[Army Guy]

My Dad (84) suffered a major iso-stroke on 14 Feb, currently he is in the medium term Rehab Center in NJ where they both live. He is making recovery during the process, but as you know, recovery from this type stroke is slow and the odds of him being 100% again are very slim if at all. With that being said, my parents have expressed their desire to FINALLY move from NJ to TV or the area. Now here comes where I need help, as many of you know I am still not retired yet from the Army, and stationed in Alabama. I am trying to research Assisted Living Places in the TV area. We are coming down later this week and check out Freedom Pointe, but that is the only one we know of at present. Now if my Dad makes a better recovery, we will just get them a small CYV or Patio Home. But we need to be ready for assisted living also.
Thank-you all in advance!

Army Guy

Army Guy

Have same issue. If your parents are recovered well enough to have own home, you are all set. If not, there is Independent Living versus Assisted Living.

Independent = small apartment but group meals and activities.

Assisted = usually shared room/apt. and assistance with daily requirements, such as remembering meds, getting showers, etc.

There is a brand new Independent facility being built right now close to Walmarts on 466. It is run by the Hawthorne Group, a large retirement community developer. The name of it is Steeplechase. I have their floor plans but still waiting for official price list.. They do not require entrance fees, like Freedom Pointe. Their monthly fees are projected to be from $2500 to $4000 (depending up size). Do NOT quote me on those fees, they are strictly second hand info. I am still awaiting the official list from builder.

There is an assisted living place near Home Depot on 466: Springs of Lady Lake 352-259-0016. I visited this place and it is small and rooms are small. That is not necessarily a bad thing. The people living there looked well cared for and the place looked clean. It was also much lower in price than Freedom Pointe and no entrance fee. The monthly fee is determined by how much assistance is required.

My Mom lives in an Independent facility now (we are in Northeast) and she is happy. She enjoys the activities, meals and when she wants it, her privacy. I had to do some research to find a place where entrance fees are low or non-existent, so you may consider doing same. Hope this helps.

There is another place for assisted living called Village of Homewood, run by Brookdale (same people who run Freedom Pointe).
I have not visited this facility, so can offer no opinons. Their phone number is 352-755-3800.

[bkcunningham1]

Army Guy, first, may I express my sincere thanks to you and your family for your contributions and service to me and my fellow Americans. So, without any first hand knowledge of assisted living in Florida, I want to try to give you some help the only way I know how. My Dad turned 90 on 9/11, and by the Grace of God, he's independent but has assistance, if needed, from next-door-neighbor family members. If I were in your situation, I'd research and talk to anyone and everyone including social workers at the facility where he is currently residing. Here are some starting points for research:

http://www.alfa.org/assnfe/CompanySe...E=&FORM=Search

http://www.brookdaleliving.com/searc...A&rad=50&care=

http://www.alfa.org/alfa/Glossary_of...SnID=616128781

http://www.alfa.org/alfa/Assessing_C...SnID=616128781

[Army Guy]

Salpal, bkcunningham1, thank-you for the info. He has only been in the Rehab Center for alomost a week and we have the initial review evaluation tomorrow with results to be briefed to me & my Mom later this week. Once we have that we will be better able to see what he will need and hence what type living area and/or help they will need. My Dad is a fighter, he will do every thing in his power to recover as much as he can, so his attitude is VERY positive.
This week while we ar dwon in TV, our main goal is visit some to as you say get an idea which ones look good, etc then after the evaluation results look at prices.
He is a Korean War Vet so I know from some internet sites that VA will pay some of the fee. Just not sure how much, but every little bit helps.

Thank-you all again for the help so far.
Army Guy

[bkcunningham1]

I know you have enough on your plate, but browse this info on VA benefits for assisted living when you get a chance. You probably need to get the ball rolling, it may take awhile for the paperwork to get processed. Best wishes, bk

https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg...p?p_faqid=1088

http://www.alfa.org/images/alfa/Toolkits/VAToolkit.pdf

[mfp509]

Corrected to Summerfield Suites on 441 near Stonecrest.

[TrudyM]

I gave 24 hour care to my mom for 9 years. Don't consider doing it yourself, I loved my mom and had a very supportive husband, that said I feel like I lost half my life and had trouble re-entering the world after (I only left the house every other weekend.)

However, IF the long term outlook is good,and if your mom is there to call in an emergency, you could consider home health aid assistance. I don't know if medicare still covers it but they did within limits. We had a nurse once a week to start and then every month and a bath aide twice a week. (Then we paid her on the side to come in an additional day.) The nurse did an evaluation and sent it to the doctor, and ordered anything else needed (ie fisical thearapy, tried to sign me up for a shrink) The bath aid would bathe and groom and even run through the exercises that my mom was suppose to do. That said make sure your mom doesn't say "Oh I can do that" " or let them think you have money" or all of a sudden the help stops. I have been told the level of assistance varies widely across the US. we where in King Co Washinton state and it was good. There are differenct levels of certification for these people, the base level being CNA. If you hire someone never accept anyone without at least a CNA certification. If the patient is on a schedule II narcotic (my mom was) only a nurse or family member can dispense. If you hire someone they will clean, prepare meals, do the dishes etc. as well as care for the patient, this would give your mom a break.

keep on trucking this may be a long road ahead

Hope this helps

[linko38]

I live in Stonecrest and we have a place called Summerfield Suites assisted living. Right off 441. By the Suntrust bank. It's kind of tucked in the back after you go through the Northgate.

[kfierle]

Since your father is a veteran, check out this site and click on The A&A Program button on the left. Lots of good info about getting assistance for a verteran and spouse who need assistance in their later years.

http://www.veteranaid.org/

My father was in Independent living for 1 1/2 years before he passed away. I found this site about 6 months later and wish I has know that he could have had assistance because he was a veteran.

I hope you father has a speedy recovery.

[golfnut]

best wishes to a speedy recovery for dad army guy, more often than not the will to live is the most important ingredient and it sounds like he has a great chance given his attitude, just like you, i think dad will do just fine, i am sure he will be very happy in TV...gn

[mfp509]

My mistake on earlier post - it is Summerfield Suites on 441 near Stonecrest.

[Army Guy]

Thank-you all! You all are the GREATEST!!
I have printed the info off and will carry with us tonight when we come down so I can research the rest of the week while in TV.
Thank-you again!
Army Guy

[KathieI]

AG, hope to see you when you get here. I recently did a lot of investigation into Assisted Living facilities near TV for my 93 year old dad and have some business cards of people that you can call directly. I checked Summerfield (near Stonecrest) and Homewood facility (near Leesburg Reg Hosp) and both were very nice. I also have a card of a volunteer who will assist you in applying for veterans assistance. He is a nice guy and apparently will do a lot of the investigation for you. I'll pm you my phone # in case you don't have it so I can give you these names. Unfortunately, my dad decided to stay in independent living facility near Tampa but he's so far from me and I miss him a lot. I'm used to seeing him every day for the past 25 years that he was living with me.

I pray for your dad's speedy recovery. My experience is these guys are strong and when they feel the tremendous support given by us, it helps them pull through even more.

Have a safe trip down and we'll see you soon, I hope... Kath

[Army Guy]

Thanks Kathie, I just PM'd you back! I can use all the help I can get!

Army Guy