Avanti Senior Living Ask The Expert Assisted Living
How do I prepare my loved one to move into an assisted living?
Moving your loved one into an assisted living community can be emotionally challenging for families as well as for the future resident. Here are some tips to help make this transition easier.
- Discuss the move with your loved one early on. Adult children are usually the decision makers when it comes to moving a loved one. However, understanding your loved one’s thoughts, concerns and fears will help the adult child better understand their needs.
- If your loved one has already chosen a Power of Attorney (POA), put them in charge of the planning. If a POA is not established, designate one person to be the point of contact for emergencies and for communicating with the assisted living community. This allows the move in process to go along smoothly without having to wait. When multiple decision makers are involved, it could delay the move in process.
- If possible, bring your loved one along when visiting assisted living communities so they can choose the community that is most comfortable to them. Once you understand the needs of your loved one, look for assisted living communities that cater to those needs. It’s important to visit communities so that you can see what they offer and how they care for their residents.
How can I pay for assisted living?
While many families need additional assistance with caring for their loved one, most do not know how to pay for this level of care. Private pay is the most common form of payment for assisted living. Families cover the cost of assisted living through a combination of savings, Social Security benefits, pension payments and retirement accounts. Although most are private pay communities, there are additional options that most families are not familiar with that will help offset the cost.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers pension funds to some eligible wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who have low incomes and limited assets. The VA offers Aid and Attendance benefits which is an increased monthly pension awarded to eligible veterans and surviving spouses who require the assistance of another person to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and incontinence care. Assisted living communities provide these personal care services, therefore VA benefits are an acceptable use of funds to cover assisted living costs.
- Long-term care insurance is a policy purchased through a private insurance company. Similar to health insurance policies, the price of the premium varies based on the insured’s health status, age and amount of coverage. When it comes to long-term care insurance, planning is key, as the best time to purchase is between the ages of 40 and 50, when an individual is in good health.
How can my loved one avoid isolation while living in assisted living?
Isolation and depression are common among seniors and has been heightened during the pandemic. As the need for additional assistance increases, families look to assisted living communities to help care for their loved ones. When deciding to move your loved one into an assisted living community, the concerns over social interaction and family visits are common.
- Socialization is key to combatting isolation in assisted living. With multiple daily engagements as well as numerous fitness classes offered, residents can gather with friends, enjoy a hobby such as painting and stay active.
- Schedule visits with family members using safety protocols. Most assisted living communities are allowing scheduled family visits so residents can spend time with their loved ones while protecting themselves and others.
About the Expert
Avanti Senior Living is elevating the experience of assisted living and memory support across Texas with distinctly different kinds of lifestyle options designed to delight, engage and move you forward like no place else. As a women-led company, Avanti delivers exquisite attention to detail along with discreet, on-cue health services that empower people to live their best life at any age.
For more information about Avanti Senior Living, please visit avanti-sl.com.
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