Magnolia Manor Blog

Nobody is happier to live at Magnolia Manor than Jackie Mullis, and to say her enthusiasm is contagious would be an understatement.

Although she was born in Florida, Jackie has lived in Moultrie since 1949. As the years passed, her family became concerned about Jackie living on her own. She had friends at Magnolia Manor and had visited them on occasion, so she went back with the idea of possibly moving there. She fell in love with a two-bedroom apartment and told herself, “I have to go home and count my money.” She was able to move right in within a month.

How to pay for senior living is a topic that every aging adult (and sometimes their adult children) grapples with sooner or later. Whether you have more than comfortable assets to draw from or your finances are very limited, the cost of continuing care can be weighty indeed. But that doesn’t mean you must divest yourself of key assets such as a home you own before you can make a move.

Are you ready for a raise? Prices go up and retired seniors need to keep up, so the Social Security Administration has announced a “pay” increase for more than 64 million folks who receive Social Security retirement benefits. Starting in January 2022, benefits will go up 5.9% -- the largest cost-of-living adjustment in quite some time. Of course, while your benefit is increasing, Medicare premiums are also going to increase.

It is unthinkable that any senior (or anyone) should go hungry because they cannot afford nutritious food. That’s why the SNAP program exists. Sadly, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that 60% of seniors who qualify for SNAP benefits are going without simply because they haven’t applied. They believe one reason is a persistent myth that says seniors receive just $16 per month. This is far from the truth.

In a year when it has been darn hard to find any good news, the federal government has just announced some good news for seniors: Social Security payments will go up in 2021. Starting with checks mailed December 31, 2020, those who receive Social Security and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will get 1.3% more.

It’s easy to understand why young adults purchase life insurance. It provides financial support for families if a wage-earner dies young from disease or an accident. Many types of life insurance also serve as broader financial management tools. And life insurance is inexpensive when you’re young. But what if the years have sped by and you still don’t have life insurance, or you think you might need more – is it too late?

Medicare and Medicaid are both government programs that provide certain types of health care coverage for seniors. Although the programs are very different, they are often confused. And Medicaid, especially, is often misunderstood. So let’s clear up some of the confusion, to help you know if Medicaid may be a viable financial resource for you some day.

Whether you’re considering some type of senior living community for yourself or a loved one, you will want the best environment and accommodations you can find. After all, this will be your new home – or the new home of someone very dear to you. However, for most of us, cost plays a role in our decision-making when it comes to momentous matters such as living arrangements.

At Magnolia Manor, we understand because we talk with seniors and their families every day about their challenges and the choices available to them. Naturally, everyone wants to know what various options will cost. And, frankly, their first reaction is sometimes, “Gee, that seems like a lot.” In truth, though, senior living can be surprisingly affordable, once you compare all of the costs and benefits to your current situation.

There is an unfortunate misconception that as one gets older, the community resources and programs geared toward assisting seniors dwindle. Just the reverse is true! In the latter years of life, there are an increasing number of programs and systems in place dedicated solely to helping improve the quality of seniors’ lives. Not only that, but many exist for the purpose of giving seniors more years of independent living despite chronic health issues, injuries, or other ailments.

Worried that you can’t consider a wonderful senior living community like Magnolia Manor because you have limited financial means? That may not be a barrier for you. As part of our commitment to offer affordable as well as carefree living choices for seniors, we offer Supportive Housing options at both our Americus and Macon campuses.