What Is A Life Changing Amount Of Money

Life Changes for Senior Citizens

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With age comes different lifestyle choices and requirements, and this is especially true for senior citizens. This includes everything from finding the right dental plan to researching affordable living. For seniors, this can be a daunting and sometimes overwhelming task. But if the right fit is found, it can be extremely beneficial to the individual's overall standard of living. Some opportunities that are catered towards this age group offer plenty of great opportunities to continue exploring the world around them.

Finding a New Dental Plan

Dental hygiene is extremely important and does not change with age. What does change, however, is how susceptible one is to dental diseases and how teeth sensitivity dramatically decreases. This makes it much easier for dental issues to occur as they aren't as quickly noticed. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, those on Medicare A & B are not covered for regular exams, cleanings, fillings and other dental work and will need to pay out of pocket.

There are dental plans that can be added on to Medicare such as the Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Part C. This covers routine dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.

Another option is to get the supplemental insurance to Medicare, Medigap. This helps cover deductibles and coinsurance costs, but can only be added if they are already part of Medicare Part A & B. Those that choose this option pay a monthly premium for the insurance and Medicare and Medigap fill in the rest.

Then there is the standalone insurance option which involves paying a monthly premium and lower out of pocket fees. Another route is to see if you are covered by your spouse's dental plan through their employer. There are plenty of dental plans for seniors that are available so it is just a matter of finding the one that fits your needs.

Living Independently

Many may wish to continue staying in their own place as they age and avoid going to nursing homes. It is important to find the best place for seniors to live and independent living for seniors can be a great option. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have various funding programs, one of which is the Senior Housing Program, created to assist seniors in rent, home ownership and assistive services.

Adapting the Home

Choosing to live in a home or an apartment rather than a nursing home, for example, can require numerous adaptations to the home, especially if there are disabilities that need to be taken into consideration. Some changes may include widening of doorways and passageways, adding a railing and possibly a chair lift for seniors and replacing the current bathroom to have a raised toilet and bathtubs. Seniors all have different needs so plan ahead and consider the current and potential renovations that may need to be made.

Bringing in a Caregiver

Not only are there physical changes that need to be made to the home, but home assistance may also be necessary. It can be overwhelming for children to try and balance raising their own children, working a demanding job and tending to the needs of their parents. There are caregivers for seniors that could be a good option. They can look after daily activities the senior may need help with as well as feeding, grooming, bathroom assistance and basic housekeeping. For seniors, this can be a lot of change, but hopefully for the better.

Taking Up a New Hobby

Those that live in a senior community have many benefits. There is a higher chance that there will be activities for seniors at centers in the local area. These events could include group walks, picnics, arts and crafts classes, computer classes, dance lesson and maybe even fitness classes. Check the activity calendar for seniors within the county and see what new hobbies sound interesting. It is never too late to start something new.

Food Assistance

It can be extremely expensive to stay in a nursing home or invest in adapting the home. Some seniors may even find it difficult to finance their next meal. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal food assistance program that focuses on helping low-income Americans. This is linked to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which runs a food delivery service that is offered to those living with chronic illnesses or disabilities which make it difficult to cook for themselves. This is a free meal for seniors and is delivered right to their door.