Section 202 Affordable Housing for Seniors

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age and face a tough economy and tight finances, many are faced with losing their homes or needing to move to less-expensive housing. The US Government is attempting to answer this need by providing more affordable housing to seniors 65 or older on a fixed or low income through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and their section 202 housing program.

Section 202 housing is run by non-profit organizations who receive government funding in addition to the residents’ fees which are calculated based on individual income. These facilities are designed for seniors who are still able to live independently, but cannot afford mortgage payments or regular rent payments.

Finding Section 202 Facilities

The best place to start your search is online at the Department of Housing and Urban Development website which lists all section 202 facilities across the United States. First, determine your preferred location, and then plug in the city and state into the search page. This search will pull up a comprehensive listing of all section 202 low-income senior housing in that area.

Contact facilities

Once you have your list in hand, you can begin calling facilities. First, verify if the facility is still a part of the section 202 program. Each facility must meet specified requirements to maintain their eligibility to receive government funds, so always double check their current status in the program.

Check for vacancies

Second, check and see if they have any vacancies. Be sure to note if you have special needs such as ground level or elevator access or other handicap-accessible requirements. If your desired location does not have vacancies, ask if they can place you on their waiting list. It’s advisable to continue calling facilities on your list until you find several locations, so you can visit before making your final decision.

Make an appointment

Third, find out if you need to make an appointment in order to visit the facility. It’s a good idea to visit facilities as soon as possible as vacancies are usually snapped up quickly.

Ask about required documentation

Fourth, ask what documentation you need to bring with you in order to complete an application.
You will probably be asked to provide proof of identity and citizenship such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, or social security card. You will also need to show proof of low income such as your pay stubs, pension check stubs, bank statements, or social security statements. You may be asked to provide proof of medical expenses that impact your income such as medical bills or pharmacy receipts as well as a statement from your doctor saying that you are able to live independently. The facility may also ask for references from your previous landlords. If you will be applying to multiple facilities, you will need to make copies of each of these documents to give to each facility.

Ask a loved one to help

Fifth, because this search can take time and persistence to find a location that is in the right area and has a vacancy, it’s a good idea to get a friend or family member involved in the process. Be prepared to make a quick decision as the vacancies in section 202 housing facilities usually do not last long. Having a someone you trust with you in this decision process will provide a second perspective to help you if you are forced to decide quickly.

With a little persistence, you can find affordable senior housing. But don’t put it off until the last minute. Because of the high demand, vacancies are snapped up quickly. If possible, start your search before your funds run out, or while you can still wait for a vacancy in your preferred location.

Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Retirement Community

As seniors are living longer, and the retirement age is dropping, more and more seniors are looking to enjoy their retirement years traveling, exploring new interests, picking up old hobbies, and building relationships with other seniors. Many seniors choose to spend these golden years in a retirement community and enjoy the following benefits:

1. Social Community and Support of Other Seniors
After exiting the workforce and being relieved of family responsibilities, many seniors find themselves longing to develop relationships with those going through the same season of life. Retirement communities provide ample opportunities to meet and socialize with like-minded seniors. These relationships often end up sustaining and enriching many seniors as they savor their retirement years and experience such strong support from others who really understand and share their experiences.

2. Community Life
Many seniors are looking for an active community life that provides ample opportunities for seniors to explore interests and hobbies while enjoying relationships in a community setting. Game nights, social knitting and scrapbook groups, dance lessons, and outdoor activities are often at the heart of community life. Many retirement communities are build around or in close proximity to golf courses and provide swimming pools, tennis courts, walking trails for the seniors wishing to pursue those activities.

3. Serenity
Many seniors flock to retirement communities looking for a place of peace and quiet that is hard to find in general community living. Since the minimum age requirement of most retirement communities is 55, these communities are able to establish a serene sort of sanctuary for seniors not wishing to be disturbed by the noisy or immature: loud, obnoxious teenagers, crying infants, or yelling children. This peace and quiet holds a strong appeal for many seniors looking for a calm place to retreat.

4. Comfortable and Convenient Accommodations
Retirement communities provide various types of housing, but often many seniors have a desire to downsize without feeling cramped, so retirement centers usually provide housing options to suit your needs and desires as well as providing larger spaces for social gatherings and activities. Many seniors choose communities in a more comfortable climate depending on their preference and health needs. Also, many retirement communities are strategically situated close to shopping centers, grocery stores, and beauty salons, keeping most amenities within walking distance, or they provide regular transportation to retailers or services located farther away.

5. Beautiful Grounds and Pain Free Housing Maintanance
Retirement communities recognize and appreciate the need for beautiful, tidy grounds to create that sense of serenity that so many seniors are looking for but no longer want to devote hours every week to maintaining the home and yard. On site maintenance and grounds keeping is a perk many seniors appreciate.

Many seniors are choosing to enjoy their golden years in the comfort of a retirement community. After years of hard work, they’re finding opportunities to enjoy life like never before and to spend time on what’s really important: building relationships.

Active Seniors choose Independent Living

So, you’re looking for senior housing, but your loved one is in good health? That’s terrific! Today, there are hundreds of independent living options that cater to seniors with active lifestyles. Independent Living (also known as retirement communities) give healthy elders a sense of lifestyle flexibility and security. There are no lawns that need to be mowed; no doors that need to be rehung. Those details will be taken care of. So why not let your loved ones live in comfort?

So how does an active senior choose an independent living facility? Here is a roadmap:

Pick a Location!
What are you lolling for? Temperate weather? Proximity to family? Adventure and Activity? Get your thoughts down on paper and choose a city. This part is easy enough. Your loved ones probably already know what they are looking for. Help them narrow it down.

Choose a type of senior housing:
Do you want your family members to live in Rental Apartments or Manufactured Homes? Townhouses or Condominiums? These can be easily explored online or with a quick phone call.

List the types of amenities that are most important:
Not all independent living facilities are created equal. Some focus on spacious interiors, others on local activities. Does your loved one enjoy golf and shopping? Morning walks? Do they like to entertain? All of these should be listed and carefully thought through. And don’t think that you will have to nix half the items on your list. These things have been thought through and built into senior housing packages across the country. It’s okay to be choosey!

Take a visit to your top choices.
Of course, you can request a full information packet from these facilities first. But there is no substitute for a first hand look around. Ask for a tour in advance, and you’ll get one. These facilities are highly competitive, and want your business, so they will absolutely want to show you around!

Observe, observe, observe!
So many things to look for, but they’re obvious. How are residents treated? How nice are the units? How prepared is the local medical staff? What about security? Best to take a list of things to be looking for before you arrive, and to ask lots of questions if you can’t observe the answer right away. Feel free to be exceptionally curious!

Above all, trust the instincts of your loved one. Do they like the place a lot, or do they have reservations? Watch and listen to them. After all, you are serving and helping them make a decision, not making it for them. So help them think it through, and enjoy the process!

Independent Living Facilities in Salem, OR

There are several Elder Care facilities in Salem, OR, including Independent Living and Senior Retirement Communities . These facilities offer a wide array of services. Some are linked with Assisted Living and skilled nursing units as a part of their Continuing Care services. Here is a broad list of these unique Elder Care services in Salem.

Click on the name of the facility for more information.

Facility Name	Address	PHONE #
Lancaster Village Retirement & Assisted Living	4138 Market St NE	503-364-3383
Meadow Creek Village Assisted Living	3988 12th Street SE	503-375-9732
Regency Woodland	4710 Sunnyside Rd. SE	503-364-1355
Capital Manor	1955 Salem Dallas Hwy NW STE 1200	503-362-4101
Redwood Heights Retirement	4050 12th St Cut Off SE	503-540-0822

Understanding Different Types of Elder Care

If you’re looking into Elder Care options for you or a loved one, chances are, you’ve already been confused by the terminology. You understand what a nursing home is, but there are so many other types of care and terms to describe them, it can be very confusing. There’s Assisted Living and Independent Living; Home Care and Care Homes, Respite Care and Adult Day Care, Continuing care and Memory Care. The list goes on and on.

In order to know what type of care you’re looking for, you need to understand your terms. Here are some helpful definitions to some of the most common terms out there to get you one step further down the road.

Assisted Living

Think of it as a half-way option for who adults who desire independence but need some assistance. When health and aging make it too hard for a senior to live alone, many people turn to Assisted Living Facilities, which allow a healthy degree of independence for their residents, while still maintaining a helpful, supportive community around them.

Adult Day Care

A community respite care service offered at staffed facilities to care for seniors who are in need of care during daytime hours. Oftentimes, these Adult Day Care facilities focus primarily on patients with Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia.

ADL’s

“Activities for Daily Living.” These are daily activities that most adults do without thinking, but can be increasingly difficult for elders as their health begins to deteriorate. These include getting dressed, eating, taking showers, etc. Home Care Services and Assisted Living facilities will often use the term “ADL’s” when describing the types of activities their staff will help with.

Respite Care

A service that is offered to full-time caregivers who need a little time off, whether that means regularly or occasionally. Respite Care workers can be in-home nurses or workers at a facility such as an Adult Day Care or Assisted Living community.

Home Care

Care that is provided in the senior’s own living environment. Home Care providers can offer a wide array of services depending on the patient’s needs, from skilled registered nurses who can deal with most any medical situation to Home Care companions, who can simply offer a helping hand and a watchful eye.

Care Homes

Residences that offer different degrees medical care and and living assistance to the seniors who live there.

Independent Living

(Also called “Retirement Communities”) A living setting designed for seniors who do not need medical care and want to maximize their independent lifestyle in an active senior community. Many Independent Living communities still offer basic benefits like hospitality and meal services, and are connected with more intensive levels of Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing homes should the need arise.

Memory Care

Specialized care for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia. Short-term memory care often comes in the form of Respite Care, where an adult day care or a home companion can keep an eye out for seniors with memory impairment. Long-term memory care usually comes in an Assisted Living facility, where special care is taken to ensure the security, safety, and mental stimulation of the patients.

Continuing Care

It has been called a “one-stop-shop” for Elder Care. Continuing Care facilities are wide in scope, offering many degrees of care. Many residents will join a continuing care community while they are still healthy, living in an Independent Living segment of the community. As their daily and medical needs increase, their level of care will increase also so that they are able to easily graduate to Assisted Living and Nursing Home care if the need arises.

For Oregon Residents

To find which Elder Care facilities offer these various services in Portland, click here.
To find which Elder Care facilities offer these various services in Eugene, click here.

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Tags: adult day care, Assisted Living, care homes, Continuing Care, elder care definitions, Eugene Elder Care, Home Care, Memory Care, Nursing Homes, portland elder care, Respite Care

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