Nursing Home Costs in Oklahoma and How to Pay for Them

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Let's be clear: no one wishes to move themselves or a loved one into a nursing home. But the time may comes when - with other options exhausted - health concerns demand such a move, either to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Contact Judie for Help in Buying or Selling an Oklahoma City House

As an Oklahoma City real estate agent, part of my job entails helping seniors or their caregiver families sell a family home and prepare for such a late-in-life transition.

I came across this good graphic that details the approximate costs associated with nursing home care and/or home health care.

My Website Has More Info on the Different Types of Senior Housing Options

Those are some pretty significant numbers.

As a Certified Senior Housing Professional, ( a real estate agent who's specially trained to help seniors and their caregiver families) another part of my job is focused on educating seniors and their families on all available options, including the possibility of employing age-in-place techniques to allow a senior to remain in their home for as long as possible.

I also have vetted a resource team of other professionals in the area who provide senior-focused services (like elder law attorneys, tax specialists, estate sales, and more) and can help in the effort to either remain in the family home - independently - for as long as possible, or prepare for a move to a retirement community, a smaller apartment, or whatever the situation dictates.

Information from Oklahoma's News 9 on How to Pay for a Nursing Home

Regardless of your situation or that of your loved one, I hope you'll contact me for advice on your unique set of circumstances. If you need help in selling an Oklahoma house, I'll be happy to help with that.

However, I'll also be happy to simply provide a set of ears and offer no-obligation advice. Just let me know how I may hep.

Contact Judie for Advice

My Featured House for Sale: 821 N Peniel St, Oklahoma City, OK 73127

The Sandwich Generation: Help for Oklahoma City Baby Boomers with Older Parents

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Do you belong to the "Sandwich Generation?"

The Sandwich Generation (typically those between 40 and 60) makes up a huge part of the Baby Boomer demographic in Oklahoma and also includes those people who are 10 years or more TOO young to be considered a Baby Boomer. The Pew Research Center says that one out of every eight Americans (thus one of every eight Oklahomans) is responsible for the care of both their parent and child.

Contact Judie S. for Advice if You're Feeling "Sandwiched"

One member of the Sandwich Generation may be 59, living in Edmond, and caring for a 90 year-old parent. Meanwhile, they're paying tuition and costs for a 20 year-old daughter attending Oklahoma State University.

Another may be 47 and caring for a 77 year-old mother in Moore suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's. In their spare time, they juggle the activities of a a 9 year-old daughter in OKC.

If you're a member of the Sandwich Generation and are feeling sandwiched and pressed to the extreme, keep in mind that help is available. 

As a Certified Senior Housing Professional, (an Oklahoma City real estate agent trained to help senior citizens and baby boomers) part of my job is to help boomers and seniors understand their options in senior housing, while also directing the family caregivers to other senior-focused professionals in Oklahoma – businesses I have personally vetted and can recommend for their quality.

In other words, while I'm certainly available to help boomers and seniors in selling or buying a house in Harrah or anywhere in the area, I'm also happy to meet with family caregivers and share with you what I've learned about helping elderly parents in Oklahoma City. It's not about requiring that you hire me as a Realtor or even have a need to sell a house. My goal is to build relationships and help where I can. It's what makes me happy and gives purpose to my day. It's why I've spent so much time gaining education and expertise in how to help baby boomers and senior through late-in-life transitions and moves.

Contact Me for a Chat, Advice, or to Schedule a Meeting

My Featured Oklahoma City House for Sale: 821 N Peniel St, Oklahoma City, OK 73127

The Judie S. Business Review: Affiliated Movers of Oklahoma City

As an Oklahoma City real estate agent I regularly come across other professionals who do an excellent job for their clients.

One of those is Affiliated Movers of Oklahoma City, a company that I refer clients to based on my past experience with them and their quality approach to providing diligent moving services in OKC.

Buy or Sell an Oklahoma City House: Contact Judie Schwerdtfeger for a No-Obligation Chat

And, as a Realtor who often specializes in helping seniors and baby boomers transition through late-in-life moves, I value Affiliated Movers as part of the resource team I am building of professional service providers in the area. It's important to me that I'm able to refer my real estate clients to reliable providers in a number of different sectors pertaining to seniors, boomers, and a move to new housing.

Affiliated Movers is a family-owned business that has served Oklahoma for more than 30 years. I regularly work with Nathan - tell him I said he is a rock star in the moving world! He really is and does a fantastic job for me and my clients.

Affiliated provides both local and long distance moving and full service packing and storage.

The fact that they offer special discounts for Seniors on the Move also makes me especially happy! And, as members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers, they have a thorough understanding of the specific issues faced by seniors and boomers when they launch the task of a late-in-life move.

Visit Their Website

Thank you for your excellent work, Affiliated Movers of Oklahoma City!

My Featured Edmond, Oklahoma House for Sale: 1209 Copper Rock Dr, Edmond, OK 73025

Watch Oklahoma City Videos: Information on Retiring or Moving To Oklahoma

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Forbes Magazine has rated Oklahoma City "One of the 25 Best Places to Retire in 2014." Of course, as a proud resident of Oklahoma City (and yes, also as an Oklahoma real estate agent who specializes in helping baby boomers and seniors downsize and move to new homes) I think this is fantastic news and very enlightening! Thank you Forbes Magazine for recognizing the gem that is our fine community.

Forbes cited our good economy, a cost of living that's 7% below the national average, a typical home price of $161,000, and a good state tax climate among the reasons that boomers and seniors should consider making Oklahoma City their home.

See the Forbes Magazine Piece Here

I thought I'd put together a blog post with a collection of short videos that showcase some of the great things about Oklahoma City.

Contact Me, Judie Schwerdtfeger, for a No-Obligation Analysis on Buying or Selling a House in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Videos

The website below, GreaterOKC.tv is a project of the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership and the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. It has literally hundreds of videos showcasing various communities, restaurants, recreational activities, museums, arts, the waterfront, and plenty more in OKC.

GreaterOKC.TV

Ride along on a motorized tour of Oklahoma City that follows the planned streetcar route for our community.

Bricktown

Living Downtown in Oklahoma City

Edmond

If you're interested in learning more about retiring to Oklahoma City or - regardless of your age - if you're interested in buying or selling a house in our fantastic town, I hope you'll reach out to me - Judie Schwerdtfeger - for more information, advice, a chat, or even a no-obligation analysis of your options.

Contact Me

Oklahoma City House for Sale: 821 N Peniel St, Oklahoma City, OK 73127

Resources for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Family caregivers - those who take care of an older Oklahoman - do amazing work. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional - a real estate agent who helps those family caregivers and seniors in the sale of a family home and move to a new phase of life - I regularly come across folks who are engaged in this stressful (yet so important!) part of life.

Real Estate Services and Advice for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

It's part of my job to know as much as possible about things that can make life a bit better and easier for both those caregivers and their loved ones. I wanted to use this blog post to provide information on some of the community resources available to family caregivers across Oklahoma.

The Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program

Respite vouchers help family caregivers in Oklahoma pay someone who has temporarily taken their place as a care provider. The Oklahoma Contracts and Coalition Unit of Aging Services provides vouchers to caregivers who are not eligible for other respite programs.

Contact:

Eleanor Kurtz

Programs Administrator

Phone:    (405) 521-4358    

Fax:       (405) 522-6738

The Voucher Respite Program

This is a voucher respite payment program for caregivers caring fulltime for older adults in Oklahoma with developmental disabilities.

Oklahoma Adult Day Services

Oklahoma City Adult Day Services is a community-based program designed to meet the needs of functionally impaired older persons, generally those aged 60 and over, through an individualized plan of care. The program assists participants to remain in the community, enabling families and other caregivers to continue caring for a senior adult at home.

ADvantage Services of Oklahoma

The ADvantage Program of the Home-and Community-Based Services provides Medicaid services to help people stay at home instead of going to a nursing home. The program assists frail elders and adults who have physical disabilities. The senior must first qualify for Medicaid.

Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Caregiver Support

National VA Caregiver Support Website

Oklahoma City VA Medical Center

If you're the family caregiver of a veteran in Oklahoma, the Veterans Administration provides a wide variety of resources to help not only the veteran, but also YOU - the family caregiver of a veteran. These include respite programs, the free, online workshop "Building Better Caregivers," and plenty of other assistance.


The caregiver Support Coordinators at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center are:

Sandra Nikkel: 405-456-5569

Kelly White, LCSW: 405-456-5556

Oklahoma Respite Resource Network

The Oklahoma Respite Resource Network (ORRN) is a partnership  of public and private agencies 

working to improve support for families and caregivers by increasing the availability of respite care for all ages, including older adults and seniors.

Please feel free to contact me, Judie Schwerdtfeger - a Certified Senior Housing Professional - for advice on the unique needs of seniors and their families when the time comes to downsize to new housing or a new phase in life.

OKC House for Sale: 11900 Kimberlyn Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73162

Cold Weather Safety Tips for Oklahoma City Senior Citizens

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

While we're clearly used to cold winter conditions in Oklahoma, the nasty temperatures recently have been especially painful. I thought it was worth a reminder that we all need to be extra careful and to pay special attention to the elderly in our communities. Please be kind and check in on your parents, senior family members, and older Oklahoma City neighbors and friends.

Contact Judie S. for Advice on Buying or Selling an Oklahoma City House

Tips on Senior Citizen Winter Safety 

Changes that come with aging can make it harder for you to be aware of getting cold.

Wear several layers of loose clothing when it's cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Don't wear tight clothing because it can keep your blood from flowing freely. This can lead to loss of body heat.

Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some medicines used by older people can increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. These include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or nausea. Some over-the-counter cold remedies can also cause problems.

When the temperature has dropped, drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.

Health Problems

Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. These include problems with your body's hormone system such as low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), health problems that keep blood from flowing normally (like diabetes), and some skin problems where your body loses more heat than normal.

Did You Know That:

Those over the age of 65 account for nearly half of all hypothermia deaths. As the body ages, the ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature decreases, creating an insensitivity to moderately cold temperatures. Seniors may not realize they are putting themselves at risk until symptoms appear. Symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is necessary.

Fire Safety in Oklahoma City

Cold weather heightens the risk of house fires as we all strive to find more ways to stay warm. Here's what to avoid:

Never use a stove or oven to heat the home.

If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.

If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.

Don't hook a generator up to the home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

Oklahoma City House for Sale: 4124 Cherry Hill Lane, Oklahoma City, OK

Should Your Oklahoma Senior Citizen Parents Live Alone? How to Evaluate Their Safety During a Holiday Visit

The holiday season brings on family gatherings galore for many people in Oklahoma City. Maybe for the only time each year- especially if they live far away - younger family members spend lots of time with their senior parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents.

It's a time when those younger family members first begin to notice a decline in older loved ones. In fact, senior retirement communities and assisted living facilities across Oklahoma (from Moore to Harrah to Edmond) often notice an increase in inquiries from concerned family members after the holidays are finished.

Have Questions About Seniors and Oklahoma Real Estate? Contact Judie Schwerdtfeger for a No-Obligation Chat

As a Certified Senior Housing Professional - and an Oklahoma City Realtor who specializes in real estate services for seniors - I've spoken with many distressed family members who have confided their worries to me.

I've put together this list of things to look for if you believe that an older family member is facing safety issues while living alone.

6 Ways to Evaluate a Senior Citizen's Safety During a Holiday Visit

Medication:

Are they taking their meds as prescribed? Is their pillbox organized and up-to-date? if not, regular visits from a home health provider may be useful.

Housekeeping:

Housework and general maintenance is often the first thing to be neglected when an elderly parent begins to suffer a decline in health or mobility. Again, a senior health service that provides basic housekeeping may be helpful.

Loss of Memory or Other Cognitive Depreciation

As a family member, it's up to you to consider how serious this issue is. Obviously, some loss of memory and brain function is to be expected, so don't jump to conclusions just because Mom is forgetful. However, it's a trend that bears monitoring and you should pay attention to see whether the cognitive function loss is a serious safety issue or not.

Socialization

Do your loved ones have a strong support system like good neighbors and friends? If not, understand that seniors on the decline tend to isolate. Those with strong social networks are happier, healthier, and safer.

Safety Issues

Is your family member beginning to have trouble navigating their home? Are staircases, steps, and bathtubs posing a danger? What about throw rugs and strips that may be tripping dangers? Are there fire hazards in the kitchen?

Concerned family members can help alleviate some of these dangers, and a variety of age-in-place techniques (including either major or minor remodeling) can also serve to minimize threats in the household.

By User:Aude (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Nutrition

Is your loved one eating properly? Be sure and scan the refrigerator and pantries. Are they well-stocked? If not, your family member may be having difficulty getting out of the house and navigating the streets of Oklahoma City to make it to the grocery. Or, they may just flat out forget to. Home health providers may also be of assistance in this regard.

These are just a few of the points to consider if you worry that a loved one may be sacrificing safety in living independently. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional in Oklahoma, I'll be happy to offer you advice, answer questions, and help you understand options if you need to consider moving a loved one from one home to another.

Contact me here for a no-obligation chat.

Edmond, Oklahoma House for Sale

Contact Judie S. to Schedule a Showing