| The retirement
years A
home for Mom and Dad
Retirement communities:
For retirees healthy enough to engage in active lifestyles.
These range from condominium developments that include
amenities such as golf courses, tennis courts and swimming
pools to apartments with centralized dining and other
facilities.
Assisted-living: For people who
have moderate health problems. Private "apartments"
or rooms in a facility that provides meals, housekeeping,
entertainment and other services to seniors who do not
require a high level of care, but may no longer be capable
or want to live by themselves. Some assistance with
medication and basic health needs is usually available.
Some facilities offer special Alzheimer's units. They
range from homes with live-in staff and as many as eight
residents in residential neighborhoods to large facilities.
Continuing care: For people looking
for a continuum of care so they can stay at the same
place if they develop health problems down the road.
Facilities offer everything from independent-living
apartments to assisted-living quarters and wings where
24-hour nursing care is available.
Long-term care: For people with
serious health problems. Nursing homes or other long-
term care facilities provide 24- hour skilled nursing
and medical care. Available for short- term rehabilitation
or longer-term stays.
In-home care: Home health aides
or nurses visit residents at their home to provide therapy
and assistance. Services vary, but often include help
with bathing and dressing.
The following Web sites offer more
information on housing and care for the aged:
AARP's
Working Solutions Elder Care Directory: Searchable
database contains information for over 43,000 elder
care centers and agencies nationwide. http://workingsolutions.aarp.org/resources/elder_care.asp
A
Place For Mom: Referral information, for housing
and information on assisted-living communities, nursing
homes, Alzheimer's care facilities, retirement living
or home care in your area. www.aplaceformom.com.
Alzheimer´s
Association: www.alz.org
Family
Care America: Care giving information and zip
code searchable listing of local resources and facilities.
http://www.familycareamerica.com/
Guide
to Retirement Living: Information on elderly
care and needs as well as listings of Virginia continuing
care communities, independent living, assisted living
and nursing homes. http://www.retirement-living.com/
LongTermCareLiving.com:
Information from the American Health Care Association
and the National Center for Assisted Living. http://www.longtermcareliving.com/
National
Citizens´Coalition for Nursing Home Reform:
Information on selecting a nursing home and home care.
www.nccnhr.org
National
Council on the Aging: http://www.ncoa.org/visitor/index.html
SeniorNavigator.com:
Health and aging resources for Virginia.
U.S.
Administration on Aging: Searchable database
of providers and resources on elderly care. www.eldercare.gov
Virginia
Department of Aging: http://www.aging.state.va.us/
Return to Virginia Business - August 2002
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