Anybody here in Assisted Living?

[CTyankee]

We are considering going into a Masonicare residency with independent living but with an eye on assisted living when that becomes necessary. The residence has transportation to doctors' appointments as part of their service to you as a resident.

My question is about our car, which we currently lease. The lease is not up until May 26, 2027. We use it less and leas since I now have groceries delivered and don't need the car except for doctors' appointments.

Has anyone here faced this issue with folks in their families or who may be in assisted living already?

[FadedMullet]

1. We are in a Catholic Charities independent living situation that will evolve into assisted care too. We have kept.....

........our car, also a leased vehicle, just for the convenience. We really enjoy the other residents and new friends, many of them with less mobility than us. We have probably gained a reputation as being a "soft touch" when asked if we can provide the occasional ride for some of the other residents when needed. Don't mind this at all. See it as just another thing that one should do for others.

[CTyankee]

4. I'm all for it but the issue is having the car when the living facility provides for transportation to doctor's appts.

I only use my vehicle now for runs to the supermarket if I didn't get it on my delivery order. Some things I have to get at the store; most is delivered now.

[FadedMullet]

8. We keep the car because it is nice to help others.

[bamagal62]

2. Do you still drive?

My mom started off in independent living and kept her car as she liked knowing it was there if she needed it.
She was in independent for 5 years, then moved to assisted living. We then sold her car. If you are able to drive and able financially to keep it, I'd keep it as long as you can. Does the facility have parking?
Just an fyi, ask about how many days a week they are available to take you to doctor's appointments. My mother has found that part challenging as the available doctor's appointments don't always coincide with the facility transport. Assisted living has turned out to be great for her. And, going from independent living to assisted was an easy transition since it was all in the same building, just on different floors.

[CTyankee]

5. We lease our vehicle, we don't own it. And we might have to switch docs anyway as ours will be too far away for

simple check ups (which we can probably switch to local docs arranged for by the AL facility). We don't mind changing docs.

[Trueblue Texan]

10. It's one thing to choose to stop driving...

...it's another thing to be told to by your doctor or your kids. On the other hand, in my experience when people lose their ability to drive, for whatever reason, it's often a kick in the gut as it feels like their last link to independence. My advice is to consider not only the practical and financial aspects, but the social and emotional ones as well.

[Ocelot II]

3. When my dad moved into a senior apartment complex he still had a car,

and an underground parking space for it, but he was driving it less and less (and scared me the few times I rode with him), until finally he had a minor fender-bender and realized that he shouldn't be driving - he was getting macular degeneration and his peripheral vision wasn't very good any more. So, with some regret he sold it, but the facility where he lived had some transportation services, and my brother and I were available to drive him places, usually for restaurant meals or other recreation, when we weren't working. So he managed to get around when he wanted or needed to. He passed away in 2011, before Uber and Lyft existed, but he probably would have used those services. If you rarely use the car, have other transportation options and can end the lease, you'll save some money and will have the luxury of someone else doing the driving.

[Marthe48]

6. I have relatives

who moved from their home to an assisted living facility. They chose a facility that offered apartments of cottages. They chose a cottage, with a tiny lawn. Housekeeping and lawncare are included in their fees. They can cook in their cottage, or have meals in a common dining room. They moved over 2 years ago, and are very satisfied. They were allowed to keep their car, actually just bought a new one. I don't know if they have a personal garage, a common garage or a parking spot. They were also allowed to bring their old dog with them. He passed away about a year ago. There is a cat that comes around outside, and the cat gets fed by different residents

There are different kinds of assisted living, with different services and fees. From reading your posts, it doesn't seem very long since you moved into your current home, so I hope you can have a break before you move again.

[multigraincracker]

7. My wife, an RN, has worked with and for AL homes.

She said everyone is different and you have to check with that provider. She has never worked with Masonic care.

[CTyankee]

9. We will check with them. They might have had this problem arise before.

[hunter]

11. My parents moved into my brother's guest house. That was their "assisted living."

My mom hated driving, so that was not an issue. But my dad loved to drive and this became a problem.

Our family had similar issues with my dad's dad. They did not give up driving gracefully.

My mom's mom, my crazy grandma as I call her here on DU, was something worse. She knew she wasn't safe to drive herself but some of the people she convinced to drive her around, or some of the people she'd lend her car to... OMG!

If my grandma was ever an accessory to a liquor store robbery I don't want to know.

I know that's not your situation, but I'd like to live in a society where I don't have to own a car to be considered a fully functional adult.