13 What Is the Best We Can Do?

 

What Is the Best We Can Do?

For seniors to thrive and enjoy their golden years, maintaining a sense of freedom and independence is critical. Unfortunately, there comes a point when personal health and finances outweighs these, making it necessary to move into an assisted living facility.

Making it even more difficult, most seniors aren’t excited with the prospect of moving out of their home, so they usually won’t be the one to bring it up. This was the case with Corky.

In the end, we recognized the warning signs and respectfully recommended that it’s time to consider a safer living situation at Heritage Woods.

 Why Now?

*NOTE: We have been working on a Heritage Woods plan since March 2024.*

Corky is at the point in his life that makes the move to Heritage Woods necessary due to the double impact of his health and financial situations.

He has just had surgery with two more planned; he is currently prescribed 17 medications; has a history of falls; and has multiple chronic health conditions that need monitoring.

Heritage Woods can help with his health care on a 24/7 basis!

At the same time, his financial health is also weak; he has no savings nor any investments; and his rent is increasing which will result in eviction.

Heritage Woods will accept his Social Security, and he can afford to live there without danger of eviction!

Corky must decide TODAY!

If he chooses not to move, he will lose his spot with NO guarantee that he will be able to move there before his eviction in April – then what?!

Team Corky

We have a plan and are willing to help with Corky’s move to Heritage Woods as soon as possible. We have outlined in detail what support we can provide. Still, Corky has yet to decide.

We understand that if Corky decides NOT to move to Heritage Woods, then he will make his own plans for avoiding eviction; secure his own living arrangements; move his possessions; and manage his own medical and financial needs.

So far, it appears that our multiple discussions about Heritage Woods have been unsuccessful. While it’s clearly unsafe, both medically and financially, for Corky to live in his current apartment, we have no last resort – Heritage Woods is our last, best hope for Corky. We are aging, have health issues and financial obligations of our own. Heritage Woods is Corky’s decision and his alone. He, not Team Corky, has total responsibility for the medical and financial consequences of his life choices.

Independence and self-reliance are pivotal for seniors, so we did expect some pushback any time the subject of moving to Heritage Woods came up. We have explained our concerns and listened to Corky’s objections.  In addition, we have done the research to address his concerns considering his health and financial situations. Because of all our efforts, we have concluded Heritage Woods is the BEST we can do for Corky.

At the end of the day, everyone makes their own choices. If Corky refuses Heritage Woods and says that is his final decision, it's important to accept his decision, it is his and his alone. Likewise, the other members of Team Corky are free to respond to his decision in whatever way they choose as well.

In case something bad happens, remember we should not feel liable or guilty, we have done the best we could.

8 Roles and Responsibilities

 

Roles and responsibilities work together to define what each team member will do.

Generally, a role is a person's place on the team.

Responsibilities are the duties and tasks assigned to a role.

After discussions between Corky, Heidi, Greg, and Heather, we have established the following Team Corky Roles and Responsibilities.

Corky’s Role & Responsibilities: He Must Make a Choice

Choice #1: First and foremost, Corky must understand that if he chooses NOT to move to Heritage Woods:

•     Team members will not provide any type of financial assistance
• Team members will not “bail him out” of eviction or homelessness
• Team members will not provide him housing
• Team members will not store or keep any of his possessions

 OR …

Choice #2: Corky must understand and accept that moving to Heritage Woods is in his best, long-term interests, even if he must significantly reduce the number of his nonessential possessions.

If Corky chooses to work with Team Corky members to make the move to Heritage Woods, he will:

Focus on his new home.

Plan for a smaller apartment and work with Team Corky members to develop an appropriate floor plan

Work with Team Corky to organize select possessions making the move:

• Essentials – (items have already been listed!)
• Coordinate with Team members to choose any replacements of essential items
• Create a “Legacy List” - A very selective list of nonessential, sentimental items that will make the move to include:
•  Display Items (wall décor and knickknacks): These are 20 items that make you happy and best relay to anyone coming into your new apartment who you are.
• Family Photographs and paper ephemera: These are photographs and paper items (newspaper clippings, certificates, etc.) you like to look at occasionally. They will be stored in an archival box.
• Work with Team members to identify sentimental items not on your Legacy List to be photographed for inclusion in a Memory Album.
• Identify any items you want to give to family and friends.
• Identify any family photos or family VHS tapes for digital preservation.
•  Support efforts of Team Corky members.

Heather will be the Life-Sizing Coordinator

*NOTE: $ = financially responsible.

Heather is responsible for:

• Informing Team Corky of how the life-sizing process works and providing weekly or biweekly updates.
• Creating a *Life-Sizing Plan that supports Corky’s safety, health and support targets.
• Coordinating *The Big Sort that focuses on Legacy List items to keep.
• Providing *Decision-Making Questions to assist in Legacy List item selection.
• Ensuring that the selected possessions will fit safely in his new apartment.
• Securing movers. $
• Providing moving supplies. $
• Securing service to handle donations, recycling, and discarding of items not making the move. $
• Ensuring shipment of any items Corky is giving to siblings, nieces and/or nephews. $
• Supporting efforts of Team Members.

*These steps will be explained later as we move forward.

Greg will be the Heritage Woods Coordinator

Confirm with Heritage Woods that all pre-move paperwork is complete.

Check in with Heritage Woods about suggestions and restrictions on personal belongings.

• Do they have a packing list for future residents?
• Are there any specific items needed? For example, some facilities may require a certain kind of laundry hamper or shower curtain.
• Are there any items Heritage Woods does not allow? For example, throw rugs, cardboard boxes, oversized furniture (i.e. “Loveseat/Couch?), wall mounted televisions (restriction on number of holes in walls?), etc. - some assisted living facilities do not allow them.

Schedule move-in day.

Coordinate with Heritage Woods staff on any moving day requirements.

Ensure creation and delivery of Corky’s Memory Album to Heritage Woods apartment:

• Photograph sentimental items not on Corky’s Legacy List.
• Create an album containing photographs $

Support efforts of Team Members

Heidi will be the Beyond Movers Coordinator

•     Ensure landlord receives move out notice.
• Ensure disconnection and cancelation notices are received by all utilities and other service providers.
• Ensure all essential parties are aware of Corky’s new address. For example,the postal service, Social Security Administration, financial institutions, medical providers, etc.
• Share Corky’s new address and contact information with essential personal contacts. Update family and friends.
• Ensure bill payment arrangements are in place.
• Ensure that essential records and documents are moved to Heritage Woods apartment.
• Facilitate the sale of any possessions.
•  Ensure digitization of any family photos or media and delivery to Heritage Woods apartment. $
•  Support efforts of Team members

Throughout this process, all team members will cooperate with one another and provide support and assistance as needed.

 

5 What Does a Heritage Woods Apartment Look Like?

 

These photographs give us a general idea of the private living space.

The blue letters on the floor plan indicate the areas associated with each photograph.

 

Floor Plan

 

A-  Entrance looking through the kitchenette.

 

 

B - Hallway view into Living/Sleeping Area

 

 

C - View looking back to kitchenette 

 

 

D-  Living/Sleeping Area

 

 

E - Closet

F - Bathroom 

2 Why Heritage Woods?

 

Why Heritage Woods?

Moving to Heritage Woods meets Corky’s financial, safety, health and support needs!

Corky’s finances are limited to Social Security and a Supplement. He has no savings. Currently he is about $100 short (“in the hole”) each month. He has no means to cover his financial shortfall.

Corky’s safety, health and support needs are increasing. Meeting those needs will improve his well-being and increase his longevity.

At Heritage Woods, residents:

• Live in the privacy of his/her own apartment, which has been conveniently designed for senior living.
• Receive personal assistance and help with medications. Certified staff are on duty 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Support services, such as three daily meals, housekeeping and laundry, are also included.
• Enjoy the companionship of friends and neighbors and participate in social and recreational activities.

 Private Studio Apartment:

·         Utilities, laundry, and housekeeping are all included

·         Spacious bathroom with step-in shower

·         Kitchenette with sink, refrigerator and microwave

·         Ample closet space

·         Individually controlled heat and air conditioning

·         Carpeted living and sleeping area

·         Linoleum in kitchen area and bathroom

·         Emergency call devices

·         Mini-blinds provided

Amenities:

• Assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, grooming, and getting to and from activities and dining
• Ongoing health monitoring and nursing assessments
• Medication set-up, reminders and assistance
• Three meals daily plus snacks
• A range of interesting and varied programs and events
• Assistance with transportation needs
• 24 hour staffing by certified nursing assistants
• On-site beauty/barber services

Common Areas:

• Spacious Dining Room
• Private Dining Room
• Activity Room
• Beauty / Barber Salon
• Country Store
• Exercise Room
• Living Room
• Outdoor Patio
• Resident Laundry
• TV Lounge

All of this is affordable on Corky’s Social Security and Supplement and he will have some money left over each month instead of being in a financial “hole!”