Okay, so last Christmas we wrote this article about the Nintendo Wii, and how seniors all over the country have fallen in love with video games. Weird, huh? All it took was a switch from controllers to natural motion. Seniors hate tiny buttons, as we all know. And, as it turns out, most of us prefer natural motion as well. Well, it’s even more true today than it was a year ago. In fact, recent studies show that men and women over the age of 50 now represent more than one quarter of all video game players! Amazing, isn’t it?

The Wii remains a proven hit with seniors, particularly those who have built in competition within an assisted living community or skilled nursing center. If you can’t get out and play golf on the links anymore, maybe you can still play 9 holes in your living room, right? But this Christmas, the Wii has its first real competition: The XBOX 360 Kinect.

Enter the XBOX 360 Kinect

If you haven’t seen the barrage of television ads, you certainly will! The Kinect is a truly revolutionary product. It takes the Wii idea to the next level. Now, you don’t even need to hold on to a motion sensor controller. All you need to do is set up the Kinect Sensor, and it senses your movements. Now you can control your game by simply moving your body, or giving voice commands!

The system is brand new, so it is expensive, to be sure. The sensor addition to the XBOX 360 console is about $200 right now, and the games are $50. It gets worse for those who do not already have an XBOX 360, because you have to have the console in order to play the Kinect games, and the console will run you from $150 to $200. So you will need to expect to pay well over $350 to grab this system.

But will it be worth it? I guess that depends on the seniors in your life. If they have enough mobility, and a good eight feet of empty space in their living room, then it is almost certain to be a hit. Not only can they play games on the system, they can also watch DVD’s, stream music, and even video conference with the grandkids (Note: This feature costs a bit extra: $50 per year is what I have heard). But all of this can be operated with voice commands! This might be the biggest selling point of all. They can sit on the couch and speak to the computers as if they are the Starship Enterprise! They can “ENGAGE” the family through gaming or conferencing even if they live in an elder care community.

Now that, young man, is cool!

But for others, this lifestyle quickly starts to feel empty. Maybe it is the lack of productivity. Or maybe it is the lack of personal contact–even if it just means they don’t see people at the office anymore. But whatever it is, it feels hollow. And they want more.

Thankfully, we live in a world where volunteering is understood to be a noble pursuit. And seniors all around the country, from Oregon Assisted Living facilities to Texas Elderly Care homes, to retirees in Florida, have found that volunteering can fulfill them even more than their career did.

What do seniors volunteer for? Virtually anything. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, connects thousands of seniors with local services all around the country. Seniors can do what they know how to do, whether that means teaching an adult education class, knitting a blanket for a nursing home, painting a house, tutoring a child, or giving advice to local businessmen. The opportunities are as varied as the seniors who fill them.

When seniors plug into the community, they find a kind of fulfillment that only comes when one human being helps another. To find volunteer opportunities in Oregon, click here.

Anyway, here’s that video:

Once again, you can go to OregonAssistedLiving.org, or you can get the same benefits by clicking on this link. If you want to look outside of Oregon, that will work as well.

I guess it’s time we do our own video. We’ll do that soon:)

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.

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.

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!

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

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

Adult Day Care

ADL’s

Respite Care

Home Care

Care Homes

Independent Living

Memory Care

Continuing Care

For Oregon Residents