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

I know a woman who is probably nearly 50 now, who has had an apartment in "assisted living" for maybe ten years or so. Besides the relief at having everything accessible and having transportation available, there was a bonus: being one of the younger residents, she was kind of the "pet" of some of the elders.

Though she has mobility issues, her mind is sharp and she has been able to help some of the residents with a lot of things, such as writing letters, etc. She is very happy there.

There are some things to seriously consider, Weeb. First, dollar value per sq. ft. Most of those buildings are privately owned by corporations whose objective is to capitalize on the gov't subsidy. The standard, unsubsidized rent will be the highest per sq. ft. that the market can bear. The subsidized rent is 33% of the tenant's entire income, the rest, the gov't pays without questions.

Second, you have to apply and prove that you are disabled to be accepted in most of them. If you are not receiving social security disability income, I have no idea how you'd go about proving it to them.

Next, the ratio of under-62-yrs. tenants is generally 10% of the entire building and the wait for an opening is typically one or more years.

The quality of the building will generally be minimal and sound will easily travel through walls and doorways. Interior hallways are very stuffy in colder months as the elderly tend to use higher heat settings.

As a younger person, you will be a veritable novelty to the general population and they will want to know everything they can about your business for discussion fodder during bingo.

Your neighbors will want to visit often, have a good look at your interior and spend lots of quality time with you. They are rarely shy about interrogating you on every opportunity. Your privacy will be pecked at on a daily basis, you will receive baked goods often, some pretty good, many questionable.

The average size of these apts. is between 600-800 sq. ft., that is very small and you'll feel it!

The quality of the building maintenance is all over the spectrum, most in this category are pretty good because the occupants care about their community and the management can't afford to lose their subsidies agreement.

You can learn more about this kind of building at the HUD page, here:
http://www.hud.gov/

Why/how do I know this? I spent the bulk of my 30s in one!

Your best bet is to make an appointment with the property manager and go over your qualifications for residency there.

Wow AfterMyNap! That's some great insight. The best advice comes from those who have already 'been there...done that'. Awesome!

My Mom lives in a senior retirment home. They have studio to 2 bedroom apartments. There is one lady that lives there that is not a senior, just disabled. She has had a bad stoke. She must have a lot of money because the complex is private pay. You can pay a heck of a lot more to get nursing care which she recieves.

Anyway, back to the ranch, She seems to be happy. Because of her personality she is well liked. She is kind of an oddity there because of her age. This complex has a full time activity director so there are things to do all the time and some one is always watching our for you.

Thanks for that indepth reply AMN. I'm sure your data will benefit others besides Weeble37. To be honest, it was something I too had thought of, but not for just yet!

What I've been thinking was a retirement village with separate units, rather than a nursing home come hostel, approach. It's something I have to look further into, but something I've been thinking about, just the same.

Just doing some homework about the pros and cons at the moment!

Wow, Weeble, you are so brave so be thinking along these lines.

I remember back in the "old neighborhood" that Tabbico had already made up her mind that she was going to retire on a cruise ship. Seriously!

She said it cost about the same as a retirement home. Also, you can have family visit once or twice a year for a really great rate.

I remember reading something about that!! Just get on that ship and never get off! With all the food they provide and the entertainment it sounds like a perfect alternative to a retirement community!

Thanks for the info. I'm not looking to go into a nursing home but was considering a facility for seniors that also takes some people who are disabled.

Frankly, I just make too much money to go into the ones locally. My rent would double and that's just not possible now.

I guess I will look for a new apartment without stairs and see what I can find. I am thinking about looking on craigslist even though I am not in a big city. I have seen some local places in there.

On paper I make good money but the fact is it's pretty much all spent with my rent, car, student loans, personal debt and other bills. I'm a teacher so I have to set aside money for the summer throughout the year.

We all know your dollar doesn't go as far as it used to even last month! Gas here is $4.10 and rising about every other day. I don't know how people on small budgets can even survive.

Sigh, thanks for the advice and such everyone!
Weebs37

Best of luck to you, Weeble. Looking for a first floor apartment seems like a good plan.