Deciding Where to Retire

An elderly couple walking across the city arms crossed

One of the most crucial retirement decisions is deciding where to retire, because not only will your retirement location have a big impact on you, it can have a big impact on your family and friends. There’s certainly no shortage of retirement options in New Jersey, but the temptation of a warmer climate like Florida is always there. Each individual or family ultimately makes these choices, but there are plenty of great reasons to retire right here in the Garden State and remain close to home.

Family is a big reason many seniors choose to stay in the Lakewood and Toms River area. On one hand, living at a community with Life Care, like Harrogate, offers the peace of mind of knowing everything – including skilled nursing, rehab and higher levels of care – is close by. On the other hand, putting a smart plan for your future health care in place also lets you focus on enjoying time with your family and grandchildren. Many seniors wouldn’t trade being around their loved ones for any tropical climate in the world.

Of course, family isn’t the only reason local seniors choose to remain close to home. There simply aren’t many parts of the country with as many intellectual and cultural attractions so close by. Ocean County offers a long list of fun and interesting activities. And Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia alone offer more activities than most people could fit into a lifetime.

Due to the misconception that New Jersey has higher taxes than most states, it can often be overlooked as a retirement option.While local taxes are a legitimate point of discussion, seniors who’ve chosen to retire in a Life Care Community like Harrogate are usually surprised by the number of available tax breaks. A simple visit with your financial advisor or the finance department at most senior living communities will point you in the right direction.

Seniors who choose to retire close to family and friends are typically very happy with their decision. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you do your research, look at your priorities, have a heart-to-heart conversation with family, and choose the option that feels right and makes the most financial sense. Everyone has a unique idea of what retirement looks like, and New Jersey offers countless options to choose from.

To help you make a more informed decision, stop by Harrogate and pick up our helpful guide. We can help you get a better understanding of all your retirement options. You can also schedule a personal appointment by using our contact form.

Making Important Decisions Regarding Long-term Care

The conversation about what your family should do if you ever find yourself in a situation where you can no longer care for yourself can be a difficult one. However, sitting down and actually having that conversation can make a challenging situation a little easier for those you love. Of course, there’s always a chance you won’t end up needing long-term care. But making these important preparations and decisions about your health can help preserve a higher quality of life should something happen and you require long-term care.

How to Plan for Long-term Care Costs

Some people are more likely to need long-term care than others. For instance, those with a family history of diseases, especially degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, have a higher risk of developing the disease and, therefore, have a higher chance of needing an assisted living situation. When assessing your need for long-term care, ask yourself:

  • What are your lifestyle choices like? Do your actions contribute to or hinder your overall health? Try to live a healthy lifestyle that reduces your risk of illness and injury. Eat well, exercise regularly, stay mentally active and avoid falls.
  • Do you anticipate any issues with hereditary illnesses or conditions that could make it difficult for you to age in place?
  • How close are you to retirement? Would your retirement budget be able to cover the costs of long-term care? If you think you’re at risk for needing long-term care and you aren’t financially prepared, it may be a good time to invest in long-term care insurance.
Paying for Long-term Careskilled nurse caring for senior resident

Americans spend billions of dollars every year on long-term care for seniors and the terminally ill. These services may cost more than your average Lakewood, New Jersey, citizen can afford. If you end up needing assisted living, you may have to pay for it through various sources:

  • Personal funds such as pensions, savings and income from stocks
  • Medicare, Medicaid or your private insurance provider
  • Veterans benefits
  • Services through the Older Americans Act
  • Long-term care savings programs or insurance
Types of Long-term Care

There are generally three kinds of long-term care:

  • Skilled care designed to treat a medical condition all day, every day. A treatment plan is ordered by a doctor and then performed by skilled medical personnel, such as a registered nurse.
  • Intermediate care involves intermittent nursing and rehabilitative care.
  • Custodial care aims to assist with one’s activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating and dressing.

Not everyone needs intensive 24-hour care. There are also home health care options for those who need some supervision but not round-the-clock monitoring. This can be helpful for seniors who want to age in place but have mobility issues when it comes to making it to the doctor on a regular basis for things like respiratory therapy, checking blood sugar, cleaning and bandaging wounds, monitoring vitals, and who may need assistance with bathing or dressing.

If you live with a partner or family member, there’s also the option of adult day care. Adult day care is a place for seniors who need supervision

and medical attention during the day and working hours. These centers allow people to continue with their jobs to pay for medical care without having to worry about their loved one’s well-being while at work.

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Talking about long-term care with those you love isn’t easy, but it’s very important. Determine your potential for needing long-term care, and make lifestyle changes that foster health and independence. Start saving now for long-term care costs, or invest in insurance that will protect you if needed. Finally, know your options when it comes to long-term care.

Author

June Duncan is the co-creator of Rise Up for Caregivers, which offers support for family members and friends who’ve taken on the responsibility of caring for their loved ones. She’s the author of the upcoming book, The Complete Guide to Caregiving: A Daily Companion for New Senior Caregivers.

Harrogate Weather Preparedness

To ensure we stay a fun-loving senior living community, we make disaster preparedness a top priority. As a new hurricane season approaches, Colorado State University recently issued its preliminary forecast. Their hurricane researchers expect a slightly above-average season, with 14 named storms. Seven of those are predicted to become hurricanes, and three are expected to be major hurricanes.

In 2017, three major hurricanes made landfall on American soil: Harvey, Irma and Maria. All three storms rank among the top five costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, with an estimated $265 billion in combined damage.

We plan for the unexpected

As a member of Life Care Services®, Harrogate reviews our staff training and all hurricane-related emergency preparedness planning well in advance of hurricane season.

At the first sign of inclement weather, we determine the storm’s potential to flood or otherwise damage our community. We then prepare a specific hurricane response and evacuation plan based on these predictions. We also establish a crisis communication plan to keep residents and their families updated.

Our plan includes:

  • Working with area communities or hotels in case an evacuation is necessary.
  • Giving residents emergency supply kits that contain clothing, toiletries, a flashlight, identification and other supplies.
  • Ordering two weeks’ worth of medication for each resident and updating medical information for staff use.
  • Ensuring a week’s supply of food and water is on hand for each resident.
  • Supplying enough generators in case of a power outage.
  • Making sure appropriate medical equipment is on site, such as oxygen tanks, tubes and stretchers.
  • Preparing families by going over disaster planning and supplying them with emergency phone numbers.

We’ll communicate evacuation locations to residents’ family members; families may also choose to evacuate residents themselves.

Hurricane Sandy

In 2012, Harrogate made the decision to shelter in place during Hurricane Sandy. Resident Lady Ramsdell decided to move to Harrogate seven days before the storm made landfall. She rode Sandy out with us; her house sustained significant damage, leaving behind more than four feet of seawater in her home. Now, no matter what the weather or the future holds, she’s glad she chose Harrogate:

If another hurricane comes along and I have to go through it, I’ll be very happy to be here where it’s friendly and safe. Lady Ramsdell, Harrogate resident

Thanks to our preparation and planning, Harrogate’s residents and community weathered the storm. Meanwhile, our surrounding community, Lakewood, reported over $18 million in losses.

Have a plan

Deciding if you should shelter in place or evacuate during any type of storm is difficult. The Red Cross offers a pamphlet for older adults outlining strategies and suggestions to make sure you’re prepared.

Or, to leave the worry and storm preparation to us, use our contact form to schedule a personal visit. We’ll tell you about our extreme weather preparations, the long-term security of Life Care, and all the activities you can participate in at Harrogate — rain or shine.

10 Useful Downsizing Tips for Seniors

Harrogate has worked with Dina Blackwood of Finding Spaces for years to help Ocean County seniors just like you enjoy a less stressful move. Dina offers her 10 useful downsizing tips to help make your move as easy as possible.

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