Different Living Situations for Senior Citizens
- With aging comes the need to reconsider housing choices.Senior holding the cane image by painless from Fotolia.com
A variety of housing possibilities are appropriate for senior citizens. Most seniors prefer to remain at home as they age, but that's only realistic when health and finances permit. If low income is the problem, seniors may be eligible for residence in government-subsidized apartments available nationwide for the elderly and persons with disabilities. However, a serious decline in health or mental capacity may require a complete housing reevaluation. - Sometimes senior citizens need home health care or housekeeping or cooking assistance to remain in the home they own. When their retirement income is insufficient for such expenditures, they may wish to consider an FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, also called a reverse mortgage (see References). It can enable them to withdraw some of the equity in their home in a fixed monthly amount, a line of credit or a combination of the two. However, the amount of money available may not be enough. Under certain conditions, Medicare may also pay for some home health care.
- When it comes to independent living communities, many people think of Sun City, the renowned retirement community in Arizona that in 1960 became the first retirement mecca for senior citizens. Now such communities are operated by a large number of companies and individual owners nationwide. These types of communities offer a wide range of activities to residents typically age 55 and older who live in houses, condominiums or townhouses on site. A golf course and club house often are the hub of the community.
- When a senior citizen of financial means can live on his own terms but needs nursing care to be available, assisted living can be a possible choice. Accommodations range from a room and bath to a small efficiency apartment with limited cooking facilities. A wide range of activities and opportunities to socialize are offered on site, and residents with kitchens may cook for themselves, eat in a dining room or have room service delivery of meals. Medicare or Medicaid will not pay for assisted living, and this can be a fairly expensive housing choice.
- A nursing home may be the appropriate choice when an elderly person can no longer manage daily life independently and needs ongoing medical care or supervision. Residents typically either have a private room or share a room with a resident of the same sex. Meals, laundry services, help with personal hygiene, housekeeping, dressing assistance and an activity program are provided for residents at most nursing homes. Medicare will pay for short-term nursing care under specific circumstances, but Medicaid will pay most nursing home costs for people with limited income and assets.
