Best way to find an apartment for my elderly father in the Bay Area?
July 12, 2013 10:56 AM Subscribe
I'm not sure services like "A Place For Mom" are right for this situation. Details on the next page.
My father currently lives out of state. He is 75, still mobile, drives, etc, but he does have some mobility issues, and is no longer up to the task of maintaining an entire house. Plus I want him to live nearer to me. He is amenable to moving here.
I'd love for him to be in the kind of place where meals and cleaning are provided, but he is not interested in those services. He does not require any kind of medical care and it is not a priority for him to be in a place where he could get medical care if he needed it.
Given all that, is he really just looking for a regular apartment? Are there "senior apartments" that don't provide those kinds of services?
And can you recommend any services to help find a place? I'm leery of organizations like A Place For Mom and Senior Seasons where referrers earn a commission for each placement -- plus they only seem to deal in the "amenities" style of senior apartments anyway. But if you've had a good experience with a place like that, I am all ears.
My father currently lives out of state. He is 75, still mobile, drives, etc, but he does have some mobility issues, and is no longer up to the task of maintaining an entire house. Plus I want him to live nearer to me. He is amenable to moving here.
I'd love for him to be in the kind of place where meals and cleaning are provided, but he is not interested in those services. He does not require any kind of medical care and it is not a priority for him to be in a place where he could get medical care if he needed it.
Given all that, is he really just looking for a regular apartment? Are there "senior apartments" that don't provide those kinds of services?
And can you recommend any services to help find a place? I'm leery of organizations like A Place For Mom and Senior Seasons where referrers earn a commission for each placement -- plus they only seem to deal in the "amenities" style of senior apartments anyway. But if you've had a good experience with a place like that, I am all ears.
My friend's grandparents lived in Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, which is really very nice. I think they have different levels of places and care. IIRC his grandparents were pretty independent, and their place looked like a regular duplex, but the community is definitely meant for seniors.
posted by radioamy at 12:09 PM on July 12, 2013
posted by radioamy at 12:09 PM on July 12, 2013
What chatongriffes said reminded me of this article about Pismo Dunes Senior Park, for people age 55 and older. The article describes the manufactured-housing community as a tight-knit setting that encourages "a lifestyle that is healthy, affordable, and green, and not incidentally, fun. But in order to really see their charms, we need to change a mix of bad policies and prejudice."
(The article isn't an editorial, despite the impression you may have gotten from the last sentence. It's quite thoughtful and offers much to ponder.)
posted by virago at 12:53 PM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
(The article isn't an editorial, despite the impression you may have gotten from the last sentence. It's quite thoughtful and offers much to ponder.)
posted by virago at 12:53 PM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I do not recommend A Place For Mom because they are basically a call center; they will take your info and auto-fax it to every facility in an x-mile radius and then you will get phone-spammed big time. I don't know about the other company.
posted by rada at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2013
posted by rada at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2013
Look into "independent senior living," which is apartments with meal/housekeeping services, some kind of activity program (can range from games to college-level lectures, so be sure to ask about this if you go on a tour), sometimes a gym or but no medical services. There would be staff onsite all the time who could check on him and contact you in an emergency.
The other thing to look at is "55+" communities. These may be less expensive than something labelled independent living (which usually implies luxury-style) and are basically just like a regular condo or apartment community except everyone who lives there is retirement age. There may or may not be staff onsite that could respond immediately to an emergency, depending on the community.
You might start by checking out the Silicon Valley Council on Aging. Click "Housing Options" and then choose "Housing Rental Listings/Affordable Housing"
posted by assenav at 8:03 PM on July 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
The other thing to look at is "55+" communities. These may be less expensive than something labelled independent living (which usually implies luxury-style) and are basically just like a regular condo or apartment community except everyone who lives there is retirement age. There may or may not be staff onsite that could respond immediately to an emergency, depending on the community.
You might start by checking out the Silicon Valley Council on Aging. Click "Housing Options" and then choose "Housing Rental Listings/Affordable Housing"
posted by assenav at 8:03 PM on July 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
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I was a bit skeptical about the mobile home til I went to visit. It's bigger than my apartment, has a full kitchen, and is very nicely maintained. He also has just enough of a side yard to grow his tomatoes. :)
Let me know if you want further details!
posted by chatongriffes at 11:13 AM on July 12, 2013