Beyond Retirement - Nursing Home v Hotel v........

Protocol said:
This is going to be a large social / economic issue, and may require imaginative solutions.
Click to expand...
One imaginative solution might be encourage people to think about this long before it becomes a pressing issue, and making life choices with this in mind. When you have retired and the kids have moved out, move to a home that is suitable for growing old in. This means:
  • It's on one level, with no steps inside or to enter/exit.
  • It has a bathroom and toilet suitable for the mobility-impaired.
  • It has a no garden, or a small garden that will not be expensive to get maintained if you can no longer do it.
  • It is within easy walking distance of a grocery, a GP practice and a pharmacy.
  • It has an extra bedroom and bathroom so that a live-in companion is at least an option, if full-time attendance becomes necessary.
Look to a future in which you have a mobility impairment and don't have a driving licence, and think how you would live in the house in that situation. It is, of course, not a given that you will ever have a mobility impairment or be unable to drive, but there is a non-zero chance that one of these things will happen to you, or to your partner. And it would be shame to have to move to a retirement home because, although you could in principle live in your own home, you can't in reality live in the home that you actually have.
 
@TomEdison totally spot on. My parents house is no longer suitable, their window for moving has passed. As has the window for major renovations. Downstairs bathroom and bedroom are fine. But the kitchen is too narrow and has 2 steps down to it, theres another step to the garden, which then slopes away. The garden is a constant thorn in my side. There are not enough hours in the day to keep it as they did. And it upsets them and I resent it. They had the opportunity to move to a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom bungalow with a small flat garden, in the area a couple of years ago but my stupid brother talked them out of it… it was the same price as their 4 bedroom dormer bungalow with one bathroom and a bigger garden. He convinced them it was bad value. All about the money, not the practicalities.

As developments are more mixed now it should, be possible to stay near the family GP, local church etc and resize to a better property.
 
gledswood said:
Still enjoying our retirement. However a thought creeps in to my head, "What next"?
Click to expand...

It's going to depend on your needs as you age, and your needs will change. If you want to avoid the nursing home (at least for as long as possible) then look to adapt your home while you still have the capability to do so. As others have noted, you will reach a threshold where it is no longer possible to realistically change stuff. Also, if you change it now, you will have a lot of time to get used to it and not have to adapt to it during or after a crisis.

Aim for at least a downstairs room that will be the designated bedroom; maybe even kit it out as such. Install a downstairs accessible toilet and shower. If you can make the entrance of your house accessible (if it's not already) that would be brilliant.

In houses where this is not possible, the obvious answer is a stairlift, which is fine, but not something you will want in your house until you absolutely need it, which means change during or shortly after a crisis.

Care homes become necessary when your needs escalate to the point where you can't realistically be on your own without getting into difficulty with everyday things. You can stay in your own home with additional care (meals, care visits, overnight carers) but sometimes the care needs just become too much to supply outside a dedicated nursing home based setting.

That said, I've seen it said here before than only 1 in 20 of us will end our lives via a nursing home.
 
To the OP, while providing accomodation to a live in career is definitely a benefit with the ongoing housing mess in this country!

My concern would be the security risk and vetting of such a person. In terms of your property,valuables,personal care and how to terminate this arrangement.
 
As a child of elderly folks I can’t imagine finding someone that I’d trust. Local service providers offer a service they call hosted care. No idea what they charge.
 
This is one area I think the forthcoming modular building legislation could be of huge benefit.

A "live-in" carer may not wish to literally live in the same house, but a self contained modular home in the garden that had a emergency call system from the main house would be an ideal set-up.

Gives independence to both parties. It would also allow for a second person to be there if the primary carer is on holiday.

Much lower cost than nursing home and could be more appropriate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top