Recreational Vehicle (RV) communities
Free from work and family responsibilities, some retirees get an itch to travel and decide to downsize at he same time. Many retired couples decide to sell their current home, and hit the road in a RV, letting them travel in comfort and convenience. Many make these RV’s their home, charting new courses during the spring, fall, and summer, and flying south for the winter to settle into one of the many Seniors-only RV communities.

Many seniors-only RV communities are working to appeal to a higher income bracket of world traveling retirees, and create beautifully landscaped community with upscale amenities including fitness centers, swimming pools, and close proximity to a golf course. For those seniors with the traveling itch who have rejected the idea of being tied down to one specific retirement community these upscale, seniors-only RV communities hold a tremendous appeal.

Seniors only mobile home communities
Other seniors wishing to downsize and settle down long term in a more welcoming climate and quieter community often choose a seniors-only mobile home community.

These over-55 communities often have strict rules to ensure their residents peace, quiet, and security. In many of these closed communities, children are not allowed, or visits are restricted to daytime hours, so check with the individual community if no overnights at grandma’s will be a deal breaker. Also, many of these communities have a no pet policy, so read the fine print or you might have to find a new home for Fido. Parties may also be out for those seniors who like to gather a crowd. However, some of these communities are set up with special areas or buildings for larger gatherings, and some have more family and pet friendly grounds and rules.

Choosing an RV or mobile home community
Determine what your needs and preferences are. Are you wanting to be mobile? Or just wanting to down size and find a quiet community to call home?

Cost is obviously a major determiner for many seniors who are living on pension or social security, so the kind of RV that is affordable may also determine the RV communities you might spend most of your time in, and is dependent on the amenitites each community offers. An on-line listing of seniors-only RV communities and the amenities they offer can be found athttp://www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.com/rvretirementparks.html.

Often single seniors opt to find a quiet mobile home community where they can develop friendships with other seniors. Some places prefer residents to have their own mobile home and rent the space, others have mobile homes for sale. The cost of moving a mobile home must be taken into consideration since it can get quite expensive. Some communities require an homeowner or membership fee which usually includes yard care, snowplowing (if applicable), water supply, waste disposal, access to the swimming pool, tennis court, golfing, or other amenities. Be sure to find out if these membership fees are refundable if you decide to leave, and whether or not a rental contract is required for a set time period.

Location
Where the RV or mobile home community is located is a huge decision maker for many seniors. Are you looking for a certain climate? Do you want to be close to family? Do you prefer to have easy access to shopping or to have a scenic view outside of town? Making a list of what is most important to you will help you determine which community will suit you the best.

Recommended communities
Seniors-only RV and mobile home communities generally try to set themselves apart from typical RV and mobile home communities, but finding a highly recommended site or community is advised. Seniors weigh in on their favorite or least preferred communities on this site: http://www.seniormobiles.com/index.php.

Some seniors look forward to the new sense of freedom retirement brings, others find the transition from home to mobile or community living difficult at first, but rewarding and satisfying in the end. Keeping in touch with friends, family, and former co-workers can ease this transition. Choosing a familiar city or visiting the new home and getting to know some community members several times before making your final decision will also help. Bringing those cherished keepsakes, pictures, and family heirlooms will also help make your new place more like home.

2. Social Community and Support of Other Seniors
After devoting years to work and family, many seniors have a desire to deepen relationships with their spouse or other seniors. Having time and opportunity to experience new things together and meet other seniors, brings a new sense of joy to both married and single seniors. Being surrounded with others going through a similar stage in life can bring a new sense of support and security as well as build new, tight-knit relationships that seniors long for.

3. Beautiful Grounds and Housing Without the Upkeep
Seniors still want their home and yard to be beautiful, but no longer want to devote hours every week to yard work and home maintenance. Many retirement communities relieve their seniors of these responsibilities while maintaining beautiful grounds and providing someone on-call or on-site to handle any maintenance issues.

5. Community Activities Suited to Seniors
Often the main draw for many seniors looking for a new place to call home is an active retirement community providing ample opportunity for community involvement and social activities suited to seniors. The calling card of most retirement communities is their provision for a rich social life and frequent community activities. If knitting is your thing, hop on down to the community center at 11 to join your friends for lots of laughter and social banter while you share project ideas and strategies. For the outdoor enthusiast, many retirement communities either contain, are situated near, or provide full access to golfing, swimming, tennis, hiking/cycling trails, or other outdoor activities.

So many seniors are choosing to enjoy their retirement years in the comfort of retirement centers, and for good reason. After year of hard work, it’s time to enjoy life a little. And it’s time to spend time on the things that really matter: building relationships.

Here’s a common scenario: a senior begins to have trouble with IADL’s (Instrumental Activities for Daily Living) like cooking and driving. his eyesight is wearing down, and he gets tired too quickly to stand for an hour in the kitchen. The family gets really concerned. They’re not close enough to help him, so they reach for a phone book to find an Assisted Living Home.

If you are one of those family members, you might be overreacting. Does your parent or grandparent’s limitations actually warrant full- time care? Or is there another way to help manage his newfound limitations?

■ Meals-on-Wheels is a national program that offers home delivery of lunches to seniors who are not able to drive themselves. This is an excellent program, and one that is perfect for elders who need assistance but not supervision.

■ Friendly visitor programsSometimes a senior citizen just needs a ride to the supermarket and a friendly conversation to remind him that he isn’t alone. The Friendly Visitor program is designed with that kind of person in mind–a person who does not have family living close by, but who needs the benefits that come from personal contact. These volunteers are good people who want to help however they can.

■ Senior centers Sometimes we are quick to overlook Senior Centers as a healthy, vibrant part of the senior community. Not only are senior centers fun places to network and develop a social life, they are also hubs for all kinds of Elder Care information, including these very valuable Volunteer Services and many, many others. Could your loved one use these services? Would meal deliveries and friendly visitors help to minimize his impairments? Would a senior center help him find new avenues for friendship and functionality? If so, then you should probably take a breath and HOLD OFF on the Assisted Living Option. After all, if there is a way for him to maintain his independence, don’t you owe it to him to help him do that?

Last time I saw him and grandma, they had moved into an assisted
living community. It was sad to see them out of their house, but I was
glad to see that he had started using computers. Alot. He showed me a
website where he has connected with his old military buddies who had
also served on a nondescript North Pacific island during the war. The
men reminisced, swapping old pictures and stories that only they could
fully appreciate.

His computer use certainly doesn’t stop there. Grandpa constantly uses
email, and is always on the prowl for some useful bit of information
on the web, from new developments in technology to the latest
conspiracy theories abroad.

According to a recent study by the PEW Research center, my grandpa
isn’t alone. Internet use by seniors is dramatically on the rise.
Acquisition of high speed internet connections rose from 26% to 45%
among seniors ages 70-76. That’s a rise of nearly 80%, easily the
highest of any demographic.

The biggest draw into the digital age might be data speed increases.
With broadband, seniors are able to use Skype or iChat to talk face to
face with their grandchildren. That is reason enough for some seniors
to buy a computer in the first place! And beyond webcams, who has time
to get bored with 15 Mbps transfer rates?

Getting your loved one connected may take a bit of arm twisting, but
it can yield big benefits. One study showed depression showed a 20%
drop in senior depression among those who are active on the internet.
Before you dismiss that, just think about how much it can lift your
spirits to connect with your friends and family. For someone who can
hardly see and who can’t get out anymore, the effect is doubled.

If you’re trying to convince your loved one that they ought to get
online, don’t go for the “limitless possibilities” angle. That works
for you and I, but it won’t likely work for them. What does work is
the relationship angle. Our generation puts a higher value on
entertainment than relationship. Not so with our parents and
grandparents. Let them see the possibilities to reconnect with
friends, stay current with family, and make new friends who can relate
to their past experiences and current situations.

Then, make the process as simple as it can possibly get. Get as many
icons off the desktop as you can. Increase font and icon size, and
adjust the brightness and contrast (this is the only way my grandpa
can read anything). Hook up the camera and set up a Skype or iChat
account, and make sure their usernames and passwords are saved and
will be entered automatically. Then, help them find avenues for
networking. Get their Facebook account up and running. Show them how
to add pictures with a click, and how to search for old classmates.

Caregiving is an exhausting job. Many family members who care for
their loved one in their own home never get a break. Daily errands
which would be routine for the rest of us–shopping, going to the
bank, taking the kids to soccer practice–can become all but
impossible for a caregiver. That’s where Respite Care come in. To give
the primary care-giver a break. It could be for just a few hours or it
could be all day. Whatever the schedule, respite care is, by
definition, part time. Respite Care-Givers are usually nurses, but
don’t have to be. Some services will send their care-givers to your
home while others offer their own facilities for you to drop your
loved one off at. Adult Day Care facilities often come into play here.


Respite Care Services are often called on for loved ones who suffer
from Alzheimers or Dementia and cannot be left alone. But this is not
always the case. It can also be helpful for those who have trouble
moving around or have scheduled medication that needs to be
administered. These services are generally much more affordable than
other types of elder care. I live in Texas and have seen several Dementia
and Alzheimer’s care facilities pop up in the East Texas area. Depending on
how bad the elderly disease has become you may be able to continue to have
your loved one cared for from yours or their home.

So how do you choose a Respite Care Service? First, evaluate your
locational needs. Would it be easier for you if a caregiver looked
after your loved one at home or somewhere else? In many cases, the at-
home option would be easier for your loved one, who could stay in the
same familiar, safe environment.


But sometimes this is not an option, especially for those busy home-
makers who desperately need a quiet house for a few hours to do that
much-needed housework. And for the busy, on-the-go caregiver who has
to spend most of the day running around in town anyway, it might be
easier to drop your loved one off at a proven, safe environment, and
not have to worry about how the house looks, etc. This is also a good
option for those seniors who crave a change of scenery.

Whatever your specific needs, it might be time to look into Respite
Care. It could just help you, the caregiver, avoid burnout.

Houston Elder Care Directory

Tyler Texas Elder Care Directory

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