As
seniors, we know that there are a lot of tough decisions we have to
make that those younger than us don’t have to worry about. A lot of
those decisions involve healthcare and finances: Should we take Social
Security earlier or later? Will Medicare provide enough coverage or will Medicare supplement insurance
(Medigap) be necessary? Is it time to think about assisted living? And
as the economic situation in America continues to deteriorate, many
seniors find themselves asking, Can I afford to hold on to my house?
Fixed-Income Senior Housing
In
the past, the decision to move out of the house was usually based on
questions of health and the needs of additional care. However, now, many
seniors who are in perfect health are finding that they simply cannot
afford to continue paying the mortgage on their homes or the rent on
their apartments. As the senior housing crisis grows, many are looking
to senior apartment complexes and other housing options designed for
those on a fixed income. In some cases, its seniors, tired of being
forced out of their homes, that are taking up the cause to create more
housing opportunities for themselves and others who are dealing with the
same economic issues:
“A
group of senior citizens in Williston frustrated with increasing rental
rates pushing elderly people on fixed incomes from their apartments
have decided to take action. The newly-formed Northwest Senior Citizens
Coalition met Tuesday afternoon at the Williston Senior Center to
discuss ways to get more housing built for seniors on fixed incomes.”
(from Seniors meet on high rent)
Fixed-income
senior housing comes in a number of forms in communities across the
country. Some are connected to assisted living facilities, some feature a
social worker on staff, some are simply traditional apartment complexes
that offer apartments at lower costs and often provide a
utilities-included payment model. Some also feature additional amenities
for seniors such as shuttles to/from the grocery store, group meeting
rooms, and more. Many of these facilities, such as the one located in
Stroud Township, are designed to encourage community and interaction
among the residents:
“‘With
a facility like this, you get a lot more interaction between residents
because you tend to pass each other in the hallway and you see each
other in the common meeting areas,’ said developer Nathan Yoder. The
apartment complex also features a community dining area and kitchen on
the third floor in case residents want to plan parties or host family
members.” (from Senior citizen apartments open for those on fixed income)
While
age is obviously a factor that determines who can live in these types
of apartment complexes, finances also play a major part. Many will only
open their doors to those who meet specific financial qualifications.
For instance, in the Stroud apartments “single person's gross annual
household income cannot exceed $28,560, and a two-person household's
gross annual income cannot exceed $32,640.”
Assisted Living for Seniors
Obviously,
the decision to move to an assisted living facility can be an
incredibly difficult one for seniors, and often the considerations are
nothing like those that are taken into account when looking at
fixed-income housing. For many, it is a question of health or the
realization that it’s just getting more and more difficult to take care
of daily needs on your own. This decision can cause animosity and
struggle within a family, and it can lead to a number of questions and
problems. However, there are seniors out there that remind us that the
decision is best made by the person who is making the move, not by
others:
“I
think the decision to make a move should come from the person himself
[or herself],” said Ruben, who has a doctorate in higher education.
“It’s when family members intervene and say you’re having a hard time
taking care of your own place, and it would be good for you to move,
that you can resent it and get angry.” (from Senior Citizen Questions Not Easy)