LIFE IS A JOURNEY

2020 Life Options—Choosing the Right Road Forward

by Cindy Tostado

GRF member resource/assistance liaison

This year would have been the fifth Life Options Expo held in Leisure World to provide a platform to showcase a variety of resources and services to help residents live their best lives now and as changes come in the future.

With the repercussions of the novel coronavirus, we will use the LW Weekly as our vehicle this year. In this issue, you will find a wealth of information on how to tap into services and sources to help you stay connected and protected.

Planning for your life does not end when you turn 65. Many people find that they have to adjust as they age—to changes in physical or medical conditions, death of loved ones, financial, and social/emotional changes.

Life has a way of throwing us curve balls and forcing us to make tough and quick decisions. You could have a medical emergency that could alter your independence either temporarily or permanently. You could experience a slow steady decline that makes performing simple tasks much more difficult or dangerous. These changes can be frightening “What are my options?”

The more options you have for aging well, the better the balance of independence and safety. When independence is threatened, my advice is simple: plan for these events before they happen. We cannot plan for every single situation that may arise, but you can have a plan in place that will be your guide. Share that plan with family or decision-makers, make your wishes known.

As the GRF Member Resource Liaison, it has been my position to bring awareness in a non-threatening manner to the many options that are available to community members. Residents often find themselves in situations where they need care, support and/or other services to remain independent and safe at home.

Our goal is to maintain a great quality of life and to provide links to resources to foster that:

• Home Care Companies: They provide non-medical services to clients who need assistance with activities of daily living in their own home. These services may be provided to a client due to advanced age, physical or mental disability and who cannot perform the activities of

OPTIONS, page 2 daily living. These activities include, but are not limited to: bathing, dressing, feeding, transportation, exercising, positioning, companionship, shopping, making telephone calls, transferring/ambulating, housekeeping/laundry, toileting and incontinence care, meal planning and preparation and personal hygiene and grooming. These services are not covered under Medicare.

• Assisted Living Facilities They provide services under one roof in either private or shared rooms. Services include dining, housekeeping and laundry, chauffeured transportation, emergency response system, utilities and wellness and care services. A variety of activities designed to engage seniors physically, intellectually, and socially are provided. Additional services are available for a fee.

• Placement Specialists/Family Advocates They are available to assist seniors and/or their families in locating appropriate housing in assisted living facilities should living at home no longer be an option.

• County and Community-Based Programs These programs address and provide access to socialization, transportation, including physical, medical, and mental health concerns.

• Personal Alert Systems: The 24-hour monitoring devices support individuals in maintaining an independent, healthy and active lifestyles. These devices provide security and peace of mind that comes with knowing reliable help is always there without the cost of full-time care.

• Meals on Wheels Programs These programs provide home delivered meals to residents who may be unable to cook their own meals any longer. These are donationbased and private pay programs available depending on eligibility.