Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 30, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller When Home Care Isn’t Enough Dear Savvy Senior, My mother has several chronic health conditions and needs a home caregiver to help with daily activities. I know she wants to stay at home as long as possible, but how do I know when it’s time to consider an assisted living facility or nursing home? --Exhausted Daughter Dear Exhausted, Most older adults hope to remain in their own home as long as possible, and with the right support many can. But there may come a point when home care is no longer enough to meet a person’s medical, safety or social needs. While moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home is never easy, recognizing the warning signs early can help you avoid a crisis and make the transition less stressful. If you answer “yes” to several of the following questions, it may be time to start exploring other care options. Is home care becoming too expensive? Eight to 10 hours of care a day, seven days a week, can easily cost $100,000 a year or more. That’s well above the median annual cost of a one-bedroom assisted living apartment (about $70,000), though still less than a private room in a nursing home (about $128,000), according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey. Does she need more medical care? If your mother needs ongoing nursing care or frequent medical monitoring, a nursing home may be the better choice. If she mainly needs help with daily activities, assisted living may be enough. Is she falling, forgetting medications or going to the hospital more often? Frequent falls, medication mistakes and repeated hospitalizations are often signs that living at home is becoming unsafe. Does she have dementia? Wandering, confusion or unsafe behaviors can make home care increasingly difficult. Memory care communities provide a secure environment and specially trained staff. Does it take two people to help her? If she needs two people to assist with transfers, bathing or toileting, both the cost and safety risks of home care rise significantly. Is her home still safe? Stairs, narrow bathrooms and the lack of features like grab bars or a walk-in shower can increase the risk of falls. Home modifications may help, but they aren’t always enough. Is she isolated or neglecting personal care? Loneliness, poor nutrition, weight loss, or neglecting bathing and grooming can all signal that she needs more support than can realistically be provided at home. Is caregiving overwhelming? If you’re constantly worried, sleep-deprived or neglecting your own health, it may be time to consider a higher level of care. Planning ahead gives your family more choices and helps avoid making an important decision during a medical emergency. Keep in mind that Medicare generally doesn’t pay for long term stays in assisted living or nursing homes. It only covers limited skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay. Understanding what Medicare covers and what it doesn’t can help you avoid costly surprises. If you’re unsure what level of care your mother needs, an Aging Life Care professional (aginglifecare.org) can assess her situation and recommend appropriate options. An initial assessment can cost $300 to $800 or more. You can also use a senior care advising service like A Place for Mom (aplaceformom.com), which provides free guidance because it is compensated by participating care communities. To research facilities, visit Caring. com. For Medicare-certified nursing homes, use Medicare’s Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov/ care-compare. You can also contact your local long-term care ombudsman (ltcombudsman.org) to learn about complaints or quality concerns involving facilities you’re considering. The best time to choose a care community is before a crisis forces the decision, giving your mother more choices and your family greater peace of mind. Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma City of Malden 215 Pleasant Street Malden, Massachusetts 02148 conservationcommission@cityof malden.org City of Malden Massachusetts CONSERVATION COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 131, Section 40, Wetlands Protection Act (as amended) of the Massachusetts General Laws and the Malden Wetlands Protection Ordinance that a Hearing of the City Of Malden Conservation Commission will be held on Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. via remote participation, Hearing of a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for proposed soil infiltration test pits at 0 Clapp Street Extension in Malden. On March 28, 2025, Governor Healey signed An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency that permits state and local public bodies to conduct public meetings in a hybrid or remote format through June 2027. This meeting will be conducted via remote participation only. In person attendance by members of the public is prohibited, and all effort will be made to permit public attendance of this meeting, in the manner specified below, via remote access by internet, telephone, and if available via public broadcast of the meeting by Urban Media Arts on public access television channels. Public access will also be provided by posting minutes, and/or a transcript, recording, or record of the meeting on the City of Malden website at cityofmalden.org as soon as practicable after the meeting. Additional information/guidelines for the public can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holdingmeetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures Information regarding how to join the meeting will be provided on the Conservation Commission Agenda posted on the City’s website at cityofmalden.org at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Isaac Slavitt Chairman October 30, 2026
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