The good news is, options for living arrangements are expanding to meet the needs of seniors and their families.

There are independent living facilities, retirement communities, assisted living centers, full-service nursing homes and board and care facilities within the Orange County area for seniors at all income levels.

The bad news is, seniors and their families must navigate a largely uncharted maze to find the right options. And for seniors with low incomes, it’s even more difficult.

“In some respects, if you have the resources, the higher end assisted living is available, and there are new ones being built. But if you are a lower-income older adult,the subsidized housing is more limited. We need more affordable living in apartments or assisted-living options for older adults." Evans said.

Finances can be a huge issue In some instances, there are waiting lists for the waiting lists for subsidized housing.

“A lot of times, that stands in the way of moving into appropriate housing,” said Mary Kay Evans , a medical social worker who assists families in finding housing for seniors.

And no matter your financial situation, she say's, finding the right place takes the knowledge to know what the facility can provide for the whole person. "Not just a room to rent."

She advise's family members to make unannounced visits at off hours. Ask for a meal. Check inspection reports.

Apply simple sniff and taste tests. What are the odors? How’s the food? Is their nursing over site of medications? What daily activities are offered? What are the policies and procedures for caregivers and their training in senior care? Is the pricing all inclusive for care or what rate increases can you expect as care levels change?

“I would see if people are friendly. Are people saying hi? Are there people talking?” Evans said. “Just sort of like you look at a neighborhood when you're looking to buy a home.”Speak with other family members to see how they feel about the facility and the care that is given."

"Most of the facilities in the Orange County area have a good track records on their inspection reports, however we know which facilities has met the standards of care for the department of social service's, as well as Care Pathways standards of care that we require of facilities to be a Care Partner with Care Pathways Senior Direct Referral.

"Over site and ongoing education is required of our Care Partners with follow up care after admission by a social worker to a Care Partner facility, as well as providing for intervention and interfacing with physicians and advocating for the patient."Evans said.

 Other referral agencies do not. There referral source is a data base system that is generated from a computer. Names of facilities with little knowledge of what the facility looks like or the facilities reputation for care are faxed or e-mailed to families, as well as all facilities in the area the senior's family is looking in.Some agencies are not even based in the Orange County area but are a nation wide data base that provides little if any value when meeting a seniors needs in the area of care that will be ongoing past a referral. Families need to be proactive in asking questions of the services that are provided by referral agencies and accountable for misinformation.

  “We have good oversight, and I think that we, as well as the licensees, do a good job of providing care.”However it is vital to have contact with the senior and family to better understand what the overall picture is. I have seen many seniors who are placed in facilities who are unable to meet their needs, either medical, social or that provide over-site in areas of care for diabetic management, dementia, and many other care issues. More over site in this area of care is needed. Families and seniors are being referred to facilities that care needs are not being met, we see this by the number of seniors who are transferred to the hospital from a facility due to lack of knowledge in meeting health care needs of seniors.It becomes a revolving door." Evans says.

Healthcare plans and hospitals are beginning to look at this area of care and over site with case management with Care Pathways for continuing care to focus on positive out comes and seamless care that is proactive in meeting all aspects of care needs

For more information contact Care Pathways at 714-671-0721 or visit the user friendly web site at www.carepathways.net