For many senior adults, a time will come when it’s necessary to consider alternate housing accommodations. That too-large house could be difficult to maintain, or certain tasks of daily living may be harder to tend to. When this happens, know that you have choices. From senior-accessible housing to assisted living to shared communities and more, there’s a solution for everyone.
Living At Home
For many of us, the preferred choice is to stay put – at least that’s what recent statistics show. A Harvard study found that households headed by the 55-and-over age group number at over 65 million, as Americans opt to remain close to their family and neighbors. Moreover, households in that age category “already account for more than half of home improvement spending.”
Depending on your mobility, home modifications may be the best choice. Small changes include grab bars, nightlights for stairs, rubber grips, and the removal of hazardous rugs. According to the latest studies, seniors are the second most likely target demographic for burglary, so it’s also worth considering improved home security/monitoring systems.
For those requiring wheelchair accessibility, modifying your home with ramps, wider doors, and lower countertops is more of an undertaking. Luckily, there are well-established practices and a wide range of professional services catering to every need. A good place to start is with online guides that help new users to understand their own requirements and which modifications to consider.
Bringing in Help
Home modifications are a start, but sometimes the best solution for senior living is an extra pair of hands. Over 34 million Americans provide care for someone aged 50 years or over and, of those, about 30% are qualified professionals. The industry has developed to accommodate individuals from all different backgrounds, irrespective of age.
It’s important to come to terms with the different types of support – there is no one size fits all. Some seniors require personal care, meal delivery, money management, or help with house cleaning. Familiarizing yourself with these varying options is a step toward finding a solution that works for you.
If costs pose a problem, don’t think twice about applying for benefits – there are a host of support plans available to seniors. Many of these are backed by the government and, using their online questionnaire, you can identify one appropriate for you.
Moving Out
After reviewing your options, you may decide it’s easier to move out of your home altogether. Selling a home can alleviate financial worries and open up new possibilities, giving you more control over your comfort and quality of life. In addition to working with local real estate expert Anne Carlson, you can use available online tools to acquire a home value estimation of your property to discern what you stand to make off the sale. Variables such as size, updates, geography, and construction date will play an important part in deciding its final cost, but you can generally get an idea of what other comparable homes are selling for when you survey local listings.
Once you configure your budget, you can begin to search for a new home. Typically, older seniors will opt to downsize or move into a community that is more accommodating to their needs. Each option comes with a respective price tag and varying terms and conditions.
Assisted living communities, for example, usually charge a move-in fee of $1,000-5,000. For a more accurate picture, you can use online directories to locate nearby communities. Try not to rule out nursing homes or respite care, either. Many establishments have advanced with the times to provide an excellent service and enjoyable way of life.
Senior living can look daunting from the outside in, but the rules have never been so flexible. Whatever your circumstances, with good strategizing, it’s possible to secure a comfortable way of life.
If you’ve decided to sell your home in order to downsize, connect with Fort Collins real estate expert Anne Carlson to get the best price for your home, and to find the perfect smaller home for your next chapter. Reach out today! 612-272-0738
