When you’re touring an assisted living community (which we really do recommend), you’ll want to be sure to ask the right questions while you’re there. But what are the right questions? Often, whether we’re looking for ourselves or our loved one, we don’t know what questions to ask because we’ve never done this before. So,… Read more »
Author: optalishealdev
How Do I Pay for Assisted Living?
Dear Jaclyn, I’ve been considering moving to an assisted living community for some time now. However, I have some questions about how I will pay for it. What are my options? Does Medicare cover assisted living? James K. Columbus, OH Paying for Assisted Living Dear James, Many people have questions about how to pay for… Read more »
Is the Medicare Observation Stay Costing You Money?
Dear Jessica, My father was admitted to the hospital twice in one year for the same type of illness. The second bill was a little more than half the amount of the first one, but Medicare paid hardly any of it. And although his doctor recommended he go to a rehabilitation center after the second… Read more »
Staying in Touch with a Loved One
Dear Sheila: My mother moved to an assisted living community right after Christmas. Now that she is unpacked and settled in I am trying to figure out how we can make her feel as if she is still connected to family and friends. I know she is worried that everyone will forget about her! Do… Read more »
4 Ways to Manage Medication
Mistakes with medications send an estimated 700,000 older adults to the emergency department of a hospital each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is easy to understand why. 30% of seniors take five or more prescription medicines each day. 90% of adults over the age of 60 take at least one. Staying on track while… Read more »
Aggression in Men with Alzheimer’s Disease
We know women outlive men for a variety of reasons. But if you visit a memory care program in an assisted living community, you will likely notice men make up what seems to be a disproportionate amount of the resident population. A new study on Alzheimer’s and men sheds light on why. Looking at three years of… Read more »
Can My Mom and Dad Stay Together?
Dear Sarah, My mom and dad have been together for more than 40 years. Last year, Mom had a stroke, and now, she has difficulty walking, bathing, dressing and even eating. Dad’s done a terrific job of taking care of her, but we can tell it’s becoming more and more difficult for him. He’s already told… Read more »
Ask the Expert: Delaying Assisted Living
Dear Sarah, Our entire family knows my mother needs to move to assisted living. She forgets to take her medications, and she gets vertigo very easily. When I’ve asked her about bruises, she has no idea where she gets them. And even though she gets Meals on Wheels, I don’t think she’s eating right. _______________________________________________________ Does your parent… Read more »
Moving Your Parent to Long-Term Care
Is your senior parent moving to a long-term care community soon? Here are some tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible for both you and your parent. If your parent is moving from home… Moving from home to a long-term care community (also known as a skilled nursing facility) often involves a… Read more »
