Articles About Housing for Seniors

1. Assisted Living Care Communities: How to Choose the Right One

   Article - Assisted Living: How to choose the right assisted living community for the person in your care

2. V.A. Nursing Home and Other Long-Term Care Benefits

   Article - Various nursing home and other long-term care programs are available to veterans through the V.A. Learn about V.A. long-term care and how to apply.

3. Caring Checklist: Evaluating an Assisted-Living Facility for Someone With Alzheimer's

   Article - Choosing an assisted-living facility for someone with Alzheimer's can seem overwhelming. This checklist will help you ask the right questions.

4. A Guide to Eldercare Options in Living Arrangements

   Article - A breakdown of available eldercare options and guidance to help you decide what kind of eldercare is right for your family member.

5. Caring Checklist: Evaluating an Assisted-Living Facility

   Article - Choosing an assisted-living facility can seem overwhelming. This checklist will help you ask the right questions and compare different facilities.

6. 10 Surprising Ways to Avoid Nursing Home Care

   Article - Most older adults would rather live out their lives in their own homes, rather than in a nursing home. Learn how that may be possible and affordable.

7. How to Pay for an Independent-Living Facility

   Article - Independent-living facilities vary in size, amenities -- and cost. Explore different ways to help pay for an independent-living facility.

8. How to Use Public Benefits to Help Pay for Assisted Living

   Article - For those with very low income and few assets, Medicaid and VA benefits may be able to help pay the costs of an assisted-living facility.

9. How to Use Private Insurance to Help Pay for Assisted Living

   Article - To help pay for assisted living, check into some options offered by private insurance, including long-term care insurance or cashing in a policy.

10. Continuing Care Guide: What Are CCRCs?

    Article - How to decide if a continuing-care community is right for your family

11. How to Pay for Long-Term Nursing Home Care

    Article - Possible ways to help offset the cost of a nursing home include public benefits, private insurance, and personal assets and family contributions.

12. How to Pay for Assisted Living Residential Care Facilities

    Article - Costs of assisted-living facilities vary, depending on services. Learn three common ways to help offset the cost of an assisted-living facility.

13. How to Use Family Assets to Help Pay for Long-Term Nursing Home Costs

    Article - Consider several strategies to help pay for long-term nursing home care, including a reverse mortgage, family help, and assisted-living options.

14. How to Use Public Benefits to Help Pay for Long-Term Nursing Home Costs

    Article - If your loved one has low income and few assets, public benefits may be available to help pay for nursing home care.

15. How to Use Private Insurance to Help Pay for Long-Term Nursing Home Costs

    Article - To pay for long-term nursing home care, private insurance -- in the form of long-term care insurance or cash for an insurance policy -- may help.

16. How to Use Personal and Family Assets to Help Pay for Assisted Living

    Article - Assisted living can be expensive. Learn ways to use personal assets, including a reverse mortgage or family contributions, to help cover the costs.

17. Who Should Move to a Continuing-care Community?

    Article - A continuing-care retirement community is a good option for people who value security. Knowing that no matter how their health changes down the line, their needs will be met and they won't have to move can bring great peace of mind. If the older adults in your care are becoming socially isolated as they...

18. Why Senior Housing Is Such an Emotional Issue

    Article - Whether to age in place or move to a nursing home is an emotionally charged issue. Help make an older adult's housing decision easier.

19. What to Do if Things Go Wrong in an Assisted-Living Community

    Article - Common problems that may arise when an older adult moves to an assisted-living community, and tips for helping to address them.

20. What to Do if Things Go Wrong in a Nursing Home

    Article - Common problems that may arise when an aging relative moves to nursing home, and tips for helping to address them.

21. Choosing the Right Assisted Living Facility

    Article - Learn the most important criteria for assessing whether an assisted living facility is right for an aging loved one.

22. Home Safety for the Person with Alzheimer's Disease

    Article - When caring for someone with Alzheimer's at home you are providing a chance for that person to remain in a familiar, comfortable environment where he can use his strengths and be encouraged to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. A safe, comfortable home can help a person with Alzheimer's feel more relaxed and less overwhelmed...

23. Continuing-Care Community Contracts and Fees

    Article - What it costs. Continuing care is an expensive option. Payment systems vary quite a bit from one continuing-care community to another, and these systems can be complex. In most cases, older adults will pay a hefty entrance fee -- or, in some communities, they'll have to purchase the unit they move in to -- and then pay a monthly fee after that...

24. How to Choose the Right Continuing-Care Retirement Community

    Article - When choosing a continuing-care retirement community or helping the person you're caring for find one:

25. Caring Checklist: Evaluating a Nursing Home

    Article - Choosing a good nursing home can seem overwhelming. This checklist will help you ask the right questions and organize nursing home information.

26. Choosing a Nursing Home

    Article - Learn how to select the right nursing home -- and what factors are most important in weighing the decision.

27. What Are Nursing Homes?

    Article - Nursing Homes: A free informative guide to help you decide what nursing home is best for the person in your care.

28. Medicaid Coverage of Nursing Home Care

    Article - Medicaid rules for coverage of nursing home care are complex and vary from state to state. Know the basics of Medicaid coverage of nursing home care.

29. Planning a Move to Assisted Living or a Nursing Home

    Article - How to help someone make the move to assisted living or a nursing home. Avoid pitfalls and find the right situation.

30. How to Downsize

    Article - 8 steps for easing a parent's move into a retirement community or assisted living facility.

31. What You Need to Know Before You Start Searching for Your Parents' New Home

    Article - Looking for a new home for your parents? Arm yourself with essential info

32. How to Know If It's Time to Move an Older Relative Out of the Family Home

    Article - Here's how to decide whether it's time for an older family member to move and, if so, what options are best.

33. Ask These 12 Interview Questions Now to Head Off Home-Share Trouble Later

    Article - Ask these 12 housemate interview questions now to prevent home share issues later. Housemate interview questions include "what's your definition of clean?"

34. Norovirus Outbreaks in Nursing Homes on the Rise

    Article - Assuming you made it through the holidays without contracting the flu from Aunt Bea or Cousin Alex, I’m here to remind you that you’re not quite out of the woods. That said, your conscientious efforts to remain healthy and avoid viruses this season—perhaps by receiving a flu shot—need not be in vbe in vain...

35. Sex in Nursing Homes—The Debate Continues

    Article - Do senior care and sex make for strange bedfellows? Well, perhaps not. A few months ago, I attended an Alzheimer’s Association conference where one of the seminars dealt with issues surrounding sexuality and dementia. Many of the seminar participants had partners who had been diagnosed with dementiaia and eventually moved into a facility...

36. Medicare Coverage of Nursing Home Care

    Article - Medicare covers nursing home care -- with restrictions. Avoid confusion over long-term care by understanding Medicare coverage of nursing home care.

37. V.A. Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

    Article - Learn what V.A. Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits are, who is eligible for them, and how to apply for these V.A. benefits.

38. 7 Design Secrets for a House You Can Live in Forever

    Article - Well-designed homes are safe and accessible for multiple residents, both now and at other stages of life. Learn the basics of universal design.

39. Compare Long Term Residential Care Facilities

    Article - Which is better for your situation: Nursing Home? Assisted Living? Use this handy chart to compare all your options.

40. Continuing Care Retirement Communities

    Article - This option is for people who want a range of services from independent living to nursing home care.

41. Nursing Homes

    Article - This option is for people who require continuous and ongoing nursing assistance or monitoring.

42. Making the Kitchen Safe and Convenient for Seniors

    Article - Learn how to make the kitchen safer for relatives in old age.

43. Making the Bathroom Safe and Convenient for Seniors

    Article - Many accidents happen in bathrooms, so check the safety of the bathroom that you will use for home care.

44. Making Outdoor Areas Safe and Convenient for Seniors

    Article - Learn how to make outdoor areas more safe for elderly relatives for protection from potential hazards, easy access and mobility.

45. How to Help an Older Adult Age in Place

    Article - Help older adults remain in their own homes by planning now for their transportation, household safety and maintenance, and financial and healthcare needs.

46. Aging in Place Communities Offer Independence and Support

    Article - Creative programs offer older adults new ways to get the services of a retirement community while remaining at home. Here are three popular models.

47. Should You Move an Aging Relative Into Your Home?

    Article - Whether to move a parent or other loved one into your home is a big decision with benefits and drawbacks. Is the move the best option for your family?

48. What to Do if Things Go Wrong in a Continuing-Care Retirement Community

    Article - Common problems that may arise when an aging friend or relative moves to a continuing-care retirement community, and tips for helping to address them.

49. Understanding Senior Housing Options

    Article - Senior housing includes aging in place, continuing-care and independent-living communities, and assisted living -- whatever housing an older adult seeks.

50. 8 Ways to Help Older Adults Stay Active and Engaged

    Article - A variety of reasonably priced programs and services can help older adults become more active and engaged. Making a good match for your family member depends largely on his condition and needs.

51. A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing an Older Relative's Move

    Article - Moving an older relative from his family home to a new -- and usually smaller -- residence is labor intensive for you and emotionally disruptive for him. Tempting though it may be, it's not a good idea to "surprise" a family member by sorting through his stuff when he's not around...

52. How to Sidestep Moving-Day Minefields

    Article - Guidelines to help you navigate the emotional and practical minefield of moving an older adult out of her home.

53. Making Someone's Home Safer After a Stroke

    Article - Tips and resources for making someone's home safe after a stroke, whether he's partially paralyzed, in a wheelchair, or uses a walker.

54. A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Older Adults Set Up a Home Share

    Article - How to find the right housemate for your older adults: Help them save money, stay in their home, and get support while keeping them safe.

55. 8 Steps to Make Independent Living Work

    Article - Independent Living: Eight steps to help someone make independent living a reality.

56. How to Tell if Someone With Alzheimer's Needs Assisted Living

    Article - How to tell if someone with Alzheimer's needs assisted living. These questions will help you decide.

57. How to Get the Help You Need to Care for Someone With Cancer

    Article - Comprehensive information on getting help when caring for someone with cancer. Related information is available in the cancer section of Caring.com.

58. ECHO Backyard Cottages: An Innovative Solution for Senior Housing

    Article - Learn how backyard cottages and ECHO housing can be a great senior housing solution for elderly loved ones at Caring.com.

59. How Do Reverse Mortgages Work?

    Article - Reverse Mortgage: A Beginner's Guide. A free informative guide on reverse mortgages.

60. Making a Bathroom Safer for a Stroke Survivor

    Article - A bathroom can be dangerous for someone who's had a stroke. Here's how to help a stroke survivor bathe, groom, and use the toilet safely.

61. Making a Bedroom Safer for a Stroke Survivor

    Article - How to make someone's bedroom safe and comfortable after a stroke. Plus, how to help him keep as much privacy and autonomy as possible.

62. After Stroke Care: How to Know What's Needed

    Article - How to assess how much care and help a patient will need after a stroke.

63. Is a Home Share Right for the Person You're Caring For?

    Article - How to help someone determine whether sharing his home with a tenant who helps with housework (and cash flow) is the right housing alternative.

64. Providing Home Care for an Older Adult: A Good Fit?

    Article - When older adults need daily care, you can set up systems to assist them in their home. Daily home care isn't for everyone, though.

65. Independent Living Communities: Who They're For

    Article - Usually apartment or condominium complexes, these communities generally offer on-site amenities such as beauty salons, banks, fitness programs, and communal meals. They may even have a doctor who makes regular rounds.

66. Moving an Older Adult in With You: A Good Family Fit?

    Article - Moving an older adult into your home isn't a simple decision. But home care could be a great solution if you decide your family is suited for it.

67. What to Do When You Suspect Elder Abuse

    Article - Help the person in your care identify a trusted person who can be called on for help. The Adult Protective Services Agency—a component of the human service agency in most states—is typically responsible for investigating reports of domestic elder abuse and providing families with help and guidance. ce...

68. Community-Based Services

    Article - Many services are provided free by local or community groups. The groups are sometimes repaid by state, local, and federal governments, but often volunteers provide meals and social and health care services.

69. Is Home Care for You?

    Article - Knowing if an elder care service is necessary can be difficult. Learn whether home care is the right decision for you or a loved one in need.