How to Plan for Retirement and Senior Care in Ann Arbor Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Feb. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- As seniors in Ann Arbor Michigan approach retirement, deciding where to live and if care will be needed are major questions. It’s best to start thinking about plans early.

The first step is to consider your own preferences and realities.

What is your financial situation? What kind of a retirement lifestyle do you envision? What is your current health status? Do you at present have any health conditions that are likely to reduce your mobility or vision or cognitive abilities? How much care and assistance do you think you’ll need?

The second step is to consider the many living options available to Ann Arbor seniors today. These include …

Staying in your own home. This is the preference of a majority of people—more than 90 percent, according to the AARP. Staying in a long-time home offers many advantages, especially if your home is comfortable and housekeeping and maintenance are not a problem. At home, you have continued access to familiar services, friends and other established connections. Thinking ahead, would your home still be a good fit if you were to become ill or disabled? What home modifications and support services could adapt it to your needs?

Moving to a more appropriate home. Many seniors choose to "downsize" to a smaller house, condo or apartment. One-level living also is a popular choice, as climbing stairs may prove increasingly difficult for people with arthritis and other mobility challenges. Some retirees choose to move closer to children and grandchildren. Others look for a new neighborhood that offers improved access to shopping, medical services and public transportation.

Retirement living communities. These offer independent senior living in apartments, townhouses or detached homes. While their design emphasizes accessibility, they serve seniors who are generally in good health and are able to live without personal care or health assistance. Some offer housekeeping, dining, transportation and an activities program.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). These are essentially retirement communities with an important added element: They are structured to provide a full range of care—from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care—all in one complex or on one campus. CCRCs may require a long-term contract with a large initial payment when a resident moves in, and a monthly fee.

Assisted living. Assisted living communities are built with senior accessibility in mind. The arrangement combines some features offered by an independent living retirement community—privacy, independence, a home-like setting and certain support services—with some of the services that a nursing facility can offer, such as help with personal care needs and some healthcare services. Assisted living facilities are regulated on the state level, and services and features vary widely.

Sharing a home. Some elders choose to live with their adult children or other relatives, in their own home or in the home of the other person. Although this senior living arrangement became less common with the advent of Social Security and other senior support services, studies show that multigenerational living is on the increase these days. Indeed, a recent Caring Right at Home poll showed that almost half of the respondents were living in a home with two or three generations that included a senior. Non-family "home sharing" arrangements also are becoming more popular; your local senior services agency may offer a matching service if you would like to live with one or more other people.

Skilled nursing facilities and other supportive living. More nursing homes today focus on short-term rehabilitation with the goal of returning patients to their homes. But nursing homes also continue to provide extended care for frail or chronically ill people who require a higher level of skilled nursing care and supervision.

The Support of In-Home Care

You’ll notice that in-home care isn’t listed as an alternative to the above living options. This is because this type of assistance can take place almost anywhere! Senior care in Ann Arbor Michigan (http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw/our-services/services/) supports the well-being and independence of seniors who are living in their own home, or in a home they share with other family members, or in a retirement community or assisted living facility—wherever a senior calls home.

Skilled nursing care from nurses and other medical professionals can be provided in the home for patients who need hands-on medical treatment and supervision. At a far lower cost, nonmedical in-home support care helps seniors who need a little extra help staying safe and comfortable. Services are tailored to the person’s needs and might include:

-Assistance with hygiene and grooming, such as dressing, bathing, shaving, hair styling and oral care.
-Housekeeping, laundry and other household tasks.
-Meal preparation and planning.
-Transportation.
-Medication reminders.
-Assistance with exercise and other prescribed activities.
-Companionship and mental stimulation.
-Safety supervision.

In-home care services can be provided on an hourly basis a few hours per week, or full-time.

The best retirement housing option depends on each senior’s individual combination of needs and preferences. While there is a tendency to resist thinking about our own aging, considering this question ahead of time will make the choice seem less overwhelming. It’s time to make a plan! Find an easy-to-use worksheet for figuring out those areas in which you need--or may in the future need--some help at http://poststat.net/rahnews/docs/RAH_Winter2014_Checklist.pdf.

About Right at Home

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers home healthcare and companionship and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world.

About Right at Home of Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing senior care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home of Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.