Senior Living after RVing

[Liz]

Excel wrote: "Got a flyer in the mail about a Senior Center in Oregon.... loved the old Oregon when it was different than now, but it's still a beautiful state... Anyway, checked it out on the web & made a call to get more info. They offer apartments, cottages & houses to live in. You pay $109K to get on their 'list'... which is your entry fee & you get nothing for it other than to live in their community. Then you pay $2,900 a month (if single occupancy) for a cottage. You pay that forever until you die. There is no ownership of any kind. There is medical staff, etc. on the grounds. Guess I've been living in a fog cause I never realized how expensive it is to get old. I will be 76 in November & I have been blessed with relatively good health. I do not have any family left other than my kids & Grandkids, whom I have mentioned before as not being a loving family. Would not want to live with any of them, nor would they want me in their homes or lives anyway. So when I saw this flyer I started thinking about my future & where I can go.... I know living in my house will eventually not be feasible between keeping up the yards & housekeeping. So many on this forum have family, friends, neighbors to rely on in troubled times. I do not. So, I have to start looking for an alternative.... looks both expensive & uncomfortable. I also wonder how many others are out there facing this kind of scenario....The bright side is I can still drink my coffee in the early morning & enjoy the birds & trees & sunlight around me. Sometimes you just can't get better than that !"

This quote from Excel got me thinking about this place in Florida that I visited a few times when a friend was living there. It is an entire village with a range of living options from independent home ownership, apartment rental, efficiency, to assisted living and nursing care. They also have an RV park. It has a medical center, church, shops, and recreation. I was very impressed and my friend loved it there. She lived in an efficiency apartment and took one meal a day in their dining hall. All living quarters have an emergency call button. Anyway, at the time, I thought it would be a place I would consider living when...in the far future...I can no longer travel in my RV. There is no "Entrance Fee."

Here is a link: http://www.acvillage.net/ the setting is beautiful along the Suwannee River.

My friend was in her 90s and has since died, but if I have time before I leave Florida, I may visit again and learn the particulars of cost, etc.

[Colliemom]

Same thoughts run through my mind too Liz, although I am only in my mid 60's. As long as I can keep a house and do the required yard work etc., I will continue to do so. But after that, who knows. I too don't have any one to fall back on either. Just 4 cousins, but wouldn't want to disrupt their lives. We are not a close knit family either although they welcome me with open arms when I see them, which is rarely. There are a few independent living facilities which offer an array of different services or none at all if you don't require it. Right now, I can't see me living in an apt. but later on, who knows. I can see me downsizing to a smaller place, but where is uncertain. I know it will be in Michigan, as Michigan is my home and always will be. Yep, no fun heading toward old age when one is alone.

[grammynmaggie]

I am in the same boat you are as far as family goes..
I have often wondered what would be happening to me too when I no longer do whatever it is I'm doing or going to do.... for that didn't make a lot of sense... but that's the way it is right now limbo I'm going to check that website out maybe I will take a trip up there sometime too... what about that place in Texas that let you live in your motorhome on their property and they have doctors and facilities all the things that ua old people will be needing... it's a well known group but dang if I can remember the name.... maybe we can all talk about this some more at the get together at Silver Springs

[chalet05]

Gads! That is outrageous.

In 2008 a cousin asked me what I would do when I couldn't RV anymore. I hadn't thought about it, but that got the wheels turning. I still have no idea what I will do or where! Perhaps circumstances will decide for me.

what about that place in Texas

You are thinking of Escapees in Livingston

[etexlady]

Grammymaggie, you are thinking about Escapees. I expect someone on this forum is a member and can tell you more. Their Texas location is in Livingston which is north of Houston.

[Liz]

Escapees in Livingston is another option I thought of, but think Florida would be better for me, closer to my family. I'm sure I could live with either of my daughters, but I don't want to. I don't want to for my own selfish reasons, but also don't want to burden them with the responsibility of caring for me just when they are thinking of enjoying their own retirement years. I have been a caregiver for my mother and my husband. Won't do that to my kids.

[dayspring39]

Earlier this year I had a taste of what my children want me to do... when I rebelled I became estranged from them... simply stated they are very cool toward me... it is a scary thing to get old and wonder what will become of you... my health is not real good I am in my mid 70s...

[bluepinecones]

At this point I do not have a good plan either and no family to help out (or interfere). It is a scary situation at times especially when I wonder if my mind might fog up too badly to make sound decisions.

[AlmostThere]

Just adding a few thoughts:

When I divorced in 2005 I was faced with growing old alone, too. I do have two children who would welcome me unconditionally, but yes, we love our privacy and I wouldn't want to be that close to their daily lives nor cause a burden. I did find out that Long Term Care insurance is one way to go to help when I'm needing long term assistance. And the younger you are when taking out a policy, the better. I started late so my premiums are higher, but a pittance when compared to the alternative.
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My friend, who is having a caregiver come in several times a week to help with her husband who is bedridden, is paying $85 an hour for the service! Hospice care would run $12,000 a month, so she said. They can't afford a nursing home which would easily run $6-8,000 a month.
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On another note: Some elderly are putting their properties in their kids names to avoid having to sell in order to pay for their nursing care. I was told the law now has a 3 yr grace period before they will accept the passing of ownership! In other words, this has to be done 3 yrs before you go into assisted living/nursing home.
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I also have in place my Medical Power of Attorney w/Advanced Health Care Directive. This was all done through my estate planner along with my will. Copies of the Advanced Health Care Directive is on file at my Dr's office and my hospital.

[monik7]

I have thought about this often lately. Mainly because I've seen my relationship with my daughter descend to very strained and almost nothing. Not that I'd want to burden her and her family, but just because of the peace of mind from knowing I have someone who cares. That's what scares me. I have no other close family and barely know cousins who always lived far across the country when growing up. I only have a few friends. One just started chemo for breast cancer and the other is quite a bit younger than I and has a very young family and very busy job. My daughter never checks to see if I'm OK. It's just so scary to be alone and wonder if anyone would know if something happens to me at home or on the road.
Sandi

[mitch5252]

..
Let's take up a collection and put in a bunch of full service pads at The Blue Marlin!
We can all help each other...
..

[Acadianmom]

The place Liz visited looks nice. Let's all move in there. I would like to live in a place like that where there would be things to do and I think it would be safer. Your friends would know what was going on with you.

There are various types of senior living in most places but like Kathleen found, most won't let you have pets. Like they found out for Katrina, people were willing to die because they wouldn't let them bring their pets.

When my son retired and was here for a while he had opinions about what his dad should be doing and not doing. Heck, I can't control him. I told him good luck getting him to do anything you want. We still have our own ideas about what we want to do and I don't want any opinions. Thankfully he has a job now and not worried about what we are doing.

Martha

[chalet05]

..
Let's take up a collection and put in a bunch of full service pads at The Blue Marlin!
We can all help each other...
..

Reading responses, I was just sitting here thinking we all need to pick a place to gather when the time comes!!

[judi]

My father passed away last February at age 96, and a few months later my 90 year-old mother sold their house and moved into a retirement home. This retirement place is like a cruise ship on land. There is no "entry fee", and her monthly cost is about 1800.00. This includes one meal a day in the beautiful dining room, weekly housekeeping, medical alarm system, individualized dietary planning, and lots more. The facility has independent apartment living, assisted living, and cottages. I'm an architect and pretty fussy about buildings and atmosphere, and really, this place is beautiful! The food is great as well. It is called Eskaton and is in Grass Valley/Nevada City California, where my parents have lived for 30 years. I have had dinner with Mom in the dining room many times, and she has a group of friends that are a riot and they have lots of laughs. Mom's apartment has a full kitchen, a living/dining room, a large bedroom with a closet that is larger than my camper, and a great bathroom. If I didn't love Oregon so much, I would definitely retire there! I have lots of kids and they all tell me they want me to live with them when I'm really old (their words) but frankly, I don't want to live with them! I would much rather live with a group of friends.

[BarbaraRose]

My dad put his house into a trust for us kids just over 5 years ago, and there was a 5 year "grace" period too. So now if/when he has to go permanently into a nursing home, the house automatically goes to us and the nursing home can't touch it. He will be on Medicaid to help pay for the nursing care. They will use his SS and pension for the rest.

I won't have any family to turn to either when I get to "that age" and will need to find a place or community to live in that has the right services and facilities for a safe and enjoyable living situation. It pays to really scout around and find the right/affordable place.