An epidemic broke out: seniors have other ideas about where to live

Alyssa Ballot, 64, is considering leaving her 50,550-square-foot apartment in Chicago and moving to a multigenerational housing community where neighbors usually share dining and entertainment items and help each other.

“What I learned during this epidemic is that personal relationships are the most important thing to me, not the place,” he said.

Kim Becman, the year-old Kim Beckman, and her husband, Mike, quit being homeowners in Victoria, Texas, and ready to join or rent out the community with a -55 plus in an independent living apartment building in North Texas before the Covid-1 hit.

“Now they’re thinking of buying an even bigger house because” if you’re living in the whole house, you’ll be comfortable, “Beckman said.

“Everyone I know is talking about this,” said Wendell Cornfeld, 71, of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He has temporarily introduced the possibility of entering the continuing care retirement community that is building up in the Bronx.

She said, “My husband and I will play it by ear; we want to see how things will play out, with the epidemic,” he said.

In Cornfield circles, people are more committed than ever to living in their homes or ments apartments as long as possible – at least at the moment. Their fear: If they move into a senior living community, they are more likely to have a Covid-19 outbreak.

“We’ve all heard of a large number of deaths in senior facilities.” But, people who live in their own homes may find it difficult to get affordable help there when they need it, she admitted.

Avoiding nursing homes amid epidemics

As of mid-August, more than 70,000 residents and staff members in nursing homes and supportive living facilities had died of Covid-19, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest count.

This is an undercount as less than half of the states report data on assisted accommodation for Covid-19. As well as data for people living independently in senior housing are not reported. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.)

Panic is rife about senior lifestyles and in July, after the research institute began data tracking 14 years ago, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care reported.

There was a decline in supportive lifestyles (a decrease of 3.4% from April to June, compared to January to March) in independent occupations (a decrease of 2.4%). The organization does not compile data on nursing homes.

In a separate NIC survey of senior housing executives in August, 74% said families were concerned about relocation as cases of covid increased in many parts of the country.

Eliminate possible loneliness

The potential for social isolation is particularly worrisome, as the facilities maintain a ban on family visits and group meals and activities. (While states have begun visiting outside of nursing homes and supportive residency centers, most facilities still do not allow visits inside – conditions that will increase frustration when the weather cools.)

Beth Burnham Mass, chief economist at NIC and director of outreach, emphasizes that opera operators have helped residents get groceries and other essential supplies by establishing new safety and hygiene protocols, moving online to online programming, and talking regularly about Covid-19 and the site. Much more in the community.

Mary Kazlaski, 76, lives independently in Herron Key, a retirement community with constant care in Gig Harbor, Washington, and is doing all this with the Emerald Heights sister facility in Redmond, Washington.

“We all feel safe here,” he said. “Even though we are strongly advised not to go into each other’s apartments, we can see each other in the halls and downstairs in the lobby and on the decks below. As far as separation is concerned, you are separating each other. 200 people: Always around someone. “

A staff member at Heron Key tested positive for Covid-19 in August Gust but has recovered. Twenty residents and staff members tested positive at Emerald Heights. Two residents and a staff member were killed.

Colin Milner, chief executive officer of the International Council for Active Aging, emphasizes that some communities perform better than others. His organization recently published a report on the future of senior life in view of the epidemic.

It calls on operators to establish a number of changes, including the establishment of safe visiting areas for families both inside and outside; Providing high speed internet services to entire communities; And, among other recommendations, to ensure adequate supply of masks and other forms of personal protective equipment for residents and employees.

Some families now want to arrange for elderly relatives to be cared for in a more structured environment before the epidemic begins. They are finding that older relatives live independently, especially those who are weak or have mild cognitive impairments, who are having difficulty managing on their own.

“I’ve been hearing from a lot of people – mostly older daughters – that we’ve been waiting too long for mom or dad to move, our heads were in the sand, can you help us find a place for them?” Brandiwine Concierge has senior services in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

While many tors parters set up a move-in mortuary at the onset of the epidemic, most now allow new occupants until they have a negative test for the Covid-19. Quarantine is also required for up to two weeks before people move into the community.

Many older adults do not have the financial means to walk. According to a 2019 study, more than half of middle-income seniors – about 8 million older people – cannot afford independent livelihoods or supportive life communities.

According to the Federal Supplemental Poverty Measures, more than 70 million seniors are poor, including medical expenses on cash reserves and other drains.

Asking questions

For those capable of considering senior housing, experts suggest that you ask a number of questions:

How does the Residents Facility communicate with residents and families? Has his covid ruptured? Is he declaring covid cases and deaths? Is it sharing the latest guidance from federal, state and local public health officials?

Which protocol has been established to ensure ensure security? “I want to know: are there any plans in place for disasters – not just epidemics, floods, fires, hurricanes, blizzards?” Milner said. “And apart from the plan, do they have a supply position?”

How does a community connect residents? Programming Online programming – exercise classes, lectures, interest group meetings – available? Is one-on-one interaction with employees possible? Are employees setting up inte online interaction with FaceTime or Zoom with family? Are family visits allowed?

“Social engagement and excitement are more important than ever,” said David Schles, president of the American Seniors Housing Association.

What is the company’s financial position and business rate? “In my opinion, a property with a higher occupancy rate of 0% or more is able to withstand the pressure of Covid-1 of, in my opinion, significantly more than a property below 0%,” said Mess of Seniors Housing and Care for National Investment Center. Said. . Higher business means more revenue, which allows organizations to better nurture the additional costs associated with the epidemic.

“Transparency is very important,” Schles said.