In South Orange County, California seeing affordable rentals for anyone, let alone a senior habitancy who has very exiguous savings, sounds like a true oxymoron. however with some research, time and a great deal of persistence something that resembles, or at least comes close to being funds known can be attained.
Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, my mother-in-law found herself in need of a new place to live after over 30 years in her rent-controlled apartment. She had been in a run down construction in Hollywood. Her landlord had passed away and the relatives were selling the building. Thanks to my husband's research he found that there were some options, none of which would be at the same 0.00 a month, but closer to us and in a much best area than what she had been living in.
Kaiser Medical
Living in South Orange County, we were able to check out the dissimilar areas personally. Since my mother-in-law doesn't drive and is 78, we had to make a list of definite needs to make the transition for both her and us as flat as possible.
We decided we had to have it close by, but not too close-we wanted to keep our privacy and make sure she would not rely on us to take her places. The complex had to either have a bus stop within walking length or a shuttle service. The most important was that she had to be able to afford the apartment on her own, since neither we nor my sister-in-law could afford to supplement her public security. If possible, since she wouldn't know anyone, we were hoping that there would be a public calendar for her to get complex with or a senior town close by.
Thanks to our local public protection Office, they pointed us to the internet. We googled "affordable rentals for senior citizens". We narrowed the search down to our singular part of Orange County. We were able to find some complexes and check them out. All but a "high end" offering had a lengthily wait list. Thankfully they all gave us an mean of 6-12 months, which we managed to work out with the family who now owned her building. They were also going to give her a re-location settlement, which would furnish her with funds to afford a mover and offset the cost of the rent increase.
All the places had brochures, applications and floor plans ready for us to take back and discus with her. She decided on two. Then it was a waiting game. My husband would call the apartment managers every 2-3 weeks to check on where his mother was on "the list". finally one came up. This singular complex had one advent up in a concentrate of weeks. My mother-in-law was indeed still a few names off, but since the manager knew she had to be out of her present apartment by the end of the same month and my husband had been so good about checking in, she let the space go to her.
The apartment has a shuttle aid some times a week to the local markets, to some healing offices (which included her Kaiser-Permanente clinic), an rehearsal room, a craft room, internet entrance (as well as classes!), weekly get-togethers and a host of supervised activities. They also have laundry rooms on each floor, central air-conditioners, secret patios and dishwashers. All things her current place never even thought about having!
Here are a listing of some of the alternative senior housing areas we found:
Freedom hamlet in Lake Forest: This is a religious-based complex, but it is open to everyone. Should it be necessary, assisted living and nursing centers are ready on site.
Heritage Park and quadrilateral in Ladera Ranch: These were the most expensive and the nicest. No transportation, but otherwise had many public amenities available.
Buena Vida at Town town in Rancho Santa Margarita: Senior apartments. Amenities were available, but not plentiful.
Fountain Glen in Laguna Niguel: Senior apartments. Due to long wait list of over a year, we didn't think the area.
Hacienda del las Palmas in Laguna Hills: Closest to us, too close. however it had not only senior apartment, but if necessary, assisted living, residential car and Alzheimer's Care-the only one that did.
Renaissance at the Regency and it's sister, the Wellington in Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo: Both are independent retirements centers which have both kitchens or without and use of a dining facility. These also had assisted living as well as residential care. Pricey and very "hotelish".
There are many others available, but all, again, have long waiting lists. The best suggestions:
Decide what the most important amenities are, what is the highest whole that the renter can afford to pay and then experience the local public protection office for the best direction in which to start the hunt.
Affordable Housing for Seniors in South Orange County, California
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