senior housing with their loved ones. | 100.44 KB | Download |
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| Caregiver Stress Test | Take this test periodically to assess the amount of stress you are dealing with as a primary caregiver. | 91.72 KB | Download |
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| Independent Living Tour Checklist | Print out and take with you when touring independent living or retirement communities. This checklist will help you evaluate each independent living community for important factors such as location, amenities, security, and general atmosphere. | 137.11 KB | Download |
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| Independent Living Administrative Checklist | Use this checklist to get more information about the community from the administrators and/or management staff. Questions about certification, personal services, transportation, and various policies are covered in this form. | 143.66 KB | Download |
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| Independent Living Cost Worksheet | This worksheet is a helpful tool for you to determine what costs you can expect each month from the independent living community you are interested in. | 137.28 KB | Download |
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| In Case of Emergency Checklist | A vital health history form to keep up-to-date and readily accessible in case of an emergency. | 126.59 KB | Download |
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| Fall Prevention Checklist | Make your home safer for seniors and print out this checklist for important safety considerations. | 112.55 KB | Download |
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| Senior Housing – What You Need to Know | Our 12-page booklet offers information about assessing your housing needs, considering certain housing factors, and determining your most important personal preferences in senior housing. | Unknown | Download |
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| Senior Housing Selection Tool | Unsure what type of senior housing is right for you or a loved one? We’ve put together this chart to help you determine what senior housing and level of care options might be most appropriate based on your personal situation. | 88.21 KB | Download |
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- Glossary
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Accreditation
A designation issued by an independent body to an organization. The accrediting body establishes standards and requirements for organizations in a field or industry. To become accredited, the provider implements practices that meet the established standards and requirements.
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Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Physical functions that an independent person performs each day, including bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking or wheeling, and transferring into and out of bed.
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Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
A non-profit organization that receives government support to organize and administer programs and services to older Americans on a local level. Their service area typically includes a county or group of counties. They also specialize in providing resources to seniors of below average financial means.
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| Q: Is independent living the right option for me? |
| A: For people who have little or no healthcare needs and would like to live independently in an active community with people the same age, independent living may be your best choice. Otherwise known as Retirement Communities, Active Lifestyle Communities, or Senior Living Communities, most communities have extensive activities and amenities to choose from and you can come and go as you please. If your healthcare needs increase slightly, most communities will allow you to bring in home health care assistance. However, if you currently have healthcare or personal assistance needs, an assisted living facility may be a better choice for you. |
| Q: How do I choose an independent living community? |
A: There are many things to consider when choosing a new home and choosing an independent living community can be even more daunting. We recommend the following steps to find the best choice for you and your family.
1. Choose a location.Use our Independent Living search (link to Independent Living search page) to narrow down the facilities in your area of interest.
2. Do your homework. Since there are no licensing requirements for independent living communities, it is much more important to rely on references, feedback, and first-hand experience.
3. Schedule a visit. The best way to evaluate any community is to see for yourself firsthand. Sometimes being in the building is just the experience you need to “feel” if it’s the right choice. Many communities will also allow you to stay for a meal or spend the night to get a better idea of what the day-to-day experience is really like.
4. Get feedback. Talk to people who have had experience with this community themselves. Hearing from current or past residents about their experiences and obtaining recommendations can be crucial in making a final decision. |
| Q: How can I pay for independent living? |
A: There are many ways in which seniors can pay for independent living (most often a senior will use a combination of two or more of the following):
1. Private Funds- Seniors with comfortable financial means pay for independent living with private funds. Some examples of private funds are:
a. Money from savings, checking, & money market accounts
b. Liquidation of investments such as stocks, bonds, & mutual funds
c. Liquidation of assets such as a home or a life insurance policy d. Monetary contributions from family members
2. Subsidies- Seniors with below average financial means may qualify for housing subsidies and low income housing. To find out what options are available, please contact your local Area Agency on Aging.
3. Veteran’s Benefits- Veterans (or their widows(ers)) that have served during wartime may be eligible for benefits through the Veteran’s Administration. To qualify, you must either have a low income and few assets or have disproportionately high medical-related expenses in relation to their income.
Note: Medicare, Medicaid, and Long-term care insurance are typically not viable sources of payment for Independent Living |
| Q: How much does it cost? |
A: Since the services and amenities of independent living communities can vary widely- from an unfurnished bedroom up to a furnished 3 bedroom cottage- your price can range anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 a month. Much like other rental properties, a security deposit and pet deposit are generally required before move-in.
At the low-cost end, subsidized senior housing is an option where you pay part of the rent and government funding covers the rest. Your rent is based on the ability to pay—usually a percentage of your income.
Government Assistance: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a Public Housing Program to provide options for low-income residents. Information on how to apply and eligibility requirements can be found here.
Government Housing Properties: For a list of HUD properties in your area, please visit the HUD Website and click on your state for a full list.
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