Housing Slump Making Seniors Postpone Eldercare Moves
One way to pay for eldercare is to sell your home. But in this market, it’s easier said than done, and that’s impacting when seniors are able to move to assisted living communities and nursing homes, reports Kaiser Health News.
“We see people coming in much older and frailer because they’re taking a longer time to make the decision,” says Donna Taylor, executive vice president for the nonprofit Arizona Baptist Retirement Centers in Phoenix. “They don’t know how long it will take to sell their house, and in some cases they’re reluctant to sell because of the lower price.”
Another eldercare executive told Kaiser Health News, “I’ve been in this business for over 15 years and I’ve never seen people wait this long to make a decision to move in.”
Some senior communities are working with people to get them onto the property anyway, the article reports. (We covered that here too.) But experts are constantly warning people to deal with eldercare issues sooner than later. Perhaps that advice now extends to putting your house on the market. You can read the article here: “Housing Bust Derails Some Seniors’ Assisted-Living Care.”
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who covers finding and paying for eldercare for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
I feel sad for our seniors.
Sigh
It’s an incredibly sad commentary on our times that housing decisions for the elderly are so difficult. Family fragmentation, chronic health problems, economic problems certainly make a person wonder if all of the medical advances of the past decades have actually improved life or merely extended misery.
It is depressing to see our elders struggling just to continue living. When they can’t take care of themselves they would find nursing homes to take care of them. Lucky those who can afford to pay for their own care and wont need to sell their house or other properties just to pay for bills. While those who cannot afford to pay for their own care will increasingly have their choices limited and have to accept a more basic level of care. This should not be the case. Nursing homes should meet their heath demands and needs not just because they have to settle on cheaper nursing home they can afford. Their health and safety will be jeopardized. It is good to ask questions and seek for information. Their are many eldercare that suit your needs and budget, you just have to ask.