Life Is More Than Where You Live

Just as with everyone’s journey in senior living, whether through their own experiences, caring for an aging loved one, or entering the community of caregivers and service providers that help provide care and counsel to the older adults in our chosen locations, Senior Living Specialists of California has learned much since our inception about the needs of older adults everywhere as well as the specific challenges that seniors in Los Angeles and Southern California face. From the navigating the right resources to age in place or finding the right senior living communities, skilled nursing facilities, or board & care homes in Los Angeles, to contacting the right asset managers, elder lawyers, local and state provided assistance, or mental health providers, we realized that as an industry and society, we need to change the way we define senior living. Because, as we’ve come to realize, life is so much more than where you live.

Senior Living Specialists of California has expanded our scope of services and approach to address these needs that we’ve seen through helping families of all walks of life on their senior living journey. If we truly want to be the Kindred Compass to older adults in Southern California, then we must be able to knowledgably and compassionately point you in whatever direction is best for you and your family along that path.

To aid families going through this process, we’ve created the Guide For Your Loved Ones Golden Years to give families a tangible overview of all the steps they may need to take and options available to them to make their senior living journey as smooth and anxiety-free as possible. We understand that confidence comes with preparation, and hope that our guide and approach will serve as a roadmap for families and help them plan for the unknown.

Our approach delves into the following areas, helping families get a birds-eye-view of the steps they may be seeking guidance to on their senior living journey:

Aging In Place in Southern California

Most seniors in Los Angeles and abroad would prefer to stay and age in the comfort of their home well into their golden years. We absolutely support this as a first option, but want older adults and their families to have a clear understanding of what it entails for their aging loved ones to comfortably, safely, and financially responsibly age at home. This entails:

• Having a full Physical and Mental Health Assessment. Knowing the complete picture of you or your loved one’s needs is paramount in choosing the right environment for them to comfortably live in, whether it’s at home, at various types of senior living communities, board and care homes, or otherwise. Working with their primary care physician is the best resource for having an up-to-date assessment of their physical and mental conditions, as well as looking out for any signs of potential dementia or other cognitive issues. In addition to any health-related mental health concerns, taking your loved one’s socialization needs is an important aspect of considering whether aging at home is the right option for them. According to a study by The University of Michigan, roughly 35% of seniors reported feeling isolated from others, which can lead to exacerbated cases of mental health issues as well as increased physical decline.
• Understanding Home Health, Home Care, and Hospice. Fortunately, Southern California is home to a vast number of different at-home care providers, and Senior Living Specialists of California has a vast number of contacts that can fit many budgets, care needs, and living accommodations. For those needing general assistance, companionship, or any non-medical help at home, Home Health providers can stop in at your chosen schedule to provide these services, while Home Care companies send licensed medical professionals to administer at-home medical care. Hospice care provides treatment for individuals suffering from long-term illnesses or conditions that need more round-the-clock care, as well as the end-of-life care that this service is more commonly associated with. Hospice is also a benefit provided by Medicare, which can make it a more easily affordable option for those who cannot afford home care or home health. Assessing both your loved one’s needs and their budget is key to deciding whether at-home care is right for your situation.

Understanding Senior Living Options in California

When the time comes for your loved one to move into a senior living community, it’s important to know the differences in care and lifestyle options that are available to you and how they fit into you and your family’s senior living care needs. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living, memory care, or board and care homes in Los Angeles, there’s a wide array of senior living solutions for your family to choose from, and sometimes that abundance of options can be daunting. That’s where we come in. We’ve personally visited over 150 senior living communities in Los Angeles, Orange County, and more, and want to help you find the best possible senior living community that fits your needs, wants, and budget.

See our Senior Living Care Options page to explore the different types of senior living options provided in Southern California, and contact us today for any questions or guidance you may need on your senior living journey. We’ve been where you are, and we’re here to help.

How Do I Pay For My Aging Family Member’s Care?

Navigating your loved one’s assets (real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, vehicles, etc.), income sources (social security, pensions, annuities, etc.), and various coverage options such as Medicare, Medi-Cal, Long Term Insurance policies (LTCs), or VA benefits can be an overwhelming task, but having a complete view of their financial status is paramount in deciding the right path down their senior living journey. Please see our Guide For Your Loved Ones Golden Years for helpful savings and financial worksheets to help you consider what senior living option is best for you.

• Private Pay refers to paying out-of-pocket or using private plans such as Long Term Care Insurance (see more below) to cover you or your loved one’s care, whether that’s at-home or in a senior living community. While Medicare can cover the costs of hospice, and Medi-Cal can help cover the costs of some low-income senior living options, more time than not you will need to plan for your personal funds to cover senior living costs associated with communities or board & care homes.
• Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Importantly, it does not cover long-term assisted living costs. It is designed for basic healthcare and may cover up to 100 days in a rehab facility after a qualifying hospital stay.
• Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) provides low-cost or no-cost health care for qualifying low-income individuals. Like Medicare, Medi-Cal does not cover assisted living, memory care, or independent living. However, it will cover skilled nursing care after the first 100 days for eligible patients.
• Social Security supplements a person’s pre-retirement income based on lifetime earnings, providing a monthly payment. There are no specific assisted living benefits under Social Security, but the monthly income is a core component of a personal budget.
• VA Benefits are available to veterans and should be pursued by all who qualify. Enrollment is simple and can provide disability compensation, health care, and, most relevantly, long-term care programs. These programs can provide assistance at home, at VA centers, or within the community, even covering home care services within Assisted Living and Memory Care communities.

What is Long Term Care Insurance (LTC)?

Long-term care insurance is an insurance product that may cover the cost of long-term care solutions such as Assisted Living and Memory Care, Home Care & Home Health, and a private room at a Skilled Nursing Facility. Though expensive and subject to conditions and limitations, these policies can make a world of difference in covering the costs of living or treatment for chronic conditions. Coverage and conditions vary, so we’re happy to refer you to an LTC policy specialist if you’re interested.

Financial Planning for Older Adults

At Senior Living Specialists of California, we understand that every dollar counts when planning for retirement, so it’s imperative that you know the resources available to you for preserve, organize, and protect what you have. There are also a number of professionals available that can create personalized financial plans for you and your family so your assets are secured for any situation that may come up, and we’re happy to refer you to one of our incredible partners to do so. From Edler Lawyers to help you with probate and estate planning as well as any Medicare/Medical, Social Security or disability claims, to Estate Planners to make sure your wishes are fulfilled regarding your assets, and Advanced Tax Specialists to help make sure that every family has a tax-efficient plan to make sure that their money lasts as long as possible through their golden years, there’s a specialist for every need to ensure your financial future.

When planning your senior journey, especially when it comes to finances, it’s important to keep a handful of relative documents together so that planning is as seamless and easy as possible:

• Durable Power of Attorney
• Applicable Passwords
• Form 602 (Physician Assessment for Senior Living)
• Banking & Account Info
• Copy of Will
• Medication List
• Estate & Trust Documents
• Health Insurance Policies
• Life Insurance Policies
• Medicare/Medi-Cal Information
• Pre-paid Funeral Arrangement Documents

We understand that this is a lot of information to process and that these decisions often come at emotionally taxing times, making each step seem all the more insurmountable, and our team at Senior Living Specialists of California is here for you to guide you along this journey. Our path in senior living began with caring for our own loved ones as they aged, each with different needs, and we want to pass on that knowledge and guidance to you and your family.

For help in starting your family’s senior living journey, please call or contact Senior Living Specialists of California today.