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DECISION TIME How Can the GreatTRANSITIONS® Team Help You? By Paul and Lyn Henderson
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t’s important to decide not just how to age, but where. Is it best to stay put or make a move? The best decisions come from understanding the options. Here are a few to consider: Aging in Place: Staying With Help. Make sure your home fits your abilities. Install safety bars and eliminate trip hazards. Access to reliable transportation and availability of caregivers should be considered. 55+ Communities: Live and Be Active With Your Friends. Many such communities provide a wide variety of activities. Residences can in-
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clude such features as wider doorways and safety bars. Outdoor maintenance is usually included. CCRC: A Continuum of Care. These communities offer all levels, from independent living to skilled nursing, to allow residents to stay in one location as their needs change. The ideal time to enter is while you’re still healthy. Assisted Living: A Helpful Hand. Designed for those who need help with housekeeping, medications, meals, etc., these communities offer support and security that empowers residents to maintain active lifestyles in a social environment.
Skilled Care: Care and Safety. Round-the-clock care and assistance is provided for physical, social and psychological needs. Many such facilities have short-term rehab services and can be a part of assisted living or CCRC communities. The expression “it’s always too soon until it’s too late” means the time is now — and that certainly applies to your future housing needs. Make a plan that will give you and your family peace of mind that when the time comes, the decisions will have already been made. We recommend you read Moving On by the Senior Real Estate Council and So Far Away by the National Institute on Aging for more on this subject. Receive your free copy at Great-Transitions.com. Editors note: Paul and Lyn Henderson both hold the SRES® certification and are the creators of GreatTRANSITIONS®. The Hendersons developed this concept drawing on over 22 years of personal and professional experiences. The program is designed to help people transition to the next place they call home. For more information visit Great-Transitions.com. G R O W I N G B O L D E R 29