Does anyone here have any experience

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

with independent or assisted living?

[marybourg]

1. I'm sure many here do. Do you have any particular questions?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. I'm planning on moving into

independent living next month. I keep on going back to the place and it feels very good every time.

I currently live alone in New Mexico, nearest family is my sister in Overland Park, KS. Son lives in Fairfax, VA. A lot of the decision to make this change has to do with that. I'm 77, and while most people seem astonished when I tell them my age (despite the gray hair and wrinkles) I can tell I'm getting older. I keep on going over there to have lunch, and chat with new people every time. Most seem reasonably content there.

[surfered]

3. My parents needed help. So I moved them to independent living

With meals provided in the cafeteria. As they continue to age, they needed more help especially with medications. The facility recommended some ladies who were independent contractors and my parents paid them for their hourly work. These ladies would also drive them (in my parents’ car) to doctors appointments. They were like angels who treated my parents like they were their parents. It did get expensive towards the end, but my parents were the better for it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Oh, that's lovely.

Thank you for sharing.

[LakeArenal]

11. For my dad...

A service that helped him find a place I swore he’d never like any.

Plus they might have some very important info you could miss.

For my dad: He did not know that if he’d served asoverseas in WW2 the Gov’t paid half his rent.

He would never know that without the agency.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. Oh, that's good to hear.

I haven't done anything as exotic as work overseas. I have one tiny pension from my ten years as an airline employee.

[surfered]

4. I handled their finances and bill paying. If you don't have anyone,

When it comes time, you may want to hire a CPA or a Bank Trust Dept to do that for you

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Good point.

I actually have an excellent financial advisor, and I'll be talking to him in a week or so about this.

Added on edit:

Already all or nearly all of my bills are on some kind of auto-pay. Several things get billed to my Visa. But yeah, the day may well come when I can't do what I'm currently doing to manage my finances.

[surfered]

9. You may not want to hear this but...

…you may want to move into a facility closer to your son. My parents retired to Colorado and enjoyed it very much, but I had a career and could not move to Colorado to help. When they got to “that point” the only alternative was to move them closer to me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. I have been waiting seven years for him to finish

his PhD in astronomy (My Son The Astronomer), figuring I might need to relocate to be closer to him, I decided I want to stay in New Mexico. I've been here since 2008. I hope he finds a job in this part of the country . I've told him AZ, CO, or NM are all great. His field is exo-planets, which is the hot field right now in astronomy, and every time I look on line, there are lots and lots and lots of astronomy jobs out there for exo-planet astronomers. I think he could move to be near me, given that.

[Joinfortmill]

7. I've had two relatives live in assisted living..

Both women, one in SC and one in NH. Both were happy with the experience. Both remained until they passed. It was much more expensive in NH. So, costs vary. Best of luck to you.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Oh, yes, costs vary.

Fortunately, I can well afford this place I'm looking at.

And once I'm settled in, I'll sell my little house. There's still a mortgage, but housing prices have increased so much that I'll realize a very tidy sum of money.

[Joinfortmill]

10. Excellent!