Sep/10

When disabled young adults need assisted living facilities, are they usually mixed with the senior citizens?

7 Comments · Posted by admin in Senior Living Facilities

Question by dakuwanga08: When disabled young adults need assisted living facilities, are they usually mixed with the senior citizens?
In other words, when disabled young adults want to live on their own, and need an assisted living facility to do it, are there separate facilities with mostly young people, or are they mixed in with the elderly in the local assisted living/retirement facility?
I’m physically handicapped, and after I finish college, I want to live on my own. Is this an unreasonable concern?
i don’t have the time right now, but i’ll explain more about my disability when i get the chance.

Best answer:

Answer by sophieb
I doubt very much if they are mixed in with seniors. There are always ads placed with the disabilities organizations wherein 2 people with disabilities get together and have their own apartment. The problem I see that occurs though is that if they aren’t “earning” (because benefits are low) then where they get government assistance to live by themself or with someone is usually in a not-so-good neighborhood. They would be better off to live with parents or family. Depends, since you didn’t say your disability I don’t know if what you need is a universal style apartment, or if your need is a medical staff nearby, or if you need assistance with certain things. Assisted living can be anything from them just giving you your meds daily, to making meals, or moving a person back and forth to and from a bed. It’s such a large range of things. So I don’t know what to advise you.

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Pataki proposes safeguards for seniors. (Feature Section: Health Care & Stress Relief).: An article from: Westchester County Business Journal

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Title: Pataki proposes safeguards for seniors. (Feature Section: Health Care & Stress Relief).
Publication: Westchester County Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 28, 2003
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adults · Assisted · citizens · disabled · Facilities · Living · mixed · need · Senior · They · usually · young

7 comments

chiliswoman · September 5, 2010 at 11:04 am

Sadly, if you are thinking of assisted living you have essentially two options – live with people with cognitive disabilities or with seniors. There is very little in the way of assisted living for young people who need self-care assistance strictly for physical needs.

Assisted housing can be mixed – disabled and seniors, or just for seniors. It depends on how the complex was funded and is not an arbitrary decision. There is no funding stream at this time for complexes that are exclusively for people with physical disabilities.

You best option is to find a few people with similar needs as you, share a home, and share a care assistant. Another good option is to share with a person who is physically able bodied, but has cognitive disabilities – between the two of you – you can do most things.
MICHAEL G · September 5, 2010 at 11:26 am

I expressed a desire to be accommodated with my peers, and the local housing association,( Sanctuary Housing)( Kent UK)) and they could not have been more helpful.

I can but apologise if i have offered info not relevant to you, because you live outside the UK. Perhaps the best advice I can offer is indicate your preference firmly , but politely, I am sure that Housing Officers the world over make a point of not busting a gut responding to the demands of an over assertive disabled person. I feel certain that if you remain polite and are not too vociferous about the length of the waiting list. things will go your way. Very best of luck
thebigz · September 5, 2010 at 11:39 am

I can only tell you what it is like here in Florida – and i hate to say it but they mix the young challanged with the elderly a lot
it is very difficult living when you are in your 20’s 30’s 40’s 50’s and being put into a room with someone in their 70-90’s
and that is the way it is
MominOC · September 5, 2010 at 12:33 pm

People are obviously placed in assisted living for a reason… They need assistance! In order to get the assistance, the living environment should be equipped with staff who are specifically trained to accommodate and care for “their” particular clientele. So if you look at this hypothetical scenario, how likely is is that people who are strictly trained to work with mentally ill people would be ready to switch and work with blind people and vice verse.There’s a big difference between elderly and adolescences. And aside from that, regardless of age, one can only assist if they are properly trained and training is “specific”. It’s doubtful that there would be such a place that combines anyone and everyone who needs help and if there was, it should make you wonder”How do they address specific needs”. Say the answer is no, there are various types of assisted living and they tend to be very specific to an individuals needs. Needless to say, it usually takes time,work, and effort to find the right place. And there are advocates that can help you with this if you need it.
But where do you live? I can only base an answer on the areas I know.
Steve Kirk · September 5, 2010 at 1:05 pm

You did not say which state you live in. Unfortunately, services vary from state to state and also based on your financial situation and care needs. Facilities strictly for youthful disabled persons are generally few in number with long waiting lists. If your funding source is Medicaid, and you need significant help with your ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living), you are more likely to find residence in a nursing facility intermingled with the elderly. If you have some private or personal funds, your chances are better in finding a small group home or private home dedicated to younger residents. Here is a web site to start with in your search: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=113. It is a Federal Government site. With computer access, you could search for “Housing for Persons With Disabilities in **insert your State**”. There are also other resources on my web site: http://www.theperfectsense.com. Good luck.
ericabishop691 · September 5, 2010 at 1:50 pm

it would depend on the place where they live. In Va. they would be placed with elderly because of the nature of the disability and here, the mindset is, if they are disabled they are in the same boat as an elderly person, especially if they are in a wheelchair/ scooter/ ect.
Dinah · September 5, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Assisted living is for all ages, young, middle and senior.