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By Gail Glockhoff-Long
GolderCare Solutions

When is the Right Time to Move?

Where we live is very important to all of us. It is our home. Growing up, the importance may be your own room instead of sharing with a sibling or it could be getting to pick the paint color for the first time. As we headed to college, it was picking our roommate and room décor. Apartment, starter house, bigger house for children – these are all part of our developmental stages. Think about all the planning you did for each of these steps. Do you remember how excited and empowered you felt as you made each of these steps along your path?

Planning for housing as a senior is another step on our developmental path. Planning ahead can and should be just as empowering as it was when we were first starting out.

So – When is the right time to move, and What do I look for in my new home?

Space – People as young as in their 50s are starting to plan the next phase of life by moving from a two story to a ranch home, knowing that steps become more dangerous as we age. Is the yard work or snow removal becoming difficult? Is it still easy to get from your car into your home with groceries? How many times a day do you have to go up or down the stairs? Is there a bathroom on every level? Do you still need 4 bedrooms? Is it difficult to keep up cleaning all those rooms? If your plan is to stay in your current home, will you need to make accommodations and changes to keep it safe as you age? These are physical concerns that may indicate it is time to move to your next stage of life.

Food – Another consideration is nutrition. Have you quit cooking or gone to just eating microwaved food? Many people find it difficult to cook healthy meals for one person. As my mother’s vision decreased, she found it difficult to prepare meals. She was also just worn out from years of
cooking and housekeeping. One of her favorite things about moving to assisted living was that someone else did all the cooking and the dishes. She could just sit back and enjoy the meal and the company. Seniors moving from living alone to senior living often find they have more variety of food and their nutrition improves. As part of your planning, visit senior housing at meal time and test out the food. Do you like the options, variety, taste and presentation? If not, try a different place. Your new home should have food that you enjoy.

Social Isolation – A serious concern that is too often ignored or denied is social isolation. Is transportation or the lack of someone to go with you keeping you from participating in as many social activities as you would like? Living in your single family home can become very isolating – especially when you no longer drive. The son of one client reported that when his mother moved to assisted living, the behaviors of her social isolation reversed. On his first visit – mom’s door was closed and locked. On his next visit, her door was closed but unlocked. His third visit found her door open, so mom didn’t miss anything happening on the floor. On his fourth visit, he had to go find her – she was off in the activity center with her new friends. As part of your planning, check out the activity list and options for transportation and outings. Independent living and assisted living are a beautiful balance of the privacy of your own apartment with lots of friends and activities just steps away plus some or all meals prepared for you. Part of planning a move should include spending time at the new place – are you comfortable with the other residents? Do they have similar interests? Are there lots of activities or outings that appeal to you? Is the staff friendly and respectful? Do the other residents like living there? Social life is an important consideration wherever we live.

Finances – Part of planning for any stage of our life is how we are going to pay for it. Planning ahead maximizes options. What is your monthly income? What is in your nest egg of investments and IRA’s? This is what you have been saving for… to enjoy this stage of your life. What can you reasonably afford? Long Term Care Insurance can often be used to help pay for assisted living or home care. Do you qualify for Veteran’s Benefits? When you are comparing costs, remember to include the cost of paying for any help or home modification you may need to stay in your current home as well as the cost of moving to some form of senior congregate living.

Value – Plan to get your money’s worth out of your new home by moving while you are young enough to enjoy all that it offers. Most senior living is full of activities: card games, crafts, movies, choir, exercise classes, Wii golf and bowling, book groups, bible study, concerts, outings, games, gardening – if they don’t have an activity that you would like – ask. Activity directors are always looking for new ideas.

When you have a realistic plan that includes planning for health issues, access to the assistance if needed, social connections, and the financial aspects to pay for the plan – you can keep more control of your life. GolderCare Solutions helps families develop that realistic plan for the next step of our developmental path.

By the time you read this article, we will hopefully have our new Bettendorf office open, by appointment only, for the convenience of our Iowa clients. Watch for an announcement in the paper. Both offices will be using the same phone number.

Gail Glockhoff-Long has advocated for her mother and sister. She is the GolderCare Solutions Office Manager and Benefits Advocate specializing in Insurance and can be reached at (309) 764-2273 or at the GolderCare office located at 4101 John Deere Road, Suite A, PO Box 1071 in Moline, IL. GolderCare Solutions provides long term care solutions for both Iowa and Illinois clients.