1. If you’re in good health, you should be considering purchasing long-term care insurance. This insurance will pay all or part of your home care or assisted living costs when facing care needs. It’s a costly insurance, probably in the range of $300-$400 per month. However, it will potentially cover care costs in the range of $6,000-$10,000 per month when it’s needed.     nnn
2. Pay attention to your changing health care needs, any chronic conditions that may impact your ability to care for yourself. If your physician and nurse are indicating that you may need some extra help, take it seriously. Many Fox Cities Physician offices have social workers you can speak with to gather more information.
3. Understand your financial situation. Are you able to set aside funds for care, or do you already have long-term care insurance? Having 2+ years of private pay (personal) funds to pay for care will give you access to most Northeast Wisconsin care facilities. That total number currently (savings + monthly income over the 2 years) is sitting at about $160,000. If you need help calculating this, our team of advisors can help you.

4. Matching up care needs with safe facilities that match your care requirements today and down the road as well as your budget can be an eye-opening process or a daunting task. Either way, a CarePatrol Senior Advisor can come alongside you to help narrow down the best options.

5. If you do not have the funds to be able to afford the 2 years of private pay, at least try to set aside enough for 3-6 months. This will be helpful to you in an urgent situation where you can pay for your care in a facility for several months while you apply for Medicaid support funding. (note-when applying for Medicaid personal asset levels must down to $2,000 value).  If you do not have at least a few months of private pay funds available, it’s even more critical for you to plan ahead. Get in touch with your county Aging and Disability Resource Center, who can guide you to resources and funding options as your need for support continues to grow. Don’t wait until an emergency, as you will find yourself in a pressure situation.

6. Planning ahead will save you and your loved one’s time, money, stress and a myriad of other problems when care is needed. If at any time you would like no cost guidance, you can reach out to our Fox Valley CarePatrol office at 920-428-0827 to speak with a local senior care advisor.

Michelle Graf,

Owner & Certified Senior Advisor

CarePatrol Fox Cites, Oshkosh, Green Bay

through the eyes of a Wisconsin-Based Senior Care Advisor…

As a Senior Care Advisor based out of Appleton, Wisconsin, I find that many of my senior clients and their families are unclear about the differences between Medicare and Medicaid. While my expertise of these programs is basic, I am knowledgeable on how they work in relation to the people my team and I at CarePatrol serve; those who are needing support with their daily activities and/or personal cares. They are considering assisted living or home care, or they are wrapping up a rehab in a skilled facility and are unsure about next steps. In an attempt to clear up some of the misunderstandings of what insurance will and will not cover, I wrote up 5 basic things that I wish every family understood about Medicare and Medicaid.

1. Medicare is the government-sponsored health insurance available to senior citizens who qualify based on their age and to others based on their disability. Just like private insurance, this is health care coverage. There are some wellness benefits and some acute care benefits.
2. Medicaid is government – sponsored insurance designed as a safety net for those who are unable to afford other insurance coverage or who have significant ongoing care needs that are not covered by health insurance, and the person does not have more than $2,000/$3,000 in assets (excluding the home in which they live and 1 car).
3. Medicare will pay for short-term rehabilitation in a skilled care nursing home. This most commonly follows an acute care hospitalization to trigger an authorization by Medicare. A short-term rehab can last from 7-120 days. Most Medicare insurance providers will quote the 120 days of eligibility, but in reality most people we see are granted about 2-3 weeks of rehabilitation in a skilled facility.
4. Medicaid is a wonderful safety net to ensure that nearly all American’s can receive the care that they need. However, the providers who accept Medicaid are limited, and those who do accept often limit the number of people who are on Medicaid due to the relatively low reimbursement rates.
5. All seniors, whether on Medicare or Medicaid will have options for their medical and their long-term care. However, just like in our everyday lives, those with the best coverage and ability to pay with personal funds/equity will have access to the most and the best quality care options.

Do you have questions about long-term care and how to pay for it? Call your Fox Cities CarePatrol Senor Advisor team at 920-428-0827 carepatrol.com

I never had much opportunity to be with the residents but loved talking with them when I could.  One morning I decided to go and introduce myself to the gentleman that I noticed in the dining room the night before. He graciously invited me into his apartment and the first thing he said was, “Kim, I have Parkinson’s.” This gentleman was very comfortable and knowledgeable talking about his disease.  He explained that he has had this disease for over 20 years and it is getting harder for him now to do the normal daily tasks. I thanked him for helping me understand. I felt inspired when I left and blessed to have learned about his condition. He had a wonderful sense of humor and continued to demonstrate incredible perseverance. From that moment, I felt a need to become an advocate for people with Parkinson’s. 

April is Parkinson’s awareness month.  This special month allows us to become educated in this life changing disease and learn the many symptoms that impact a person in their daily life. My advocacy has led to Parkinson’s support groups along with an annual awareness event called Pitching for Parkinson’s.  Please take a moment this month to learn more about Parkinson’s. A great resource is the Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association.  If you have any questions regarding the Parkinson’s support groups or Pitching for Parkinson’s reach out to me at kpatterson@carepatrol.com   

 Kim Patterson

The history of social work is long and deep. The stories of our profession are not that of just social workers, but the communities they serve, the lives they changed and the policies they drove. Our history, our stories are that of civil rights activists, social justice warriors, human rights champions, family advocates, suffragists and community leaders.

I have worked with the senior citizen population for 38 years. Prior to my real life work career, I was fortunate to travel to England through college for my internship. What an amazing experience. I supported an area of the city. No specialty..seniors, children, housing..you name it, the variety was exciting. Upon returning to the USA, I gravitated to senior citizens as I graduated from college.

What an amazing journey it has been and continues to be. From skilled nursing to independent living in all different roles, it has been very impactful and I hope I have made a difference in people’s lives as they have in mine. The families and their family member are seeking some “senior living guidance” and it is nothing short of a blessing to be able to be on the journey with them. Meeting them, knowing them, knocking down walls on their behalf and for their benefit can include a number of emotions from stress to success and ultimately improved quality of life. It is a very rewarding feeling to assist them on their journey & every journey is different.

The characteristics of a social worker will vary, but social workers are sincere, empathetic and a never ending resource and support to the people they strive to help. Social workers need to initiate some tough conversations, mediate, support all and listen.

As a Senior Care Advisor working for CarePatrol, it is nothing but rewarding because I can assist seniors and their families when helping them find safer senior living. A difficult and personal decision for some, an exciting challenge and relief of household burdens to others.

CarePatrol is there for you. We are on the journey with you. There will be peaks and valleys, tough decisions, emotional and exciting changes happening all at once and we are there to help!

Kristen K. Marshall, BSW, CADDCT, CDP

Every day, family caregivers all over Wisconsin are giving from their hearts. They are sacrificing personal time and personal commitments to be there for those who need them most.

Regardless of whether you are a neighbor, a friend or family member of the caregiver, or the person who receives support from the caregiver, please take a moment to show your appreciation for all that they do.

Just recognizing them as a caregiver and acknowledging their efforts is valuable. Like so many caregivers, they simply provide the care without recognizing their sacrifice.

A word of Thanks –  Say it, write it, text it if you must. Something as simple as a thank you reminds the caregiver that their sacrifice has not gone unnoticed.

A small gift of appreciation – Send them a box of candy,  or buy them a meal. A little treat or a meal that someone else makes can be just the thing a caregiver needs to keep up their energy and focus.

Somone to talk with – The Fox Valley area has many support groups for Family Caregivers. These facilitator-led groups generally are comprised of caregivers who discuss and support each other by sharing challenges AND solutions. Learning from someone that has already faced similar situations can be inspiring. If you need help locating an appropriate support group, reach out to our office.

Step in for a day or a week – In order for a family caregiver to be successful, they need periodic days off or vacations just like we all do from our work lives. Offer to fill in so they can take a day off to get some personal errands run. Or, they may need to get away for a relaxing weekend or a vacation. Help them find support for those breaks, even if you personally cannot provide that care directly. Reach out to your local Northeast Wisconsin CarePatrol Advisor who can connect you with additional resources and ideas for respite breaks for the caregivers.

Look around you to find the people who are supporting others in so many ways. Recognize them for their hard work, personal dedication, and heart of a caregiver…especially if that person is you.

Michelle Graf

Certified Senior Advisor

CarePatrol Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Green Bay

In talking with my clients and friends who have considered moving themselves or a loved one to Senior Living or a smaller home, there is a hesitance to make a change or downsize due to the quantities of valuable “stuff” they have collected and stored in their homes over the years. Knowing that a move will necessitate dealing with the items, it’s simply avoided. Most people believe they must tackle the downsize on their own; giving away items, selling, donating, and disposing. At the end of the day, the task becomes too overwhelming to deal with.

That is where a professional estate sale coordinator comes into play. The estate sale company will provide the soup-to-nuts clear-out of the home while respecting the owner’s emotions and values.

Rather than needing to spend countless months digging through boxes full of “memories” and making difficult decisions, the homeowner can hand-select their most treasured valuables and essential items, move to their new home, and let the estate planner quickly and efficiently tackle the clean-out. The folks at Caring Transitions keep an eye out for family photos, heirlooms, and cash, setting them aside for the family to make decisions about how to handle those sensitive items.

The best estate sale organizations should be insured, bonded, and do background checks on every employee. They should have access to a large database of potential clients known to have an interest in specialized items. The estate sales that generate the most cash are online sales, where the success of the sale is not dependent on who actually attends on the day of the event, the weather, the season, or even geographic location.

Estate sale professionals like Caring Transitions are experts in knowing which items in the home will sell at auction (furniture, firearms, cars), which are best donated (clothes and books), and what items are left for disposal.

Getting one’s home emptied out and ready for sale quickly can save thousands of dollars in utilities, taxes and other maintenance. While an estate sale will typically be completed in 3 weeks, families on average will spend 9 months emptying a home on their own, incurring untold expenses over that time.

Consider the services of a quality estate sale professional to quickly empty a home that needs to be sold, and reduce the stress on the senior and their family.  I know I’ll be talking with my clients about this amazing option.

By Michelle Graf, Owner CarePatrol Fox Cities with Susan Roddy, Owner of Caring Transitions of Appleton

The headlines are frightening: Descriptions of nursing homes across the country hit with a rapid spread of Coronavirus. And no doubt, these are truly devastating situations. These tragic events are heartbreaking. The high-risk residents of nursing homes and assisted living communities certainly deserve the best possible care and protection available to them.

Out of concern for their loved ones, I’ve heard from families who are considering moving them out of long-term care facilities into their homes. Under the right circumstances, this certainly can make sense. However, I want to encourage families to look at the full impact of this type of decision before making it.

First, let’s remember that nursing homes are highly regulated medical facilities with stringent safety precautions all aimed at protecting the health and well-being of the residents. Assisted living communities in Wisconsin are licensed and regulated by the state as well. During this pandemic, under the direction of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and following CDC guidelines, these communities have implemented stricter protocols for their employees, and have limited visits to all but the most critical professionals who are providing essential care and support to the residents.

Before we bring our loved ones home form nursing or assisted living homes, let’s remember the reasons why they are living in a care facility. As I mentioned, these are communities that exist to provide care, support, socialization, safety and security to individuals who need their service. Perhaps your loved one has a physical condition that requires them to receive help with transferring from bed to wheelchair, help with getting dressed and showered, or help on and off the toilet. Are you able to provide that kind of care in your home? Is your home accessible for the individual to be able to move about? Maybe your loved one is living with dementia.

People living with dementia need long-term care when they are no longer safe at home. Perhaps they wander and may walk away from the house when no one is looking, or they no longer recognize the difference between shampoo and a bottle of water. Maybe they need a full day of structured support to keep them from becoming anxious or fearful. Perhaps their days and nights are mixed up; awake all night and keeping the household from getting a full night of rest. These individuals need and deserve 24 hours supervision and support. Are you able to provide that level of care in your home?

Is your home Coronavirus-free? We don’t really know that unless we have quarantined for over 2 weeks. No environment is guaranteed virus-free, not even hospitals, where reports of employees getting the virus are reported regularly.

What if you try it, and things don’t work out at home? Your loved one may or may not have a room to return to. If they are accepted back into a community, they will face a full 14+ day quarantine.

There is no guarantee that your loved one will not be exposed to Coronavirus regardless of their living situation. Remember, nursing home and assisted living communities are professional organizations who are taking all possible precautions to keep your loved ones safe and healthy. It’s the purpose of their existence.

Planning for Your Loved One’s Future

Have you decided it’s time for a serious family discussion about your loved one’s needs? Perhaps you’ve seen some early warning signs that cause concern, such as physical limitations or changes in behavior. You’re not alone; it’s estimated that more than half of all seniors will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes.

Reasons to Hold a Family Meeting

Talking about next steps is a difficult conversation, but the sooner family members and caregivers can discuss options, the better care your loved one will receive, which needs to remain the focus of any meeting. Some family members are often unaware of changes taking place. A meeting can bring concerns to light, and bringing everyone together to discuss roles and options can alleviate the pressures placed on certain individuals. Talking about issues, sharing information and discussing ideas will almost always be beneficial when conducted appropriately.

Determine Who Should Attend a Family Meeting

The first person you need to include is your loved one. Even if issues such as dementia, physical limitations or reluctance exist, his or her choices and dignity need to be upheld and respected. Ultimately, it’s your decision and that of your loved one, but don’t purposely exclude them. Others to invite include your loved one’s close family members or friends, personal caregivers, neighbors or a trusted religious advisor. Be inclusive but try to limit the group to no more than 10 people.

But You Don’t Know My Family!

There are often family divides — both geographic and relational — that make a meeting challenging. Planning a meeting around a holiday gathering or special family event may be a good option and, if necessary, video chat apps can help to overcome travel limitations. Family conflicts are often the most difficult challenge to overcome. When requesting the meeting, it may be appropriate to acknowledge that tensions exist, but stress putting aside personal agendas to focus on your loved one’s needs. There is no perfect resolution, and compromise will be necessary. Focus on the future, not past hurts.

Create an Agenda and Assign Roles

A family meeting should not be a free-for-all. Assign a facilitator, note taker and timekeeper, and arrange a comfortable meeting place with snacks and beverages. Share an agenda with attendees in advance and allow for feedback. There will be multiple opinions about what’s most important, so start by asking your loved one about his or her main concerns. Consider discussing the pros and cons of staying home rather than only talking about leaving. Include ground rules in your agenda: show respect, agree that it’s ok to disagree and avoid verbal attacks or criticism.

Family Meeting Follow Up

After the meeting, send out notes to those involved and those who couldn’t make it. Remind everyone about tasks that may have been assigned. Set a time for future meetings to address any changes that may warrant intervention. As part of the initial meeting, you should have discussed a back-up plan in the event your loved one suddenly is no longer able to stay at home. It’s important to research and visit potential retirement communities in advance and to get put on a waiting list so you’re not forced to make a rash and uninformed decision, and remind your loved one that being on a waiting list doesn’t require moving in when your name comes up.

Ask for Help

Rallying around a loved one for a common purpose can actually ease tensions among family members and strengthen relationships. A helpful tip may be to include an objective third party who has expertise in elder care, either to help plan in advance or as part of your meeting. Some charge and others, like CarePatrol, are a free service. One of their Certified Senior Advisors can help you explore solutions and provide options for the future, whether it’s in-home care or assisted living.

Many conversations throughout life make us uncomfortable. The first time you had to tell your parents you wrecked the car. The talk your parents had with you about puberty. The discussion with your spouse about who would raise your children if you couldn’t. The conversations that trump these in the awkwardness factor all pertain to having to talk about aging and health with your parents.

Some of the topics you will need to address over time include advanced healthcare directives, do not resuscitate orders, finances, stopping driving, bringing in home care or moving to assisted living. These conversations can cause divides in a family leaving mom and dad feeling angry.

In this article, I’m going to share with you some tried and true tips for approaching these sensitive topics that will help each party be heard and leave their dignity intact.  

Tip #1: Prepare your parents.

No one likes to be blindsided. Before having a meaningful conversation with your aging parents and family members, let them know why you want to talk, what you want to talk about, and then meet with them at their convenience. When you approach anyone off-guard, you leave them feeling attacked and immediately put them on the defensive.

Tip #2: Be clear in the “why.”

These conversations are awkward. And without a clear reason why you want to have them, suspicion and a feeling that there are ulterior motives can develop. Let your folks know why you want to have this conversation. Something I said to my parents was “Mom, dad; I want together to go over what your advanced healthcare directives are. I know that you travel a lot and if something should happen to you, I need to know where to find the paperwork, and who you want making your health care decisions if both of you unable to care for the other.” It might feel like you’re nosey, but there’s a definite and honest ‘why’ to the conversation.

Tip #3: Get your siblings on the same page.

Questions about care and finances cause drifts between even the closest of families. Before meeting with your parents, get the siblings together and let them know why you are going to have this conversation, what their concerns are. Reassure them that all the decisions are your parents and that you know they want their parents’ wishes respected. Once you’re all on the same page, bring in a Certified Senior Advisor to work as an intermediary to make sure everyone hears the same thing when it comes to your parents’ or family member’s wishes.

Tip #4: Repeat for clarification.

Everyone wants to be heard. Everyone wants to know you’ve listened to them. One of the best communication techniques to use is repeating for clarification. For example: “Dad, what I hear you say is that if you do need in-home care that you want a male caregiver, is that correct?” or “Mom, if what I’m hearing is correct, you are stating that you’ve set up a burial trust to cover funeral expenses and have a long-term care insurance policy to pay for assisted living, but in the meantime you have investments, social security and a pension to cover your living expenses?” Then pause and let them confirm.

Tip #5: Respect their wishes.

When it comes to taking care of a loved one, we always think that we know best, but at the end of the day, when it comes to care and finances, that is up to the individual. Your parents are adults, they raised you and did an excellent job of it, and they have the right to live their lives how they see fit. Calmly express your concerns, but if they wish to do something else, you need to respect their wishes.

Tip #6: Avoid bringing up the topic all the time.

We all want best for our loved ones, but if you’ve said your peace or they don’t wish to have the conversation at all, you need to respect that and avoid bringing it up every time you visit together. If you continue to beat the proverbial dead horse, it will make things awkward and limit the time you have together making memories and sharing the love.

Tip #7: Keep the peace.

I know I’ve said this a few times, but these are sensitive subjects that often leave emotional nerves raw. If you are meeting as a family, be that voice of reason. Call for time-outs, keep the volume at a conversational level rather than yelling. These decisions are hard, and your family is far more important than them.

Tip #8: Start the conversations early.

If you are the parent and are age 65 and older, start these conversations with your adult children. Start planning before the crises happen. It will give you the feeling of control over the decisions in your life and reduce the stress your children will go through when they don’t know or understand your wishes.

Tip #9: Contract with a Certified Senior Advisor.

Working with a Certified Senior Advisor can help keep you all on the same page while making sure your loved one’s wishes are being heard. In most cases, there is no charge to work with Certified Senior Advisor, but if there is, it’s well worth the investment. They understand the issues and challenges we face as we age.

From understanding, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Plans, advanced healthcare directives, financial power-of-attorney to senior housing, rehabilitation stays, assisted living and home care, a qualified Certified Senior Advisor will bring compassion and understanding while they help you and your family navigate through the issues regarding aging.

Whether you’re moving into a smaller home, moving to assisted living, or just looking to get rid of ‘stuff’, there are some simple ways to approach the daunting task of downsizing. For many of us, it’s many years of accumulation and memories attached to the items residing in space within our homes. Here are 10 simple ways to approach decluttering your home.

Do One Room at a Time

Don’t plan on tackling your entire home in a weekend. Most experts suggest starting one room at a time. For me, I like to suggest starting in the kitchen. This can give you one of the most impactful visuals of just how much you’ve decluttered when you find that you have more cabinets empty or not overflowing.  

Don’t Rush It

What’s the saying? ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day?’, well the same goes for your home. There are most likely twenty plus years of things that have accumulated over time. Thinking that you can clean out your entire house in a weekend isn’t practical. Instead, consider spreading it out over time.

Create Piles

When you approach a room, create three piles. A keep pile, a donate pile, and a trash pile. If it’s broken or missing pieces, that goes in the trash. If it’s something you haven’t used in years, then put it in the donate pile. The keep pile is probably the hardest for most people because we’re prone to wanting to keep it all. Either we assign a sentiment to it or look at it and wonder ‘what if I need it later?’. Be honest with yourself. How often have you said if you need it later? Again, if you haven’t used it, looked at it, or touched it other than to move it in a year, then in the donate pile it goes. At the end of the day, your keep pile should be considerably smaller than your donate and trash piles.

One is Enough

Over time, we tend to accumulate multiples of many items. Eliminating the multiples of larger items is a great place to start. If you have two toasters, keep one. If you have two sets of dishes, eliminate one. If you are moving from a home that has a family room and a living room, pare down to living room set.

Pare Down Collectibles

There are two benefits to paring down your collectibles. One is that it forces you to keep those that are the most valuable to you while creating additional space, but the second is you have an opportunity to make some cash. Instead of boxing it up for storage, consider selling it to another collector.

Take Pictures

For most of us, the item isn’t what holds meaning but the memory behind it. Consider creating a scrap book of photos that hold your memories in it.

Invite in Some Help

Downsizing is a great time to ask your family and friends for help. It also gives you the opportunity to bond and to reminisce. Going through the treasures in your home, your children might come across their favorite stuffed toy growing up. Not only can you share stories about it, but you can send it home with them! If your family can’t help or you’re finding yourself struggling to make decisions on what stays or goes, there are professionals out there who can help. If you are working with a Certified Senior Advisor, they might know of someone who can assist you.

Create New Opportunities

If you have a large collection of baby clothes from your children or grandchildren, or perhaps your spouse has passed, and you’ve had a hard time donating his or her clothing, consider having a quilt made. Sure, you’re keeping some of the items, but you are putting it in a functional piece of art that you can use to enjoy the fond memories you shared.

Schedule a Pick-up

Reduce the risk of putting things back. Schedule a pick-up time with your local charity to get your donations. For those items that are in the toss pile, you can rent a dumpster. Don’t have enough to fill one? Get the neighborhood in on the action and rent a joint dumpster.

Hire Packers and Movers

Yes, this is an expense, but one worth the investment. Once you’ve downsized and are ready to move, consider hiring a reputable moving company to come in and carefully pack up all your belongings and move them to your new home. You’ve already gone through the stress of downsizing and you have unpacking to look forward to. Working with a mover keeps one less thing on your plate.

There are a lot of memories tied up into a home, but the blessing is that all those memories are movable. It just takes some creativity and some effort to pare down your belongings.

According to AAA, nearly 83 percent of older drivers report never speaking to a family member or a physician about their safe driving ability. In addition to expression a hard time initiating the conversation, 15 percent will only do so after a traffic accident has occurred.

If you’re still driving, here are some things you can do to keep yourself safe on the road!

1. Get your eyes and ears examined yearly

To drive, you need good vision and hearing. Even if you think nothing has changed from the previous year, schedule appointments with the optometrist and the audiologist annually.

2. Manage your prescriptions

Taking your medications appropriately is important to maintaining and managing chronic health conditions. If you take them incorrectly, you can increase the risk of side effects that could impair your ability to drive. Also, if you’re on more than one medication, and more than one talks about dizziness as a complication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

3. Be active

Being fit and staying active are important to your overall health, however, when it comes to driving, it can help keep your motor-functions in tip top shape making it easier for you to react to situations and drive defensively.

4. Update your driving skills

True, you’ve been driving for many years, but there are many local organizations that offer driving skills assessments for seniors age 65 and older. You will most likely pass with flying colors, but it will give you an indication, hopefully before an accident occurs, that you might need driving assistance.

For more information on the study by AAA, visit https://newsroom.aaa.com/2018/08/older-drivers-talking-driving-safety/

When we first start working with families and seniors, the first thing we hear is “We can’t afford assisted living”, but when we start putting things into perspective, they realize just how much they can afford it.

Before we start touring with our clients, we look at doing an analysis to determine what you can afford. This is something you can easily do on your own. Here’s how!

Step 1: What are my housing costs? Gather together your housing costs for the month. Include expenses like your utility costs, what you spend on maintenance such as snow removal, landscaping and yard care, etc. Don’t forget about preventative maintenance costs such as your furnace inspections. Also take your property tax and divide that by 12 for a monthly average.

Step 2: What are your monthly utility costs? Every month you are paying utility bills for heat, electric, water, sewer and even in some cases garbage pick-up. Get those bills together and figure out how much you are spending every month.

Step 3: How much are you spending on groceries? Most of the time you don’t consider this an expense to factor in, but most assisted livings offer a meal plan. Some you can opt out as well, but it’s important to consider those costs when determining what’s all included in your monthly assisted living expenses.

Step 4: What are your income sources? The reason we suggest looking at each source is that you might be bringing in more income than you realized when you factor in such things as pensions, 401(k), investments, social security, long-term care insurance. If you are selling home, how much are you anticipating getting, how long will you need it to supplement your income?

Once you’ve got all of your numbers, add together steps 1-3. This will give you a total on what you’re currently spending on housing costs. Reviewing your income sources, taking into consideration other factors such as health and age, you’ll be able to use that information to determine what you can afford each month. If you’re still unsure, reach out to a Certified Senior Advisor for assistance. Some charge, others, like CarePatrol are a free service. Together we can find you an option that fits within your income while meeting your care needs.