Real Talk on Senior Living - Mar. 15, 2017
What’s the Right Fit?
Which senior living option is best for you
We’ve discussed the main differences between home care, retirement residences and long term care, including costs and overall benefits. But what about the deeper, less tangible considerations when comparing senior living options? We asked Marlene Williams, executive director of the B.C. Senior Living Association, for her insights into “finding the right fit.”
“It’s amazing to see the change that can occur once someone makes a move.”
What’s the most important thing to consider when searching for the right fit?
“It’s very much an individual choice and not about bricks and mortar. It’s about finding what it is that makes you feel like this is home, and that gives you a sense of purpose.”
Home care seems like the best option for someone who can still live independently, for the most part. Is this always the case?
“It’s great if someone can stay at home, but you need to consider less obvious factors, such as socialization and nutrition. The United Way’s Better At Home program is a good example. The federal government invested $200 million to help keep seniors in their homes, with funding to help them renovate, do housekeeping and so on. But people in the program can end up isolated and with poor nutrition.”
You’ve spent a great deal of time watching seniors transition from home to other forms of care, including retirement communities. Are they surprised at how the change makes them feel?
“It’s amazing to see the change that can occur once someone makes a move. They’re able to get back to what they love most, and suddenly there’s this rejuvenated feeling of purpose. They’ve got a reason to get up in the morning.”
How do you find the right fit? Click here for more insights from Williams on the differences between home care, retirement communities and long term care — and what you need to consider when beginning your research.
“It’s very much an individual choice and not about bricks and mortar. It’s about finding what it is that makes you feel like this is home, and that gives you a sense of purpose.”
Home care seems like the best option for someone who can still live independently, for the most part. Is this always the case?
“It’s great if someone can stay at home, but you need to consider less obvious factors, such as socialization and nutrition. The United Way’s Better At Home program is a good example. The federal government invested $200 million to help keep seniors in their homes, with funding to help them renovate, do housekeeping and so on. But people in the program can end up isolated and with poor nutrition.”
You’ve spent a great deal of time watching seniors transition from home to other forms of care, including retirement communities. Are they surprised at how the change makes them feel?
“It’s amazing to see the change that can occur once someone makes a move. They’re able to get back to what they love most, and suddenly there’s this rejuvenated feeling of purpose. They’ve got a reason to get up in the morning.”
How do you find the right fit? Click here for more insights from Williams on the differences between home care, retirement communities and long term care — and what you need to consider when beginning your research.
