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I wanted to share this article and I hope our dear HD readers comment and tell us if they are doing what is suggested in the article and how it’s working out. I am at the beginning of trying to figure out my housing options and what is described in the article sounds good.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/new-housing-options-emerge-for-older-americans-dfa4c8f5?st=Sp9vyR&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
As I have written here before – probably too often – I chose to move to a CCRC. I will have been here two years at the end of this month and I still consider it one of my best decisions. There is a whole lot going on, I have access to a gym and a pool and a slew of exercise classes, and I am making new friends. My new primary care physician is a geriatrician in the CCRC’s on-site clinic. I am walking distance from a grocery store, restaurants and my new dentist, and there’s a bus stop outside. When I need more care I will move to the other side of the building to Assisted Living.
Of course, CCRCs aren’t for everyone, and they aren’t cheap, although not always, or perhaps even often, as expensive as the one near Dick in New Jersey. Turns out mine has nine studios, and three just got new occupants with a non-refundable entry fee of $81,000.
The ad hoc arrangements described in the article probably work well for families, I have more doubts about unrelated strangers. Even if there are no personality clashes, what will happen when someone needs the kind of help I will get in Assisted Living, never mind Skilled Nursing? They sound more like a solution for the “young-old”, those still in the go-go years. You also need to plan for living into the “old-old”, or no-go years.
As I have also noted before, my wife and I moved into a new CCRC just north of NYC in Dec 2023. Although it is far more expensive than we ever imagined we would be paying for a place to live, it is clearly the best option in our area and we feel very fortunate to be able to live here. We also have made many new friends and have fitness rooms and a pool and numerous exercise classes with first rate instructors.
Unfortunately, health care costs are continuing to outpace overall inflation and will probably continue to do so for the forseeable future. To give just one example, the Type A facility in Iowa that my mother lived in is currently offering nurses a $10,000 sign on bonus.
I am a recent widower and am trying to figure out the best housing option for me. I am 81 years old and in pretty good health without any mobility issues.
I am concerned about loneliness but so far that has not been a problem. However, the type of housing options in the WSJ article do not appeal to me. I want more privacy than that model offers.
I am looking for low maintenance type housing. CCRC model housing has a lot of appeal to me. It would give me privacy but also the opportunity to meet other people and develop new friendships. It is expensive but I can afford it and still leave a nice inheritance to our children.
Nick, thank you for sharing the article. We don’t have a lot of experience with this. We had some friends who built a multi generation home in the mid ‘90s so one of their widowed moms could live with them. I think there were ups and downs, but they made it work for over 20 years and the mom was able to die peacefully at home.
We have an empty nester type home that worked well when I was having my cancer treatments. Main living areas on first floor along with master and laundry. The shower already had a grab bar. We like living in a regular neighborhood. I have thought about if Spouse passes before me, I will probably go into an apartment, assisted living, etc, depending on my age then. We moved to the same town as our kids 10 years ago. Chris
My first choice is that Chrissy and I get eaten by the same shark. So far the closest we have come is the time we were wading into the ocean when a jelly fish had his way with Chris’s legs. Should only one of us succumb to the fish, the other will be financially fine. However, even if money is not a problem, there are many reasons why co-housing makes sense. God forbid I am not the first to go, I would consider this if the right person came along.
Hopefully this is a long way off. Our new home is on one level, with the exception of my vinyl resting place. Lawn care and snow removal are done for us, we have the pool, gym, the community center, and some pretty good neighbors. For now, we are good.
That’s a bit too creative for me. We live in a 55+ condo community. We moved to avoid stairs, but it’s all independent. We gained a pool, a small gym other amenities and new friends. Activities if we want to participate. It is close to everything we need. But it is not inexpensive. There are 108 condos among nine building on 17 acres.
I’ve written quite a bit about our 55+ retirement community. Approximately 25,000 people in about 18,000 homes in Arizona. Every imaginable living option is pretty much available here. There are assisted living facilities, dementia care facilities, independent living apartments, town homes, duplexes and single family houses.
There are people who live here with their children, siblings, spouses and/or friends. There are people who live alone. It’s very much a community where neighbors look out for other neighbors. People volunteer to check on other residents and take care of their pets if the need arises. There are food banks, thrift stores and numerous churches and charitable organizations who provide various social services to the residents.
There’s a ‘community fund’ which provides financial assistance to residents who need it. There is an enormous hospital, three fire stations and a volunteer posse that provides welfare checks as needed.
It’s not difficult to age in place here. Sometimes, perhaps, it’s a bit too easy. There has been at least one recent case of a resident who likely should have been moved into an assisted living facility a couple of years before they were.