Story of Change?

Getting more information. Sharing situation with my adult children. Taking deep breaths and still gather fresh information. Facebook and internet searches are helpful. Also, very local. Places I am familiar with and still near the kids and grandchildren.

Oh, I am aware that I am not financially prepared for this change, but moving into a senior living community makes sense. It does not frighten me. What scares me is the cost. So many require an upfront payment of major size. I don’t have any of that. Most of these places seek monthly payments of $3500 to $5500 for one person. Yikes. My income is 2400 a month, and that includes the Medicare premium which they deduct from the check. You see the problem.

Many ads grab your attention with “as low as $250 per month rent.” Yeah, sure. Visit their website and a host of places appear, none for that low amount.

Look. I am independent mostly. I have mobility problems and need help with laundry, cleaning and meals. I get by with Meals on wheels, and a few more meals from Factor (pre-prepared ready to heat and eat). I fix my own breakfast and light snacky meals. I can do the laundry in unit, but lifting wet loads into the dryer is hard. So is standing and sorting/folding the dry loads. I am a neatnik so cleaning is relatively easy, but pushing around a vacuum cleaner is not a good thing. Cleaning washable floor surfaces is a definite no. Sweeping is OK, and dusting. Washing counters and cook surfaces is OK, too.

I am now doing grocery shopping, but it is minimal and light. Think paper products, milk, bread, that sort of thing. Oh, and pudding. Love pudding!

Parking is a must but for how long I have no idea. Maybe 2 to 4 years? Maybe longer, maybe shorter. There are those who agree I can do this activity on my own but doubt the car will cooperate much longer!

Living in a senior community is attractive to me. I enjoy being with other people and engaging in casual conversation. I also enjoy reading in the company of others, and sharing big TV events like the Super Bowl, Rose Parade, that sort of thing. I am social. But I do appreciate time alone to think, write and contemplate.

I am active with volunteer work over the internet. I keep busy with that commitment of coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs starting new small businesses or helping with small businesses with current challenges or barriers to success. I also write a blog. It is fun to do, and important to keeping my mind focused on today and larger issues outside my control.

I feel certain I would be an asset to a senior community, but also in need of their help in the future as age and health challenges mount. I think I’m being realistic with this assessment. At least I hope so.

So, this is what I’m dealing with right now. This week I will contact the county senior services staff to better understand what my options are. Meanwhile, I am receiving calls from possible communities. So far, too expensive.

This project would have been much easier if I had not encountered the bankruptcy ten years ago. That killed my retirement savings and credit. Also my assets. We have lived simply ever since. That has been much easier than I had thought it would be. But now, the options are limited. Painfully so.

We shall perk up and search for solutions. I know they are out there ready to be found.

December 13, 2023

 

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