Quote:
Originally Posted by DaddyD
I appreciate the suggestion, but thankfully I'm (hopefully!) a few decades away from needing an independent or assisted living facility, and who knows
But even if a solo ager were to move into Freedom Pointe (or similar facility) that still only solves half the problem. Sure, the staff there will take care of a person's basic physical needs, but they won't help with paying bills, managing investment, managing health care amongst a variety of doctors, being a health care advocate for the resident, etc..
There are still a ton of problems / issues that need to be managed that fall outside of the services provided by the staff at any independent/assisted living facility or nursing home.
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DD - I understand exactly what you're asking and the link provided upstring by another commenter seems like a starting point as far as understanding what currently exists in that realm. You are very smart to be thinking about this now while you have time to consider the many variables and put a plan together when not rushed to do so by ill health.
An overall advocate is what you're asking for, like you stated. If a family member or friend (either one, that you trust to be competent and honest!) is not interested then, someone would need to be hired to perform that role(s).
It's very tricky b/c once a situation reverts to where they now have legal and/or healthcare POA b/c you're incapacitated -- all bet are off. And that includes with family members.
My life observations are that most people do not handle power well. They either don't understand
the responsibility involved and don't perform the role well, or at all, or they get drunk on their assigned power and do what they want - sometimes including lifting money if they think no one will notice.
And nursing facilities? Wow, there is a financial trap if people aren't paying attention. Some of them love to pad the bills in various ways and only a caretaker paying attention and asking questions is going to avoid that. My oldest brother has been a slack caretaker of our Mother and the facility she lived in got away with gouging her out of $45,000+ while sedating the beejezus out of her, like they do the others there. Even family caretakers can be very dialed-out!
It is such a tricky situation because oldsters, particularly self-payers, are basically prey to those who'd like a piece of those assets and families don't seem to understand that. I could go on, probably have enough to write an article - a cautionary tale.
But, I don't have a specific resource to share at this time to assist you. Look at that link, above, and try some online searching using keywords like:
elderly advocate, elderly POA for hire, whatever you can think of...each string will produce somewhat different results. ALSO, give a call to a local estate attorney or two and pose your question - they might know of resources. Also, I can't imagine that AARP doesn't have resources to recommend for that.