My mom qualified for widows benefits because daddy was in Korea and it really helped with expenses. It was worth every penny we spent to have mom in assisted living because she loved it and was so happy. She made a lot of new friends and even some from her old neighborhood moved in there.

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, check with the VA and see if you qualify for assistance if you go into assisted living. I qualify because I am the widow of a veteran, and my husband had part of the cost of care for Alzheimer's covered by the VA when he went into special in-patient facility to the tune of $3,000+. If you were exposed to agent orange, or other chemicals, you may qualify for disability since PD can be caused by chemical exposure. I don't know if that helps but hopefully.
Hugs,
Teresa

Mentioned Users

A MyParki...

Yes, if you were in Vietnam, it's presumed you were exposed to Agent Orange. PD is one of the illnesses attributed to Agent Orange. The amount of compensation you get depends on your level of disability.

I moved to a senior independent/assisted living community a year ago. I had resisted the move for two years (pressure from my sisters). I had a condo that I had lived in for almost twenty years and I don't think they understood what such a move would mean for me in terms of how many books I would have to get rid of, the amount of fabric I would have to part with (I am a quilter) or how I felt when visited the three places that were in Oak Park. Two of them were too expensive and the third was a hotel that had been made in to a retirement center.
When we visited there it seemed as though the place was filled with old men using walkers or sleeping the lounge. However, about eighteen months ago I decided that the time had come to move. I had been having trouble with falls. I didn't want to move in the middle of winter and I realized that my friends were also growing older. so I moved. it took a while to get rid of things, but my sister, brother, and two friends I had known for over sixty years helped me. My condo sold for 93% of my asking price before it was listed on the market.
I am glad that I moved when I did. Living in a community has taken some getting used to. Finding people who have similar interests to eat with takes a while, as does finding activities that you enjoy. I was warned that people who need more assistance as they age can move with out you even knowing they are going. They also die which can be difficult. Also new people move in which means that you are constantly having to adjust to new people.
I won't go into the food problem, but I advise you to check it out thoroughly. Most places cannot accommodate special diets. As a PWP, I have been reading lately that diet is very important. Where I live they have a fitness center where I can use a NuStep which has become very useful in helping to control my difficulty walking and my dyskinesia.
All in all, I am glad that I moved when I did. It is better to move when you are more able and have the time to downsize your current living space.
I hope this lengthy reply has helped and I wish you good luck in your move.

18 mos. in that pit. I have been talking to a VA rep. and do qualify for certain benefits...no disability. You all are the nicest people...it touches my heart.