TRANSITIONING FROM
INDEPENDENT TO
ASSISTED LIVING
By Steven V. Greenstein
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 119
O ne of the most
difficult and
challenging
times is when
a couple is transitioning
from an independent
lifestyle to assisted living
as their health begins
to decline. The key to
a successful transition
is to be proactive and
have a plan in place,
rather than be reactive
to a crisis after it
arises. Trying to find a
place that meets your
personal, social and
medical requirements
and assessing the future
cost are highly personal
decisions based on your individual needs,
wants and wishes.
Finding suitable living arrangements as
a couple when you have varying personal
and social needs and drastically different
health situations creates additional and
compounding challenges. As a general
rule, the spouse who needs the higher
level of medical care will dictate the type
of senior living arrangement that is best
suited to accommodate those needs. At
the same time, the healthier, more mobile,
and perhaps more sociable spouse must
also ensure that there are appealing and
fulfilling leisure activities that will point
to a pleasurable quality of life.
The possibility of aging in place at home
with professional home health aides who
can supply everything from basic care
needs to rehabilitative care, or round-theclock
skilled nursing care for the medically
needy spouse should be considered. The
goal is to also alleviate the burden on
the healthier spouse for caregiving and
medical attention. Another popular choice
for couples with varying needs to explore
is a continuing care retirement community.
A couple can move in together, but if one
spouse needs to move to a higher care
living facility on the campus, the couple is
still close enough to see each other every
day, while the healthier spouse can enjoy
the social benefits and leisure activities in
the community.
So, for couples who are in the process
of planning future living arrangements
together, the best way to make the most
successful decisions
possible is to research
your options in
advance, identify and
discuss your individual
and shared social,
emotional and health
needs, and honestly
assess the potential
probability of future
health changes before
they arise. Reaching a
final decision for couples
with differing needs is a
balancing act that comes
down to prioritizing the
wants and wishes of two
individuals who want to
stay together, but who
are at different places
in their lives. The process works best
with open and honest communication,
reaching for compromise and recognizing
the importance of the love and respect that
has kept you together for all these years. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information
about future care needs, a wealth services
adviser at the Tampa Bay Trust Company
can help you understand your options and
introduce you to professionals for guidance
and support. The Tampa Bay Trust Company
provides family office and wealth management
services to high net worth individuals, families,
businesses, foundations and endowments.
They have offices in Tampa Bay, Belleair
Bluffs-Clearwater and Tarpon Springs,
tampabaytrustcompany.com.
SENIOR LIVING
The spouse who needs the higher level of medical care will dictate the senior living
arrangement that is best suited for the couple.
/tampabaytrustcompany.com