Q: My parents relocated to Florida after they retired. They both played golf so the weather was perfect and they led very active lives. Fifteen years later both have had serious health problems, it seems the best thing for them to do is move back to this area. A social worker conducted an assessment recently of their functional status and has recommended assisted living. I want to make this as easy of a transition as possible for them but need some direction as to what I should be doing. Can you please point me in the right direction?
A: Your parents are fortunate to have a son concerned and willing to do a lot of the leg work for them. The first area to tackle is the issue of housing for them. It is a good idea to start touring assisted living facilities in the area. The basics will be the same from place to place but when it comes to amenities and the ambience of the residence you will notice considerable differences. Look at each facility through your parent's eyes and not necessarily what would appeal to you. Depending upon which facility you choose there may or may not be a wait list so you might need to consider putting off the move or think of other short term arrangements.
Health insurance and prescription drug plans are another vital concern. If your parents have coverage through a retirement plan it may be portable and there will be no interruption in benefits. If they have a plan purchased in their current state of residency, it may pertain to that region exclusively. You can find a list of plans available by contacting the Insurance Commission in Boston or speaking with a SHINE counselor locally. Since they will be relocating, there shouldn't be any problem with enrolling even though it is not open enrollment season.
Finding a physician will be a priority for a couple who both have health problems. Ask friends, relatives and neighbors for someone they would recommend or call the physician referral line located at most large health care facilities. If your parent's previous physician is still practicing, this may be the perfect solution but make sure they are comfortable resuming the relationship.
One of the biggest chores will be handling all the arrangements for the physical move of their belongings. Decisions will need to be made regarding how much of their possessions will be coming back with them and what will be sold or donated. If you are not able to take the time to handle all of the tasks on your own and it doesn't sound reasonable for them to handle the work, it might make sense to hire a move specialist. A professional can take care of all the minor details and has the contacts to make this an easy transition for everyone involved. You will think of other issues as you progress but these are the priorities to get you started.
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Rosanne DiStefano works for Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. Contact her at ro@esmv.org or 1-800-892-0890.
