Senior Living: Soon Elderly Face Tough Housing Decisions

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As seniors, we know that there are a lot of tough decisions we have to make that those younger than us dont have to worry about

. A lot of those decisions involve healthcare and finances: Should we take Social Security earlier or later? Will Medicare provide enough coverage or will Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) be necessary? Is it time to think about assisted living? And as the economic situation in America continues to deteriorate, many seniors find themselves asking, Can I afford to hold on to my house?

Fixed-Income Senior Housing

In the past, the decision to move out of the house was usually based on questions of health and the needs of additional care. However, now, many seniors who are in perfect health are finding that they simply cannot afford to continue paying the mortgage on their homes or the rent on their apartments. As the senior housing crisis grows, many are looking to senior apartment complexes and other housing options designed for those on a fixed income. In some cases, its seniors, tired of being forced out of their homes, that are taking up the cause to create more housing opportunities for themselves and others who are dealing with the same economic issues:

A group of senior citizens in Williston frustrated with increasing rental rates pushing elderly people on fixed incomes from their apartments have decided to take action. The newly-formed Northwest Senior Citizens Coalition met Tuesday afternoon at the Williston Senior Center to discuss ways to get more housing built for seniors on fixed incomes. (from Seniors meet on high rent)

Fixed-income senior housing comes in a number of forms in communities across the country. Some are connected to assisted living facilities, some feature a social worker on staff, some are simply traditional apartment complexes that offer apartments at lower costs and often provide a utilities-included payment model. Some also feature additional amenities for seniors such as shuttles to/from the grocery store, group meeting rooms, and more. Many of these facilities, such as the one located in Stroud Township, are designed to encourage community and interaction among the residents:

With a facility like this, you get a lot more interaction between residents because you tend to pass each other in the hallway and you see each other in the common meeting areas, said developer Nathan Yoder. The apartment complex also features a community dining area and kitchen on the third floor in case residents want to plan parties or host family members. (from Senior citizen apartments open for those on fixed income)

While age is obviously a factor that determines who can live in these types of apartment complexes, finances also play a major part. Many will only open their doors to those who meet specific financial qualifications. For instance, in the Stroud apartments single person's gross annual household income cannot exceed $28,560, and a two-person household's gross annual income cannot exceed $32,640.

Assisted Living for Seniors

Obviously, the decision to move to an assisted living facility can be an incredibly difficult one for seniors, and often the considerations are nothing like those that are taken into account when looking at fixed-income housing. For many, it is a question of health or the realization that its just getting more and more difficult to take care of daily needs on your own. This decision can cause animosity and struggle within a family, and it can lead to a number of questions and problems. However, there are seniors out there that remind us that the decision is best made by the person who is making the move, not by others:

I think the decision to make a move should come from the person himself [or herself], said Ruben, who has a doctorate in higher education. Its when family members intervene and say youre having a hard time taking care of your own place, and it would be good for you to move, that you can resent it and get angry. (from Senior Citizen Questions Not Easy)

by: Amber Haumpton

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