Sharing 23 years of Frugal Retirement

[aja8888]

Wow, Imoldernu, make my bad run in the woods story kind of insignificant!

I'll bet those heavyweight ladies didn't ever get in a boat with you again!

 

[Dawg52]

Good story. Those gators would have had a feast if the boat had sunk in their backyard.

 

[travelover]

.............I'll bet those heavyweight ladies didn't ever get in a boat with you again!

I think this belongs in the "Why do people care if I'm fat" thread.

 

[imoldernu]

I may have mentioned some of my neighbors who still live alone in a Villa (regular home) in our CCRC. In particular, my next door neighbor, who is 90, is still mentally alert, but failing in strength and general health. She is mentally independent, but needs help. While her "children" aged 65+, try to help, it's becoming a struggle.

So it's coming down to reality... What to do? Wanna stay home, wanna be independent, brain works, body doesn't.

Move to a CCRC apartment?. Only works for full ability to live without any help at all. Sadly, even in the case of a fall, it's 911 emergency, and employees are not legally allowed to give aid.

Assisted living?... Yeah, maybe, but giving up the home. Assisted living is good for help with medications, help with showering, and some housekeeping. No Nursing or MD. care. This is a good alternative, but the annual rate is now commonly more than $50K.

Nursing home?... Most residents in bed. Little social interaction. Frustration.

Home health care or companion care. This is often advertised as a less costly alternative to leaving the home.

Today I visited our local Home Care corporation. While the options are wide, with respect to the type of care/companionship/housework/shopping etc.... there is no medical authority for medications, diagnosis or treatment. The minimum and usual cost is three hours at $22 per hour. The cost is the same for any of the functions, including companionship. This works for many, for extended periods, beyond recovery from a medical procedure or for the aid-family vacation... the cost can be expensive.
$528 per day.
$3700 per week.
$193,00 per year.
...........................................................................
My purpose in posting here is to share my initial thoughts about what we may be facing in the future. It's stuff we don't like to think about, but almost a necessity for a couple who is/are aging. None of this is an either /or decision, but a decision that often comes on without warning.

I'll begin a new thread for discussion. Missing link - Companion Care... for further discussion of another alternative.

 

[jazz4cash]

There was a guy on CNBC the other day with a startup that seemed to mimic Uber or Angie's List but for in-home caregivers. Seemed like it could be an option for some. The outfit was expanding from CA to TX with plans to go nationwide.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[RobbieB]

I had good experience with in home care. It's not usually needed 24/7. If you need it 24/7, you probably need a nursing home.

A typical would be arrive at 8 to get out of bed, dressed and in front of the TV. Breakfast and house clean followed by lunch and leave at one. Back at supper time (5), clean up put to bed at nine. Nine hours a day.

Patient wears one button medic alert around neck or on wrist.

 

[LitGal]

I had good experience with in home care. It's not usually needed 24/7. If you need it 24/7, you probably need a nursing home.

A typical would be arrive at 8 to get out of bed, dressed and in front of the TV. Breakfast and house clean followed by lunch and leave at one. Back at supper time (5), clean up put to bed at nine. Nine hours a day.

Patient wears one button medic alert around neck or on wrist.

+1 Yes, I have seen this work for several of my friends who have been coordinating in-home care for their parents. Also, my sister-in-law works as an RN/Geriatric Care Manager for an agency in FL that provides in-home care. She describes this as an approach that does reduce costs for families, allowing the savings to last longer.

 

[imoldernu]

checking in

Though it's been some time since my last "official visit" I have signed on as a guest to touch base from time to time, to more or less keep up with the subjects I'm interested in.

For those who may still remember my meanderings, season's greetings, and kudo's for staying the course. The forum becomes part of life, and provides a great place to trade and learn... a community that widens our circumscribed lives.

Anyway, an update:
DW and I are well into our 81st year of life, and beginning our 28th year of happy retirement. Health is okay, and we don't dwell on the infirmities that do accompany "old" age, considering the alternatives. Just checked our life expectancy (when we were born) and see were were only supposed to live to age 61, so we beat the plan by 20 years already.

Still living in our Liberty Village home in Peru and still have our lake place at Woodhaven (my "man cave"), and our Florida home in Lake Griffin Harbor, though we'll sell as soon as our kids find a permanent home in FL. They're using our place as a base while they decide. I'll go back for a week or so in January to set plans to sell.

BTW... absolutely no regrets about moving to our LV CCRC home. Carefree living, and every amenity imaginable within 3 miles.

I haven't gone to any of the financial threads, as our die is cast, and we no longer even think about money. Nice part about this is that despite our plans to "spend down" our total net worth has not changed since the beginning of our complete retirement back in 1989. Most of this good fortune has come from our expenses staying below our interests and needs. Many posts ago, on this thread, I listed what we "don't spend money on", and this hasn't changed.

Poking around the recent Social Security thread caused me to calculate how much we have received (today's dollar) since taking SS @ age 62....
DW at 1/2 of mine, the total to date is $785+K. Not an insignificant amount, considering our frugal lifestyle, and definitely the right move for us, while we were getting good returns on our savings.

That said, we were the "lucky ones", the "silent generation", when, despite the wars, it was a time of stability and gentility, and... a much slower pace.

All in all, maybe what we did by taking ER way back when, is not applicable today, but we are eternally grateful for the many years of living in a country where this was possible. I dearly hope my children and grandchildren will have the same opportunity.

 

[GravitySucks]

A Merry Christmas to you too.
And thanks for the inspirational thread.

 

[Nemo2]

That said, we were the "lucky ones", the "silent generation", when, despite the wars, it was a time of stability and gentility, and... a much slower pace.

Amen. Our next door neighbor, German born, in his late 70s, perhaps early 80s, said to me some time back "We (our age group collectively, born just before or during WWII but too young to participate in it) lived in the best possible times"......I suspect he was right.

Merry Christmas all.

 

[Alan]

Merry Christmas imoldernu, nice of you to drop in with an update

 

[mamadogmamacat]

Congratulations, imoldernu, to you and your DW, on your long happy retirement. I've been either lurking, and later joining, since 2008, and have been inspired by your story. It was among the many helps, in this forum and elsewhere, that got me to ER just under a year ago.

 

[Dreamer]

Thanks for the update, imoldernu. It is helpful to read updates from someone who has walked the walk. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

 

[Accidental Retiree]

I was just wondering where you'd gone. Thanks for the check in!

 

[NW-Bound]

Welcome back, imoldernu. I missed your boating adventure, and just read it now. What a story for your lady friends to tell about almost becoming Bubba's lunch!

 

[JoeWras]

imoldernu rocks! Thanks for the thoughtful update.

 

[aja8888]

Welcome back, imoldernu. I missed your comments and great threads. Since DW and I are a decade younger than you two, we have followed your lifestyle with great interest. Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[Teacher Terry]

Thanks so much for the update! I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Have a great holiday)

 

[Meadbh]

Great to hear from you. Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. I.

 

[unclemick]

Amen. Our next door neighbor, German born, in his late 70s, perhaps early 80s, said to me some time back "We (our age group collectively, born just before or during WWII but too young to participate in it) lived in the best possible times"......I suspect he was right.

Merry Christmas all.

I think I (now We) should add an amen also. 1943, 1947 a tad younger.

heh heh heh - Merry Christmas also.

 

[Nemo2]

I think I (now We) should add an amen also. 1943, 1947 a tad younger.

heh heh heh - Merry Christmas also.

I'm 1942, right in there with you....DW's 1952, so I don't count her.

 

[ejman]

Thank you very much. I always enjoy reading your posts and happy to see that all is well. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

 

[Bamaman]

I too enjoyed Imoldernu's #248 boating trip, as that's a great story.

Just remember that anytime you have a boat sinking or one sunk, you get a big tarp underneath the boat. Then you pump out the water and it'll float. Then tow it to where you can get it out. (Don't ask how I know.)

I have a 95 year old neighbor on the lake with a broken rear sling on his boathouse lift. His mind's great, but the legs barely work. I've got to figure out how to get his boat hull drained and out of the water.

 

[WyndChym]

Merry Christmas, imoldernu! It is always good to hear from you and I am grateful for your helpful insight.

 

[MRG]

Thank you for posting! I had a thought today wondering how you are. Glad to hear from you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.