Your Housing Options
Considering Your Choices
Options for Housing and Care
We live in exciting times. Life expectancy has increased, and the marketplace has responded. Retirement might last for twenty or thirty years, or more. As our interests or needs change over time, it is helpful to know that our housing can change with us.
Staying at Home
 Many companies have sprouted to help us continue living in our homes; be they apartments or single-family dwellings. Gardeners and handymen can help with the inside/outside maintenance of a home. Specialists of in-home modification can change the physical environment of a home to support safety and access.
There are a number of services that can support our everyday activities. Chore workers can help with cooking, cleaning, or non-medical services. Companies offering companionship services can provide social support. Home health care can bring medical care and monitoring directly into your home. Adult Day Services can provide supervised activities outside the home, offer social interaction, enlist nutritional support and even provide health monitoring. They also allow many elders to live at home or with their adult children, providing safety and security throughout the day. If you are caring for a frail spouse, adult day services, assisted living and dementia care communities may also offer respite programs.
Some older adults may consider a home sharing arrangement. In exchange for a room in your home, you can be matched with someone who will provide agreed-upon chore help, companionship, or care. Be certain to always check references and conduct a thorough background investigation of the person.
Senior apartment complexes may provide an alternative to maintaining or caring for a home. Many offer discounted or affordable rates to seniors. Generally, the apartment owners offer no additional services, but may in some cases, so ask. Sometimes the apartments are built with the needs of the older adult in mind, with aspects of accessibility or universal design considered.
Retirement or Independent Living
Many communities offer arrangements that allow for independent living within the framework of a senior community. The actual physical housing might be an apartment, condo, cottage, town home, or even mobile home, within a larger community that offers support services. Services may include meals, transportation services, activities, and housekeeping, either as part of a monthly rental fee, or as options. Some communities require an entrance fee. You may hire help (such as a caregiver), and manage these services on your own. The benefit of this arrangement is that it negates maintenance of a home and eliminates many chores that people no longer care to do; such as cooking or driving. Management staff generally keeps a watchful eye over residents; there is usually 24-hour staffing or building security. Opportunities for social interaction with peers abound. Residents are still independent, but not as alone as they might be in their own home. Some retirement communities offer assisted living care, accommodating future care needs.
Assisted Living
 These communities vary widely, and it is important to determine, in writing, what services are provided. The advantage of assisted living is that a staff provides care services. These services are usually nonmedical: assisting with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, medication management; and transporting residents to meals and activities, as needed. Some communities provide higher levels of care, such as incontinence care. In the past, incontinence has pushed older adults into nursing home care. Assisted living can deliver these services within an independent-type of living environment. Residents rent an apartment in a community, and care is provided on a contractual basis.
Some communities offer Alzheimer’s or dementia care. Similar to independent assisted living, these communities provide an alternative to nursing home care for those with cognitive impairments. They may offer additional programming, building layout, and social activities more suitable to residents’ needs.
Skilled Nursing
These communities offer the highest level of care in the continuum of care. Skilled nurses are available to provide health care to physically or cognitively impaired individuals. This may be on a long-term or short-term basis.
Transitional Care Units provide skilled care with an emphasis on rehabilitation and a return home (or transition to some type of community-based care). The professional support team may include nurses, doctors, and physical, occupational or speech therapists. Transitional care may exist within a hospital setting, or within a nursing home.
Residential Care Facilities/Board & Care Homes
These are private homes, licensed by the state, which usually care for up to six residents. They generally provide meals, activities of daily living, 24-hour care and any needed assistance that doesn’t require skilled nursing placement. Their staff must be trained in accordance with California State regulations and laws.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
These communities offer all levels of independence and care, within one building or campus. Articles index
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