Does anyone live in an ALF? (community, state, accident, years)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Is it assisted living or independent living in a continuing care retirement place? I know a lot of people conflate the two, I thought they were different levels.
I'm not sure what you mean, bdl. It's NOT independent living. I would be the only person who is not being helped with meds, daily care, etc. The administrator has all the say and power and we just clicked. I am at the lowest level of help and even then I am far below that. IF I start to need help, then I can get it ( for a price).
Quote:
Originally Posted by rothbear
You still need to be careful. My Mom was in an ALF, although she was probably worse than you physically as she fell 3 times in 2 weeks and could get up, and everyone there (supposedly) was great and vetted. I had all confidence until I went to a holiday party with my Mom and this one woman was showing off the rings that her "boyfriend" had given to her. They were identical to 2 rings that I allowed my mother to keep with her. I went back to her room and checked and sure enough those rings were missing along with another one which was a guard to go with the 2 ct Diamonique that she had. I lodged a complaint and the woman said my mother had given them to her (even though there is a rule against accepting items from rsidents and she was telling everybody she got them from her boyfriend). She was fired and I got the 2 rings back, but she had already sold the guard with tiny diamonds and emeralds. She was charged with theft and the court had her pay my Mom back in tiny monthly payments and got a slap on the wrist. Court didn't care that the victim was a senior citizen and I even testified against her about taking advantage of a senior. I bet the woman got a real shock when she found out the "huge" diamond was fake! Luckily my mother was a pack rat and kept every jewelry receipt. The woman would have gotten away with it had she not stuck them in my face and bragged about them and I hadn't been so observant. Not sure she realized I was the daughter as I had been talking to another lady beside me at the table.
When she had to be moved to a different ALF due to physical downturn I made sure she had nothing of value or would be any big loss. The only thing that happened there was that someone had knocked down a photo of my daughter and broke the glass and never reported it. The photo ended up being destroyed by moisture from cleaning solutions but it was only a copy, so no big deal.
Oh dear, rothbear! Tyvm for the tip. Fortunately (or not), I don't have any of my real and good jewelry left. I had to pawn it after husband died. I only have 2 real gold bracelets and they never come off. Never. I hope everyone at this facility is honest.
I was thinking about that last night....How much do these non-professionals make an hour? How can they be trusted? I am glad you were in the right place at the right time with the thief. Sorry your mom had to move because of going down hill. I think at this place you don't need to move.
I sometimes think I will go right from my apt with the "stairs of death" and the knee high bathtub, into an ALF. But I really want to have a house in between.
Me, too. I could go for a small cottage on an acre or so, one story living, etc. I'd like to stave off an ALF as long as possible, but never if I could swing it. There's a 90 yr old woman down the road from us who snowblows in winter and mows all summer.
We live in northern VT and although summers are glorious here, I am definitely over winter, or should I say, the extended winter and extremely cold temps. Mostly, it is alot of work since we heat with wood, which has to be brought to the house, stacked, brought INTO the house, blah blah blah. I also have 'stairs of death' into the basement, where the woodstove is (and the concrete stairs through the bilco doors down into the basement as well). I've fallen down the stairs a few times....bumping on my butt the whole way down, but one day I'll probably take a header and go through the drywall.
We also have 10 acres of property, 3 or 4 cleared around the house, but that is work, too. Hubs does most of it now, although I help with mowing, but I'm ready for 'alot less work.' If something happens to him, I'm hosed.
Oh dear, rothbear! Tyvm for the tip. Fortunately (or not), I don't have any of my real and good jewelry left. I had to pawn it after husband died. I only have 2 real gold bracelets and they never come off. Never. I hope everyone at this facility is honest..
I spent 30 days interning at a nursing home, your question about honesty hits home. I was taught intake and had access to EVERYTHING about the patient. Their SSN, names of children, previous medical and financial history.
I could see that if someone was slightly pressed to commit fraud, they'd not have too many problems doing it at a facility like that.
The only plus was they told all residents (and family)
"No personal jewelery" was permitted. That way, no claims of theft were ever reported.
Be extra careful when carrying anything on the stairs of death. I was carrying a plate of spaghetti and a drink, I think I was focused on not spilling my drink when I somehow missed the last step and went face first into the tile floor at the bottom. Spaghetti went everywhere! Luckily I was on the bottom stair and didn't have that far to fall. Our next home will be one level.
Me, too. I could go for a small cottage on an acre or so, one story living, etc. I'd like to stave off an ALF as long as possible, but never if I could swing it. There's a 90 yr old woman down the road from us who snowblows in winter and mows all summer.
We live in northern VT and although summers are glorious here, I am definitely over winter, or should I say, the extended winter and extremely cold temps. Mostly, it is alot of work since we heat with wood, which has to be brought to the house, stacked, brought INTO the house, blah blah blah. I also have 'stairs of death' into the basement, where the woodstove is (and the concrete stairs through the bilco doors down into the basement as well). I've fallen down the stairs a few times....bumping on my butt the whole way down, but one day I'll probably take a header and go through the drywall.
We also have 10 acres of property, 3 or 4 cleared around the house, but that is work, too. Hubs does most of it now, although I help with mowing, but I'm ready for 'alot less work.' If something happens to him, I'm hosed.
That was my problem, Riley.. My hubs died and that was the end of life as I knew it. Who CHOPS the wood? Why are all stairs in a bulkhead so steep?? I haven't seen one that isn't! Be careful, good way to break your tailbone!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disgustedman
I spent 30 days interning at a nursing home, your question about honesty hits home. I was taught intake and had access to EVERYTHING about the patient. Their SSN, names of children, previous medical and financial history.
I could see that if someone was slightly pressed to commit fraud, they'd not have too many problems doing it at a facility like that.
The only plus was they told all residents (and family)
"No personal jewelery" was permitted. That way, no claims of theft were ever reported.
I don't think too many people have access to my info except the administrator. Besides, what would someone do with it? Oh, it's not a nursing home btw. At least not like any one I have been into visiting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheShadow
Be extra careful when carrying anything on the stairs of death. I was carrying a plate of spaghetti and a drink, I think I was focused on not spilling my drink when I somehow missed the last step and went face first into the tile floor at the bottom. Spaghetti went everywhere! Luckily I was on the bottom stair and didn't have that far to fall. Our next home will be one level.
I hope your face landed in the spaghetti! A tile floor is so hard. I have missed the last step or two in my life due to my MS but I do a good tuck and roll.
Are you staying in Florida? How far are you away from where you are living now? What did the people you are living with hav to say? Are you on good terms with them still, so you have a support system? How did you find it?
I never did know your whole story, and I wish you well in what is this, I hope, your last move. I am happy for you.
[quote=tamiznluv;62737403]I'm not sure what you mean, bdl. It's NOT independent living. I would be the only person who is not being helped with meds, daily care, etc. The administrator has all the say and power and we just clicked. I am at the lowest level of help and even then I am far below that. IF I start to need help, then I can get it ( for a price).
Oh. Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't familiar with someone going from a home into assisted living.
Are you staying in Florida? How far are you away from where you are living now? What did the people you are living with hav to say? Are you on good terms with them still, so you have a support system? How did you find it?
I never did know your whole story, and I wish you well in what is this, I hope, your last move. I am happy for you.
Yes, I am staying in Florida. The new place is only 17 miles away. I haven't told them yet. I am so-so about them. I don't have a support system and I intend to keep it that way. I really don't want to have anything more to do with the woman who used to be my friend. I don't like anything about how she has turned out. I tolerate her now. I found it from a search engine. A couple of years ago I went looking because I couldn't tolerate her anymore but found that I couldn't afford any of the places I looked at. This place is a sister place of a couple I looked at 2 years ago. They had all the bells and whistles plus they are right in the heart of a city. This new place is more rural. Plus $1,000 a month less because it is more rural and no bells and whistles.
I am moving into an ALF next month although I need very little, if any, care. I want to be where I can call for help if I happen to fall on the floor. Took me 2 hours to get back up onto my feet a few months ago. My housemates were of no use, they are older than me!!!
I chose one without all the bells and whistles, like a pool and gym. I have a pool now and in 5 years, I think I have gone in maybe a dozen times. It doesn't have a big communal dining room. Each floor has 4 "neighborhoods" each with their own dining room. They seat 10 people. I think it's great. I like my studio apartment. It's on the backside away from the traffic so it's quieter. I think my love bird and I will be happier. I am looking forward to this.
Well, first I don't think you need to jump the gun.
1) why didn't your older roommates call 911 for help, once they found they couldn't get you up?
2) also there are any number of "necklaces" that have a button you can press and say "help ice fallen and can't get up"! Life alert is one.
Some are "smart" and can give an exact gps location of where you are, even if walking in the park.
For the necklace, you would need a relative or friend you can call on to come to your aid.
But they can also notify police, fire department or ambulance service.
And if you've fallen, it's possible you SHOULD be checked out at a hospital with x-rays and such to be sure you haven't broken anything that isn't readily apparent.
I do agree with your choice of "no bells and whistles, as some aren't really conducive to certain seniors, like a pool, unless they are/life long good swimmers, or go for "aqua aerobics" exercise regiment s.
Around here, there are smaller assisted facilities, that are a home like place (actually in a neighborhood house) where nursing/assisting staff ratio to "patient s" is like 2-3 to 1.
And half the price of a nursing home type ALF.
When my time comes, I'll pick one of those to live in first.
Good luck to you. I sometimes fantasize how much easier life would be in an ALF. No more cooking, cleaning, laundry or arranging for home repairs.
My uncle, a widower, just moved into one. He said the same.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Tyvm for the tip. Fortunately (or not), I don't have any of my real and good jewelry left. I had to pawn it after husband died. I only have 2 real gold bracelets and they never come off. Never. I hope everyone at this facility is honest.
Why are all stairs in a bulkhead so steep?? I haven't seen one that isn't! Be careful, good way to break your tailbone!
A tile floor is so hard. I have missed the last step or two in my life due to my MS but I do a good tuck and roll.
