Senior Housing Solutions Has Earned SAGECare Credential to be inclusive to LGBT older adults

Senior Housing Solutions Has Earned SAGECare Credential to be inclusive to LGBT older adults

Senior Housing Solutions Has Earned SAGECare Platinum Credential to be inclusive to LGBT older adults

First organization in SWFL to receive this credential

Senior Housing Solutions has recently completed LGBT Cultural Competency Training through SAGECare to be inclusive to all individuals who are seeking senior housing placement advice and to be sensitive to locating care facilities that non-discriminatory and open to all people.

“The training program really opened my eyes to the discrimination people face as LGBT individuals age and require care, states Bruce Rosenblatt, owner of Senior Housing Solutions.  “As an organization, we want people to know we are aware of these concerns and will help people find a senior living facility where they will feel comfortable and welcomed.”

SAGECare (www.sageusa.care) is a division of SAGE the country’s oldest and longest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults. SAGECare provides lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) competency training and consulting on LGBT aging issues to service providers.

Together Senior Housing Solutions and SAGECare will continue our partnership to serve people with the best care possible and help all people age with dignity and respect, with the comfort of knowing they will be celebrated for who they are.

Statistics

By 2030, there will be approximately 7 million LGBT older adults in the United States.  The LBGT market today has a combined purchasing power of 830 billion dollars.  72% of the LGBT market feel extremely/very important to purchase from “gay-friendly” companies.About Senior Housing Solutions

Senior Housing Solutions is a locally owned, personalized, highly specialized and 100% free resource and referral service that helps find the right fit financially, medically and socially to people about assisted living, memory care and other senior housing options in Lee and Collier counties. With more than 30 years’ experience Senior Housing Solutions understands all the nuances of all the facilities and stays current on pricing, availability, healthcare surveys, occupancy, significant staff turnover and operational issues. Learn more at https://seniorhousingsolutions.net/.

When is the Right Time to Consider Moving to a Senior Living Community?

Determining when you may want to consider moving to a senior living community is a very complicated decision process.  Many people wait for a crisis to occur before considering such a move; while others plan and move before something happens.

Planning requires that you look ‘realistically’ into the crystal ball.

Try to imagine your life in 5 to 10 years from now. Looking in the crystal ball, you need to think about a scenario when you may not drive anymore or if your health starts to change, how will you manage? Try to image what your life will be like a year if you or your spouse passes away or requires care. This may be difficult to for you to do, but it will help you develop your plan. It is important that you are realistic, so you thoroughly think through this process.

Who’s going to change the light bulbs?

We meet people who elect to “stick it out” in their own homes.  This then creates a tremendous burden on their family and friends.  There is a great deal of loneliness and isolation that occurs and a level of vulnerability of abuse from outsiders. Access to services is limited, plus simple chores like driving to the grocery store or picking up your prescription medication becomes a major challenge. Home maintenance and repairs become major issues and a source of exploitation from unscrupulous vendors.

It is always better to be 5 years to early than 5 minutes to late. 

Many senior living communities have medical acceptance criteria to be considered for residency.  This is a very important factor to consider. People who wait for a crisis to occur or have progressive medical conditions are frequently denied residency.

If you are a couple, you need to look after each other and protect one another in case one of you requires care.  More importantly, you need to make sure the healthy spouse has their future care plan is in place. Unfortunately, many people fail to consider this scenario and the healthy spouse ends up in a dire situation (medically, socially and financially) after the non-healthy spouses passes away.

Senior living communities are not nursing homes.

At the root of the timing question is the misconception that senior living communities are nursing homes and by moving to a retirement community, you will be losing your independence.  Senior living communities offer a wide spectrum of services and amenities, including dining, social activities, fitness & wellness programs so residents can keep active and healthy longer.

To learn about the advantages of  senior living community,  read more… Weighing the Advantages of a Senior Living Community

Am I’m ready to consider a move to a retirement community?

Many (if not all) of the folks that I have helped move to a senior community all told me prior to their move that they are not ready. It is a mantra that I hear in my sleep.  “I love where we live, and I don’t see any need to do anything right now.”  “We’re just not ready.”

If you speak with these folks today, 99.9% of them will tell you that it was the best decision they ever made, they only wished they would have made it sooner. So, here are intelligent and successful people all saying the same thing… we wish we would have done it sooner.”

When it the right time?

There are different time frames to consider.  When do you want to start your research, when do you see yourself narrowing down your choices and when do you want to move? By doing your research early, you may find that the community you are considering has a waiting list or is planning to expand or is under construction.

If you have a long-term plan to move, try to figure out what needs to occur between now and this date in the future to make you ready.

Select, don’t settle.

By selecting a senior living community before your health changes, you can choose the place that fits your needs and lifestyle the best. The longer you wait, the less selection you will have. If you are considering a new community, you can pick your desired location and floorplan, get medically accepted and have time to sell your home.

Let the experts help you.

As senior housing advisors, we can simplify and streamline the process. We help you narrow your choices. We are familiar with all the options in the area and know about future projects as well. We share demographics and overall lifestyles of all the places you are considering making sure it is the right fit for you. We know pricing, availability, financially stability and overall reputation. We help you ever step of the way.

Bottom line… don’t wait for something to occur.  Plan for your tomorrows today!

For more information, go to: www.seniorhousingsolutions.net 

Vet Support Center

Vet Support Center

We help veterans’ families in Southwest Florida understand long term care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Most veterans are not aware of the eldercare benefits available through veterans health care, through state veterans homes, through home renovation grants (HISA Grants), or for two disability income programs called Compensation and Pension. One particular program called Veterans Pension or more commonly known as the “Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit,” can provide money to pay for home care for veterans. Aid and attendance can also be used to pay for assisted living for a veteran or the veteran’s spouse and for nursing home care for a veteran or the veteran’s spouses.

Contact:

David Casterioto – Senior Benefits Consultant

(239) 344-9852
Fax (239)866-230-748

[email protected]

Website:  www.vetsupportcenter.com

Top 10 Senior Housing Researching Tips

Senior Housing Researching Tips

Selecting a senior living community is a complicated process.  Here are the top 10 senior housing researching tips.

1).   Consult with a senior housing advisor.   Make your life easier by consulting with an expert who is familiar with all the options in the area and someone who takes the time to understand your wants, needs and desires.  Ideally, this advisor should be looking after your best interest and have a fiduciary relationship  with you.  Understand how the advisor is compensated since some advisors will collect commissions from the senior housing community they recommend to you which may not be in your best interest.  This is could be a huge conflict of interest.

2).   Determine where you want to live.   This might seem basic, but it is amazing how many people research senior housing communities in areas that they know they don’t want to live.  Speak with your family and determine geographically where you want to live.  Once you have narrowed this down, try to narrow it down even further by zeroing in on specific areas within that geographic zone.  This will help you pin-point your research.

3).   Determine your time frame.   There is a saying we have in this business.  “It is better to be 5 years to early than 5 minutes too late.”  Many quality senior housing communities have medical acceptance criteria to move in; therefore if you wait too long, you may not get accepted.  Think about your time frame and what needs to occur between now and then. Keep in mind that researching various senior housing communities will take some time, so you probably want to start earlier than what you imagine.  Some senior housing communities have wait lists, so it might be necessary to get your name on a list before you are able to move in.

4).  Review policies and procedures.   Understanding the rules of the senior housing community is something that many people fail to do before they move in. Some examples include:  Is there a dress code?  What is the pet policy?   Can you use your extra meals for guests?  What are the qualifications of the person who is responding to your apartment in case of an emergency?   As a senior housing advisor, this is an area were true expertise helps to ask questions that you may not know to ask.   It is always a good idea to get a copy of any agreements you will be expected to sign and have your attorney review these documents.

5).  Tour one senior housing community per day.    Visiting a senior housing community take a lot of energy.  Call ahead and schedule a personal tour of the senior housing community.  Where comfortable shoes since you should be prepared to  walk some distances during your visit.  Take notes and ask questions that you want to ask.  Keep in mind that not only do you want to look at apartment floor plans, but more importantly, you want to get a feel of the lifestyle of the community.  Can you see yourself living at this senior housing community?

6).  Tour the health care facility.  One of the main reasons you are considering a move to senior living community is for the peace of mind of on-site health care services, therefore touring the health care facility is a must in your research.   When touring the health care center, pay attention to how the residents are being treated by the staff.  Take a look at the activity calendar and the menu.   Observe if the facility appears clean and fresh.  If possible, speak with family members to see if their loved one is receiving quality care.   Most states conduct annual inspections.  Ask to see the inspections reports for the last couple of years.

7).   Sample activities and dining.   As part of your research, it is important to sample the lifestyle of the senior housing community you are considering.  Take a look at their activity calendar to see if there program that interest you.  Maybe there is an exercise class you can join in on.  Maybe you are join a bridge group to see if the other residents are similar to you.    It is also a good idea to have dinner at the community.   You might be offered lunch, however dinner is where you will meet the majority of residents.  The more can get a feel of the lifestyle of the community, the better you will be able to determine if this is the right community for you.  Your transition will also be much easier since you will already know some people when you move in.

8).  Understand the pricing structure.   It is important that you fully understand the pricing structure of the senior housing community you are considering.  What are the refund provisions?  What is extra?    Is future care included or do you pay extra for it?   What has been the history of rate increases?   It is also important to understand how financial stable this senior living community is?   The last thing you want to do is move to a place and later find out that this community is having some financial challenges.

9).  Look beyond the glossy brochure.   You receive a beautiful brochure in the mail and you think you’ve found nirvana.  Everyone looks so youthful and happy in the photos.  The community is clean and immaculate.   Unfortunately, these are paid models in the photos and the community photos are staged.   Yes, its a good starting point, however there is much more to your research than the brochure.

10).  Make an educated decision.   Utilize the resources you have to help you make an educated decision. Consult with a senior housing advisor to gain valuable insight into the senior communities you are considering.  Ask questions and find a community that fits your lifestyle.  Take your time, but don’t wait too long.

For more information, please visit  www.seniorhousingsolutions.net