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How would you go about finding a senior home to live in?

I am at the point of considering moving into a senior community, or a board and care home for seniors. I have had a lot of trouble trying to find a place that has what I want and that I can afford.

Last year, I made the mistake of handing the job of finding a good senior home over to my niece. She handed my name over to an agency..
...and the hard sell sales calls flooded my phone from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. I couldn't even take a nap, and I was ill and needed my rest. It negatively impacted my health. They all wanted to sell me stuff (senior homes I did not want to live in, had already checked them out) I did not want and nothing I said could get them off the phone. I'd hang up on them and they'd call me right back. I was in tears. Eventually, after threatening this agency with my attorney, they took me off the list. I still shudder when I think of all those fast talking telemarketers endlessly phoning me, not listening to one word I said, and determined to take full advantage of my age and infirmities.

What I think I may need is some sort of private social worker...but the one I checked out wants $150 an hour!
monster007 · 46-50, F
all care homes r quite uselles they charge arm and legs but there is not much caring there.... its juts a job for them if u wont eat they just take the food away from u as they got other stuff to do and of course they want to go home..... what exactly u need a help with ? ...and where do u live which city? there r also day centres where they drive u there ....u spend whole or half a day there ..have yr meals there which r innexpensive... in care homes most of the loads of heartless people work there ...very few who really care which is quite sad...its a moneymaking businnes...changing nappies and serving food cost over a 1000 per week...which is more expensive than 6* hotel...huh
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@monster007 I learned a lot about care places when I had to find one for my mother about 20 years ago. Although you are basically right about many of them, some are quite a bit better than others. If I am not sure, I will simply stay where I am indefinitely.

Those day centers are crowded cement block rooms with a lot of seniors with Alzheimer's sitting in wheel chairs and a couple of checkerboards. I am ambulatory, have all my faculties and do not even take any regular medications. I don't belong there.

What I need help with is...I am lonely, have no kids, siblings or other close relatives, most of my friends are at least a thousand miles away. I need to be someplace where I am not alone, and where I can get some help in an emergency. It can be sad and scary to awake at night alone knowing no one will help you if you are sick. There are a lot of little things I can barely do now, and I risk getting hurt if I do them, things like lifting boxes, or hanging pictures, or getting up on ladders to change a lightbulb, or getting down on my hands and knees to scrub my floor.

You have posted a picture of my worst fears, of course. I will be careful and will not be making any hasty decisions.
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
Also, you might want to know that my mother liked the wonderful home I found for her and lived there happily for 10 years. For various reasons, that home will not work for me. But if I search, I may be able to find one that could.
monster007 · 46-50, F
@greenmountaingal I guess u should search for a day centre not care home... I think one way or another we all feel lonely no matter what age...
IceQueen · 31-35, F
If you know someone who works in healthcare, ask them who they would recommend. They often have more insight into the behind the scenes details of those places. Don't hesitate to just call home care places and ask them too.
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@IceQueen I was thinking of asking my primary care physician at Kaiser. Maybe Kaiser has social workers...?
Rhonda · F
How awful for you. What about a live in carer?
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@Rhonda Can't afford it. I live in one room in a rooming house.
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greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@RippinKlouds I can't afford a lot of home care. I do have health insurance through Kaiser. I don't need a lot of care, and I want to live around other people.
I would google all reviews, and visit the ones that appeal to you. Also ask friends and relatives on which ones they have heard are good places to live.
luv2fly352 · 70-79, M
Are you a veteran?
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@luv2fly352 No, I'm not. I'm a retired school teacher.

 
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