Living in a senior facility at 37, whaddaya think?

Dejibo · 06-04-2008, 07:03 AM

There are some things to consider.

My mom is now moving into a Senior housing center, for the disabled, and elderly. She was able to provide a letter from her MD that stated she did exercises at home, and needed equipment. (she is post polio syndrome) Because of that, she got a TWO bedroom apartment, for the same price as the ONE bedroom. It seems the one bedroom spots go quickly, and they tend to have less of a wait for the two bedroom ones. She is moving this week, so I dont know how it is for her but...

my DH aunt moved into a local place, and WOW the people on both sides of her smoke like freight trains! Her place stinks! the hall stinks. you can smell it seep under the sink where the plumbing comes through and in the potty under the sink where the plumbing comes through. She is not a smoker, and it pretty upset about all of her nice clothes and stuff now stinking. The management says unless those neighbors were on O2, its a free country, and they can smoke in their place if they want.

Most places offer a noon or dinner time meal in the communtiy center that is included in the rental. The good thing is that the rent is typically 30% of your income. You will have to pay for phone and cable usually. There are rides to and from most medical, and shopping places.

As with anything else in this life, it has good points, and bad points. I hope you are able to find a good one.

braingonebad · 06-04-2008, 08:48 AM

AMN - you nailed that so well, LOL! Fodder over Bingo...

:Talkativ e:

Both my mom and MIL live in retirement villages. They are geared toward low income, and that may work against you now Weeble, but it would work for you later ( when you retire).

They adjust your rent for medical expenses - Mom's facility even allows non-prescription meds as a deductible.

I can't speak for MIL's facility, maybe because she does not prefer to be as involved we don't hear about any activities, or perhaps they don't have as many. But at my Mom's, they are always going somewhere. I hear about Mom's because she is the secretary and I type her minutes (scary thought!).

They take a trip every month or have an outing - Mud Hens ballgame or Eirie Street Market in the summer - and probably two onsite things a week . There's monthly Gv't food delivery, a bus you call 24 hrs in advance if you need a ride anywhere - used to be a buck, I think it's 2 now - monthly Bday brunch, holiday parties, etc.

All the outings are very low cost. I think the ballgame was $5, for a ride, ticket, hotdog and drink.

My mom is never home.

hjmom · 06-05-2008, 08:59 PM

Weeble,
I know this may sound crazy, but when I read your post it so sounded how I've been feeling the past few weeks. I drug myself to the health club this evening, did a couple of lower body strength machines and only 10 minutes on the treadmill and I feel like a different person. It seems when I get busy with work and life in general and neglect my exercise, I see things go downhill fast. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a 'super-in-shape' person, I wish I was, but the little exercise that I do seems to help me feel better and keep me going. I don't know if this advice would help you any, but I thought I'd reply because I can really emphasize with how I'd been feeling in the past couple of weeks and at other times when I neglected myself.

Good Luck and hope things turn around for you! BTW, I'm 41.

Take care,

Quote:

Originally Posted by weeble37

Hello,

This is a question I never thought I'd even consider asking at my age but I am going to ask now.

I'm mobile, I work full-time, I'm happily divorced since 2000 with no kiddos.

In the last year my health has definitely declined. Within the last few months, I see it declining even more. I have been having fatigue worse than ever before in my life. I can sleep the weekends away and still be zonked on Monday.

The leg spasms and stiffness in my legs and back are worse than ever before also.

I rarely sleep all the way through the night for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the legs, sometimes a bathroom run, sometimes for no rhyme or reason.

My legs are acting up in the way that I move. I have stairs in my current apartment to get up to my bedroom. They are getting to be hazardous at times. I am perfecting the Frankenstein, cased-in-cement walking technique.

I'm 37, obviously don't own a home and I doubt that I ever will at this point. There are some senior facilities in my small city of about 20,000 that take people with mobility difficulties.

I believe rent there is subsidized, although I make more than most seniors do so I don't know how it would work for me. There are no stairs, yippee, an elevator, and washers and dryers in the building. Plus, it's right by the beautiful river that runs through the middle of my city. There is also parking.

My current building has several steps up to get from the parking lot to the inside of the building. Then there are several more steps down to get to my apartment down in the lower level. Altogether something like 18-20 steps to get inside and down to the apartment and then again in reverse to leave the apartment to go to work or run errands.

It's so hard to get the groceries in from the car and to take lots of stuff out to the car for school. Taking the trash out is another exhausting activity.

My mom had suggested a few years back about applying to live in one of these senior facilities that take people who are mobility impaired. I thought she was nuts then.

I am now changing my tune. Does anyone else here live in a place like this or know someone younger that lives in a place like this?

Is it crazy for me to even consider this? I can walk but it's just so hard at the moment. I do have a cane which will probably get used again soon.

The last time I looked to move in this area it was so hard to find a place with no stairs at all. Read, impossible. Let alone something that I could even afford. I make decent money but I owe, owe, owe and I am trying hard to pay down my debt.

Anyone have anything to share here? I'd love some advice and ideas.

Thanks,
Weebs37

Judy2 · 06-08-2008, 11:18 PM

Hi Weeble!

You've received some good suggestions here, both pro and con. One more thing to consider, I have a "cyber friend" with MS in a nursing home. He went in while in his 40's -- now 50's. He really dislikes living there since most of the other residents are so elderly, the dining room is noisy with many residents hard of hearing, etc., yelling that can be heard from other rooms, and just the overall depression of so many people dying. One day a certain person is at your table, the next day they're gone.

Just some food for thought. If you could find a place with more younger people, that would be fine. If I was in your situation, I'd try to find a more accessible apartment and hang on to your independence as long as possible. I personally live alone, use a powerchair all the time but have lined up help, ie, cleaning people, hair dresser comes to the house, "Zoomin Groomin" that grooms my dog in their truck in my driveway, a "gardener", etc. Now I can no longer drive so will depend on friends for transportation. There is county-run mini bus transportation available for doctor appointments, etc. if desired. Please -- think carefully before making your decision.

Take care.......

weeble37 · 06-09-2008, 11:09 AM

I guess I should have clarified that I didn't mean a nursing home. I just meant single apartments where older people live. None of that eat all together and share a room business, etc.

I have decided to stay where I am for at least another year but maybe trying to get another apartment in a different building. It would still have a few stairs inside to get up to the bedroom but I am trying to find a place that has no stairs to get inside to the apartment itself. There are two units like that out of all the units in the 7 buildings here.

My heat is included in my rent and it only went up a little so that is placing me in the frame of mind to stay another year.

Thanks for all of your answers and advice,
Weebs37

Girlie Girl · 06-09-2008, 11:42 AM

Good luck Weeble!

hjmom · 06-10-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weeble37

I guess I should have clarified that I didn't mean a nursing home. I just meant single apartments where older people live. None of that eat all together and share a room business, etc.

I have decided to stay where I am for at least another year but maybe trying to get another apartment in a different building. It would still have a few stairs inside to get up to the bedroom but I am trying to find a place that has no stairs to get inside to the apartment itself. There are two units like that out of all the units in the 7 buildings here.

My heat is included in my rent and it only went up a little so that is placing me in the frame of mind to stay another year.

Thanks for all of your answers and advice,
Weebs37

Good luck Weeble. I hope you find that apartment with no stairs

shiney sue · 06-10-2008, 06:21 PM

Some of the places will let you stay for a week in furnished to see how you
would like it. Friend 1 loved it ,friend 2,well not so well but when everyone
parents,sisters that were helping her travel and such started to leave her behi at least she has friends..When it comes right down to it,you will have to decide,and takes a
while to get in some..My children in there 30's married live all over the United States ,thought I might like it not yet but some day's lol I could go live by one
but don't want to live with them..Good luck to all of you,I didn't know that Cindy,that's where you got that humor of your's...Hugs to all Sue

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