November 2, 2025 • 31 mins
This episode is all about navigating senior living and quality of care, and I'm excited to have Kya Groves, owner of Front Porch Senior Advisors as our expert guest.
Kya is a seasoned advocate and expert in the senior-care field with over two decades of hands-on experience—Including Director of Business Development for in-home care, senior living and dementia support.
Kya assists seniors and their families navigate senior living, memory care and in-home care options. She also provides guidance and expertise for downsizing, resources, Veteran benefits, move management and resources.Nancy A. Cogar, Esq., has a Tennessee-based practice in estate planning, elder law, long-term care planning & advocacy for older adults. As a partner with Samples, Jennings, Clem & Fields, PLLC, she is committed to comprehensive, competent & compassionate advocacy for seniors, caregivers and families navigating aging and the incoming Silver Tsunami.🔑 For help, visit NancyCogar.com🎙️ Listen to the Boomer Time with Nancy Cogar podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on YouTube📙 Hey! I'm also on Substack! Visit me at https://nancycogar.substack.com✨Follow on Instagram @nancy.cogarDisclaimer: The information provided on this website and on the podcast is not intended to be considered as legal advice or constitute an attorney/client relationship as provided under the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Well, hello everybody, it's Nancy Kogar and this is Boomer
time. I am so glad you've joined us
today. This is going to be an important
conversation that we're having today.
We are talking about planning and we are talking about
options. So make sure to listen closely
and of course, you can always goback and listen again.
This is going to be on my website, nancykogar.com,
(00:20):
YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, all over the place.
So share with a friend. This is good stuff and I have a
wonderful guest for you today who knows these things and is
going. I'm excited about what she's
going to share. That is Kaya Groves, and she is
the owner and operator of Front Porch Senior Advisors, which is
(00:42):
a local small business right here in our area.
And she is on the ground with aging adults and their families
to try to provide options and advocate for them during this
aging process, which is not an easy process, as you know well.
Welcome, Kaya. I'm so glad to have you here.
(01:03):
Thank you, Nancy, Thank you for having me on the show.
Absolutely. And I just want to say up front
too that, you know, I've gotten to know you, which is great.
And I just admire just your reallife kind of down to earth
compassion for people and, you know, just knowing and
recognizing how important these things are and how confusing
(01:23):
they can be. So that's what I'm hoping when
folks listen today, you know, I try to be aware of when I start
sounding like a lawyer, like, OK, back up, let's talk about
what this means to the average person.
So I'm hoping that's how our conversation goes today.
So, so tell me, you know, just what, what is the focus of Front
(01:44):
Point Senior Advisors? I mean as far as your mission
statement and what aim to do. So my mission and goals are to
help seniors and their families navigate the whole process of
senior living in home care, the cost, having a plan put in
place, seeing the communities and then having Peace of Mind
(02:07):
about it and knowing, being ableto see around that corner.
So. And, you know, it can be
different scenarios, you know, for for a lot of people
involved, you know, it may be something that, you know, you
meet in the hospital or maybe you meet, you know, after a fall
(02:27):
or after a family intervention or somebody just comes to you
and says, I don't know what to do.
I got to do something. So if anybody is in that
scenario, is that somebody that could reach out?
I mean, you have to be in a certain place as far as planning
is concerned. Yeah.
So I meet a lot of people in speaking engagements when I go
to senior communities and that that have questions about OK, so
(02:52):
I kind of think I know what I want to do, but I'm not sure how
to go about it. So that's a really fun one.
But a lot of families I meet andseniors are in when some after
somethings happened. So I meet them in rehab in the
hospital when they go uh oh, reality has just hit, Mom or dad
(03:12):
can't go home safely. So what do we do?
So that is where I meet most people AT and creating a plan
and giving them options and resources to go oh oh what do we
do now? Yeah, yeah.
Because the natural thing would be, you know, crisis what, what
do I do? And I've got a lot of folks that
(03:34):
come in too and kind of the samescenario.
And when you start giving them options, you start talking
about, hey, I've been down this journey before.
You see somewhat of a relief on them because you know, having
that advocacy is it's just becoming more and more important
through this process. Absolutely.
(03:55):
And I would say what people discover the most when I meet
with them is we don't have a plan in place.
We haven't met with an attorney.We haven't done pre planning.
Now we're in crisis and everything is more expensive
than it could have been if we would have had that conversation
with our spouse, with our family, with our kids, with our
(04:16):
parents. So I see them on the other side
of that going, I wish I would have met with Nancy because it
costs so much less to make a plan and just look at things.
But a lot of times people don't want to delve into what they
don't know about. So we can.
And that's why I'm hoping this provokes more of that
(04:36):
conversation. That's been kind of a constant
for me. Don't wait.
You know, if you're, you don't want to have that crisis
conversation, these are things you really should start planning
as, you know, part of a retirement plan, something like
that, because there are options and you know, that's, that's the
name of the game. So, so tell me, what are some of
(05:00):
the worst case scenarios you kind of find as far as limited
options? I of course, I'm thinking, you
know, nursing home care, there no way no one's available to
care for somebody. They can't, they have limited
mobility. They, you know, can't take care
of themselves. And they're like, that's the end
of the road. What?
(05:23):
What? What do you finding?
Well, and most people, a lot of people wait that long to even
look at options and they haven'tseen any options.
I'm finding a lot of times that people are picturing nursing
care as the only option. They don't realize that assisted
living is full and active lifestyle and trips and fun
(05:44):
things, engaging social, and they're just not picturing that.
They're picturing the old style nursing care as the only option.
And mom and dad have said pleasedon't ever put me into a place
like that. Well, the kids also not walking
into assisted living in independent living, you don't
know. So you think, oh gosh, I can't,
(06:05):
don't ever want to do that to myparents.
Just yesterday I had a gal and Ibrought her into an assisted
living for her mom who's in rehab right now.
And she just cried because she was so relieved.
So I like the happy tears like that, that she picturing
something, you know, depressing.She saw the liveliness, the
(06:28):
seniors active and playing gamesand having fun, even though
though their mobility, a lot of them are in walkers or scooters.
And yeah, so those kind of stories are really fun because
she just felt so bad for doing this to her mom because her mom
can't go home. So it was just really beautiful
(06:48):
to see. Yeah, yeah.
You know, and homes can be so isolating.
I think thinking beyond, you know, I know this person.
I'm was my neighbor. This person was my neighbor.
And I've lost touch with them. Sometimes when they go to these
places and and look around, theyfind people they know.
And it's, you know, I love seeing that the smile of, hey,
(07:13):
this isn't anything of what I expected.
Yeah, yeah, that's, that's a funone.
And I think to pre planning because what I'm finding more
and more is, you know, maybe somebody's lost a spouse and
they're just in their home. I get calls a lot from younger
and younger seniors going. I just I want a more active
lifestyle and don't want to be in this big house alone.
(07:36):
And so it's a really fun thing to see walk into a an
independent living community andsee the lifestyle there.
You've got restaurant dining, you've got activities, you've
got trips, you're just, I don't know, in the social aspect of
it, it really can make a big difference.
Right, right. I love the look on on their face
(07:59):
when you know they see the environment and you know, I
would even say it's 50 and up. So you know, someone comes in,
makes your bed, cleans your apartment and you can eat
whenever you want and they're planning your trips.
That's not too bad, so. Absolutely.
Well, and it's funny because it's not as expensive as people
think, because it's all inclusive.
So it seems expensive when you think about, you know, oh gosh,
(08:24):
and I also have all these bills.But senior living, including
assisted living is going to include all your food, your
meals, restaurant style dining. It's going to include all your
utilities, transportation, your rent, your Internet, everything.
So it's really, when you add up what you're already paying for
all of those extra things, then you go, you know, that's not as
(08:49):
much as I thought. Yeah, exactly.
You know, you'd be surprised sometimes at what you're
spending money on, you know what, without realizing it.
So I want to take a quick break if we can.
And then when we come back, you know, I did want to talk about
most of the time you hear folks saying I want to stay home if I
(09:11):
can, you know, and, and if that's what they're thinking, I
absolutely support them in that as long as they're able to, you
know, take care of themselves, stay safe and find the right
help. So I know you've got some
options with that and good options.
Yeah. So we'll, we'll talk about that
next, if that's okay. Yeah, welcome back, everybody.
(09:38):
I am dressed for fall today, so I hope, I hope you've noticed
that. And I also wanted to say my
friend Kaya is not in San Francisco, but it just makes for
a pretty picture. So she is right here in our
hometown. Yeah.
I always loved that picture there.
So, you know, before the break, we were talking about assisted
(09:59):
living, independent living. And there is such a confusion I
think about what those things are and the purpose of them and
what's needed. But the one question I, and
really the what I hear from people first is I want to stay
home. If I can, I want to stay home.
And you can understand that they've worked hard to get that
mortgage paid off and they've been there 40-50 years.
(10:23):
It's it's home. So So what, what if someone says
that to you? What what are some of the things
you bring up and and look at as far as examining that question?
So there are ways to stay at home even if your mobility is
not good and that you need some care, some help.
So there is home care. So it's a non medical in home
(10:46):
care where a caregiver comes into your home, helps you with
things like personal care, whichis getting dressed, showering
safely. It's a big fall risk right
there. So really getting somebody to
help you shower is a big thing. They can do things like your
laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation
(11:10):
and errands. So really, if you're not driving
anymore, that caregiver can comein and help you get you to the
doctor. So if you really don't have that
support around you to do that, that's a really great option.
And most home care companies don't have a minimum a number of
hours. Of course, the price going down
as, as you, you know, lengthen those hours.
(11:32):
And so I always suggest that andgive people kind of when I find
out their budget, then fit them with a caregiver, an agency
company that can come in and help them with those things on
their budget. Yeah.
I mean, I hear people say a lot,Well, I can't afford that, but
they're really, yeah, there are options for everyone based on
(11:52):
schedule and based on the type of care you're looking for.
Really, Yeah, it's a really goodoption if you do absolutely want
to stay at home. So really I work with you with
the best options for where you want to be.
And do you see that kind of as the first tier as far as options
that might be available? Because it is a journey, you
(12:13):
know, we're, we're all getting older.
But you know, you don't have to answer all the questions right
up front, I would think. Yeah.
So that's usually the easiest for people that are just kind of
needing some support and they really don't want to move out of
their home. They love their home.
I'd see that as a first step, so.
Good. OK.
(12:34):
And this isn't self pandering, but I always push, push, push
that people need to have their estate plan in place.
So how important is it, right? How important is it for people
to have that in place before they start working through all
this? Are there are limitations if
they don't have those things in place?
What do you see from from where you are?
(12:55):
Oh gosh, yeah. I see a lot of when I see people
in rehab that they haven't givensomebody power of attorney to
help them through and they don'thave an estate plan.
So that's first thing I suggest is do you have a trusted person
to, you know, create that or do you have those things in place?
(13:16):
Do you know where those things are at?
Those documents, those policies that were taken out, Are you
familiar with them and know where they're at and have a
trusted attorney like yourself to help with those things?
Right. You know, it's part organization
advocacy and it really is, it's a team effort too, because I
(13:36):
know and you know, you and I have related things that we're
working towards and can often kind of touch base on a
particular person's needs. But the same thing with
financial advisors, you know that.
I'm sure you see that as well. Yeah, just knowing what your
budget is, because a lot of people don't know, do I have
enough money for this lifestyle?How long is that going to last
(13:59):
me? So if you don't have a trusted
financial advisor to help you with that, I do have a list of
them that I know like and trust.And so I'm always happy to to
help with those things too. How many?
People are you seeing coming from other places these days
getting busier and busier, you know, And the real estate factor
(14:21):
is a big one, too. It is, you know, quite a few
actually. What's fun is about a week ago I
toured an independent living community with some gals that
they're one's from New York, 1'sfrom Florida.
And so they were touring and they ran into somebody from New
York right about the same neighborhood that they were in.
(14:44):
So they recognized each other's accents and it was so much fun.
They just ended up really connecting and enjoying that.
Yeah. So you find that when you move
into a senior living community that you'll find people from
your area where you're from. And so that's that's the really
fun aspect of it. It's just a mix of people in
there. Yeah, you, you share a similar
(15:07):
perspective and life experiences, so.
Yeah. There's a connection there that
we forget about sometimes, but that that's really a big piece
of community, yeah. Yeah.
So I find a lot that the kids have moved here and they love it
here. And so they want to have mom or
dad close to him or both. And then they move here and I'm
(15:29):
not sure where to go, what to do.
So you have a lot of those that are looking for, you know,
neighbors, friends because they're new to the area.
And that's kind of a built in friendship right there.
Yeah, yeah. That, that is a piece that
people need help with as well. Let's flip the perspective a
(15:51):
little bit because the other group that I hear from, and it's
really needing help are the caregivers.
Not professional caregivers necessarily, but adult children
that recognize there's an issue or concerned about mom and dad
and and how are they going to make all this work.
(16:12):
Yeah, Well, learning those to have those crucial conversations
is so important. I see a lot of kids have been
worried for a while about mom and dad and worried that they're
still driving. That is a big thing, but they're
afraid to address those issues. But I also find seniors that are
afraid to talk to their kids. I hear that, which is
(16:33):
surprising. I guess that's the biggest
surprise to me is that they've said I want to talk to my
daughter about this or son, but they just, I don't know how to
talk about it. I'm going to do this so.
And then, you know, the other side.
I hear mom and dad don't want totalk about this.
They shut me down, you know so. Yeah.
(16:56):
I think making an intentional plan to talk about some of these
things can help with that. Yeah, well, creating a safe
space for that, because I find what drives out the most is
fear, and fear comes out as shutting people down.
I don't want to. And so people are really tending
to just not want to have that conversation because of fear.
(17:18):
They haven't. They don't want to look at that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's, it's really a holistic
kind of thing. You know, just if they hear home
care, then they think, OK, somebody I don't know is going
to show up to my house and tell me to do all these things I
don't want to do. That's that's not it.
Yeah. Well in that caregiver is
(17:40):
helping you stay independent andin your home.
So and people find that they enjoyed a lot more than they
thought they would. Yeah, a lot of times they become
important people in the family, so.
Yeah, they do. I've seen that over and over
again. Yeah, yeah.
So do you have any kind of success stories that or
(18:02):
something that happens often that you see and it kind of
motivates you when you get up inthe morning and you know, and
you just like sharing that because it it's the reason
you're doing all this. Yeah, well, the unknown is a
scary thing. So over and over, the success
stories that resonate with me are the ones that they just
(18:26):
feared going in. They don't want to go in to look
at senior living. And then when they do and they
actually move in, I see over andover again, we should have done
this years ago. I just didn't know.
So had I known it was this lifestyle and this much fun,
they just start thriving. And the exercise and the fitness
(18:47):
classes and the fun and the social and the great food and
the great meals really help people thrive.
And then they look back and go, why was I so afraid of this?
So those are the main success stories.
And then seeing people get stronger caregivers in their
home. I had a success story where she
(19:08):
discharged from rehab. She wasn't ready.
The case managers had said the insurance ended.
This is we don't see this. She's not ready to go home, but
that's the only option. So we got caregivers in place.
The caregivers helped her continue the physical therapy
got her stronger. She became independent again.
So that was really a beautiful thing to see.
(19:42):
Well, welcome back, Boomer time family.
I know my glasses are a little bit tinted.
I had to go outside and take care of a 911 situation with the
lawn guy, but it's nice and quiet now.
I didn't want you to have any distractions where I'm talking
to my friend Kai, I hear with Front Porch Senior Advisors and
we are just touching on so many important issues that I hear
(20:04):
these questions coming up all the time.
So thank you for being here, Kai.
I really appreciate that. Thank you for having me on here,
Nancy. Absolutely.
Let's let's touch on the cost issue.
I do think that it is a challenge for some folks, but it
(20:25):
you know, and they've got an idea of what the typical costs
are. I share that all the time, you
know, but it's not a one way street.
I mean there's it does need to be even a team effort from that
standpoint. What's part of the evaluation
that you look at in terms of that budget that you mentioned
(20:45):
earlier? So, yeah, and thank you for
addressing the cost to people wonder about that.
And that's a lot of times what keeps them from looking into it
because they assume that it's a lot of money and that they can't
afford it, which oftentimes is not.
So it's more doable than they think.
Home care, independent living, assisted living and memory care.
(21:08):
So to kind of know your budget, I usually like to find out, you
know, do you know where and whataccounts you have, you know,
what kind of financial resources, combined income.
And I can have a financial advisor help with that too.
Some people know, but it's more often that they aren't sure and
(21:31):
I can help with the cost. So cost of things for home care,
typical in the private realm, ifyou're looking at a private
caregiver is going to be about $25.00 an hour.
With companies, it's going to range in price from $30.00 an
hour to $35.00 an hour is kind of an average of what it's going
(21:53):
to cost. And so there are affordable ways
to do that couple of times. Having somebody come in a couple
of times a week and utilizing services a few times a week is
often really helpful. Independent living ranges in
price. You can go as low as around
$2000 a month. Now remember this is all
(22:15):
inclusive so this isn't 2000 a month plus everything.
This is right. It's not like a cost apartment
and then you got to figure out everything else.
Yeah, yeah. So this is going to include your
food, electricity, all of the things.
So 2000. Now if you want a larger
apartment and independent livingor assisted living, that's going
(22:36):
to cost a little bit more. So we're going to talk about the
lower end of things, but you cango up from there.
So assisted living where you have some help with showering,
medication management, things like that are going to run
anywhere from 4500 on the low end to like $8000 depending on
(23:00):
the building the and the. Type of care.
Department, how much care you need.
So yeah, those things are all factors and the memory care, you
can get into a memory care community for as little as
$4500. It's not going to be fancy, but
it's going to be, you know, provide good care and good food.
(23:24):
So and then up from there, memory care on a high end is
going to be about $10,000 a month.
So really planning for those things is going to be important.
And so knowing what you have is going to be important and
budget. Yeah.
And I think often times with that, you start looking at the
(23:48):
biggest asset that's maybe not needed anymore or figuring out
how to repurpose it and IE the family home, you know?
Yeah, yeah. That a lot of times is is going
to be something that can fund that.
So it is important though to getwith a financial advisor or
investment advisor to help with those things, so.
(24:12):
Yeah, you got to be careful. I mean, there's so many factors.
Again, any professionals in terms of determining the value
and any kind of tax implicationsand you know, where you should
put those funds, who you sell itto.
I mean, those are all things that could really trip you up.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So your your best defense is
(24:34):
getting pre planning and meetingwith you first and then making a
plan from there. So I don't think you can be too
early with that. And you know, the longer you
wait, the more expensive it's going to be, so and early you.
Don't know what you don't know really, I mean.
Yeah, and that's what I help with.
What are your options? Where are your resources?
(24:56):
Let me help you with that and guide you through that process
so. Yeah.
So how, how would someone initiate that conversation with
you? How do they get in touch with
you and and what do they need for that kind of first
discussion? So the easiest thing to do is
just call me. My phone number will be on here.
I think the four, 2-3, yeah 3. You can say it too if you want
(25:18):
to. You want to now and I'll have it
on the website for everybody andand where you're watching as far
as the podcast is concerned, Yeah.
OK. Yeah.
So you can definitely call me at423-356-2777.
That's my cell phone and call ortext me and that's usually the
way people reach me. They can e-mail me at
(25:40):
kaya@frontporchsenioradvisors.comand that is another good way to
reach me. But the quickest way really is
call or text. Weekends included.
Whenever you call, I get, you know, calls on the weekends and
I might be hiking or walking or doing something, but I'll
answer. Yeah, you know, you got to have
that quality of life and preservation of yourself too.
(26:02):
So be nice to her people. People are usually always nice
and they're just thankful to have a, you know, somebody to
guide them through this process.And yeah, it's hopeful to have a
guide. Yeah, absolutely.
So any other issues that we haven't talked about that you
(26:22):
think might be relevant to our conversation?
I do have people that may not beready for making a shift.
Maybe they can stay at home, butthen they get hospitalized and
there's some complications with that.
Or, you know, it just shows you that you really need an
advocate. Even in the hospital, you know,
people can linger, you know, so.Yeah, absolutely.
(26:44):
And usually that's what's prompting calls is something
happens. One thing I do want to touch on
though, are veterans so. Yeah, I'm glad you brought that.
Up. Yeah, yeah.
So veterans have some options and some benefits that they
usually don't know about. So that's a lot of what I do is
educating veterans on some programs that can provide
assistance both income as well as in home care paid for by the
(27:07):
VA. Biggest qualifier for that is
that you are in the VA healthcare system.
If you are a veteran and you're not, I can help you with that.
So I kind of know those ropes a bit and so can help you with
that and help connect you to theprogram that can provide a
caregiving for paid for by the VA.
(27:31):
So yeah. There are a lot of options out
there, just it's a process. Yeah, Options that they you
don't know about until we talk and then they go.
I had no idea the organizations that can put a ramp on my house,
put grab bars in at no cost to me, things like that for
veterans that they had no idea about.
So really contact me even if youknow you're not looking at
(27:55):
moving right now. So if you are senior that's
looking for options or possibilities then or guidance,
give me a call. Yeah, and, and just thought
about something too. So of course we're here in this
area. But if someone's in Georgia, can
they can they call you? What's your region as far as
people you can help? Well, physical location, I would
(28:19):
go approximately 60 mile radius around Chattanooga.
So yes, Georgia, Alabama, I can help physically in those areas.
Now if they're across the country or mom's in another
state and they're not sure what to do, call me because no people
in those states that can providethe same assistance that I do if
(28:40):
their parents is there or help them from here.
All right, just like an elder law attorney is really the best
when dealing with these things. If you don't want to go generic,
you want somebody who understands the issues, so.
Yeah. And what options to look for in
the state that you're in. Yeah.
Well, thanks, Kaya. Thanks so much for being here.
This is just, you know, a lot ofit's basic, but it's fundamental
(29:04):
to and it's really, you know, the the kinds of things that
people need to move through to be better aware and be prepared.
So can you give us our your contact information again before
we say so long for now? Yes, absolutely.
So give me a call or text on my cell phone is 423-356-2777 and
(29:27):
then you can reach me on e-mail which is Kaya at Front Porch
Senior advisors.com. My web page also has a lot of
resources as well and guidance, so feel free to access that at
Front Porch Senior advisors.com.Great.
Thank you so much for taking time to be with us today.
(29:47):
I so appreciate it. These conversations are so
important. Yeah, and thank you for all you
do, Nancy, because I know you provide so much education and
and all the resources. I enjoy it.
I want my my older peeps out there to be prepared and have a
great quality of life and a great finish.
So that's, that's what motivatesme.
But, and I will have your contact information and other
(30:09):
information on my website, nancykogar.com.
So you can go and find it there people and we'll have it
associated with the podcast. And I did want to say because
I'm always bantering you about this, but I see more and more
people doing it. Please, please like and share
the podcast and subscribe so that you never miss an episode.
That helps me to reach more people.
(30:30):
It helps to get this informationout and it helps you because
then you'll see me and, and my guess and not miss any
information. So right, right.
Yeah. So I, I hear my little long
people coming back again. So I appreciate their, their
patience, but I think we've, we've covered a good amount of
(30:52):
important issues for folks. So and if they need follow up,
you're the perfect person to call.
So I hope it encourage them thatthey do that and come back again
sometime. We've got something we we
welcome the community. So yeah, well, in all of you,
thank you for watching and I'll see you next time here on Boomer
TIME.
Well, hello everybody, it's Nancy Kogar and this is Boomer
time. I am so glad you've joined us
today. This is going to be an important
conversation that we're having today.
We are talking about planning and we are talking about
options. So make sure to listen closely
and of course, you can always goback and listen again.
This is going to be on my website, nancykogar.com,
(00:20):
YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, all over the place.
So share with a friend. This is good stuff and I have a
wonderful guest for you today who knows these things and is
going. I'm excited about what she's
going to share. That is Kaya Groves, and she is
the owner and operator of Front Porch Senior Advisors, which is
(00:42):
a local small business right here in our area.
And she is on the ground with aging adults and their families
to try to provide options and advocate for them during this
aging process, which is not an easy process, as you know well.
Welcome, Kaya. I'm so glad to have you here.
(01:03):
Thank you, Nancy, Thank you for having me on the show.
Absolutely. And I just want to say up front
too that, you know, I've gotten to know you, which is great.
And I just admire just your reallife kind of down to earth
compassion for people and, you know, just knowing and
recognizing how important these things are and how confusing
(01:23):
they can be. So that's what I'm hoping when
folks listen today, you know, I try to be aware of when I start
sounding like a lawyer, like, OK, back up, let's talk about
what this means to the average person.
So I'm hoping that's how our conversation goes today.
So, so tell me, you know, just what, what is the focus of Front
(01:44):
Point Senior Advisors? I mean as far as your mission
statement and what aim to do. So my mission and goals are to
help seniors and their families navigate the whole process of
senior living in home care, the cost, having a plan put in
place, seeing the communities and then having Peace of Mind
(02:07):
about it and knowing, being ableto see around that corner.
So. And, you know, it can be
different scenarios, you know, for for a lot of people
involved, you know, it may be something that, you know, you
meet in the hospital or maybe you meet, you know, after a fall
(02:27):
or after a family intervention or somebody just comes to you
and says, I don't know what to do.
I got to do something. So if anybody is in that
scenario, is that somebody that could reach out?
I mean, you have to be in a certain place as far as planning
is concerned. Yeah.
So I meet a lot of people in speaking engagements when I go
to senior communities and that that have questions about OK, so
(02:52):
I kind of think I know what I want to do, but I'm not sure how
to go about it. So that's a really fun one.
But a lot of families I meet andseniors are in when some after
somethings happened. So I meet them in rehab in the
hospital when they go uh oh, reality has just hit, Mom or dad
(03:12):
can't go home safely. So what do we do?
So that is where I meet most people AT and creating a plan
and giving them options and resources to go oh oh what do we
do now? Yeah, yeah.
Because the natural thing would be, you know, crisis what, what
do I do? And I've got a lot of folks that
(03:34):
come in too and kind of the samescenario.
And when you start giving them options, you start talking
about, hey, I've been down this journey before.
You see somewhat of a relief on them because you know, having
that advocacy is it's just becoming more and more important
through this process. Absolutely.
(03:55):
And I would say what people discover the most when I meet
with them is we don't have a plan in place.
We haven't met with an attorney.We haven't done pre planning.
Now we're in crisis and everything is more expensive
than it could have been if we would have had that conversation
with our spouse, with our family, with our kids, with our
(04:16):
parents. So I see them on the other side
of that going, I wish I would have met with Nancy because it
costs so much less to make a plan and just look at things.
But a lot of times people don't want to delve into what they
don't know about. So we can.
And that's why I'm hoping this provokes more of that
(04:36):
conversation. That's been kind of a constant
for me. Don't wait.
You know, if you're, you don't want to have that crisis
conversation, these are things you really should start planning
as, you know, part of a retirement plan, something like
that, because there are options and you know, that's, that's the
name of the game. So, so tell me, what are some of
(05:00):
the worst case scenarios you kind of find as far as limited
options? I of course, I'm thinking, you
know, nursing home care, there no way no one's available to
care for somebody. They can't, they have limited
mobility. They, you know, can't take care
of themselves. And they're like, that's the end
of the road. What?
(05:23):
What? What do you finding?
Well, and most people, a lot of people wait that long to even
look at options and they haven'tseen any options.
I'm finding a lot of times that people are picturing nursing
care as the only option. They don't realize that assisted
living is full and active lifestyle and trips and fun
(05:44):
things, engaging social, and they're just not picturing that.
They're picturing the old style nursing care as the only option.
And mom and dad have said pleasedon't ever put me into a place
like that. Well, the kids also not walking
into assisted living in independent living, you don't
know. So you think, oh gosh, I can't,
(06:05):
don't ever want to do that to myparents.
Just yesterday I had a gal and Ibrought her into an assisted
living for her mom who's in rehab right now.
And she just cried because she was so relieved.
So I like the happy tears like that, that she picturing
something, you know, depressing.She saw the liveliness, the
(06:28):
seniors active and playing gamesand having fun, even though
though their mobility, a lot of them are in walkers or scooters.
And yeah, so those kind of stories are really fun because
she just felt so bad for doing this to her mom because her mom
can't go home. So it was just really beautiful
(06:48):
to see. Yeah, yeah.
You know, and homes can be so isolating.
I think thinking beyond, you know, I know this person.
I'm was my neighbor. This person was my neighbor.
And I've lost touch with them. Sometimes when they go to these
places and and look around, theyfind people they know.
And it's, you know, I love seeing that the smile of, hey,
(07:13):
this isn't anything of what I expected.
Yeah, yeah, that's, that's a funone.
And I think to pre planning because what I'm finding more
and more is, you know, maybe somebody's lost a spouse and
they're just in their home. I get calls a lot from younger
and younger seniors going. I just I want a more active
lifestyle and don't want to be in this big house alone.
(07:36):
And so it's a really fun thing to see walk into a an
independent living community andsee the lifestyle there.
You've got restaurant dining, you've got activities, you've
got trips, you're just, I don't know, in the social aspect of
it, it really can make a big difference.
Right, right. I love the look on on their face
(07:59):
when you know they see the environment and you know, I
would even say it's 50 and up. So you know, someone comes in,
makes your bed, cleans your apartment and you can eat
whenever you want and they're planning your trips.
That's not too bad, so. Absolutely.
Well, and it's funny because it's not as expensive as people
think, because it's all inclusive.
So it seems expensive when you think about, you know, oh gosh,
(08:24):
and I also have all these bills.But senior living, including
assisted living is going to include all your food, your
meals, restaurant style dining. It's going to include all your
utilities, transportation, your rent, your Internet, everything.
So it's really, when you add up what you're already paying for
all of those extra things, then you go, you know, that's not as
(08:49):
much as I thought. Yeah, exactly.
You know, you'd be surprised sometimes at what you're
spending money on, you know what, without realizing it.
So I want to take a quick break if we can.
And then when we come back, you know, I did want to talk about
most of the time you hear folks saying I want to stay home if I
(09:11):
can, you know, and, and if that's what they're thinking, I
absolutely support them in that as long as they're able to, you
know, take care of themselves, stay safe and find the right
help. So I know you've got some
options with that and good options.
Yeah. So we'll, we'll talk about that
next, if that's okay. Yeah, welcome back, everybody.
(09:38):
I am dressed for fall today, so I hope, I hope you've noticed
that. And I also wanted to say my
friend Kaya is not in San Francisco, but it just makes for
a pretty picture. So she is right here in our
hometown. Yeah.
I always loved that picture there.
So, you know, before the break, we were talking about assisted
(09:59):
living, independent living. And there is such a confusion I
think about what those things are and the purpose of them and
what's needed. But the one question I, and
really the what I hear from people first is I want to stay
home. If I can, I want to stay home.
And you can understand that they've worked hard to get that
mortgage paid off and they've been there 40-50 years.
(10:23):
It's it's home. So So what, what if someone says
that to you? What what are some of the things
you bring up and and look at as far as examining that question?
So there are ways to stay at home even if your mobility is
not good and that you need some care, some help.
So there is home care. So it's a non medical in home
(10:46):
care where a caregiver comes into your home, helps you with
things like personal care, whichis getting dressed, showering
safely. It's a big fall risk right
there. So really getting somebody to
help you shower is a big thing. They can do things like your
laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation
(11:10):
and errands. So really, if you're not driving
anymore, that caregiver can comein and help you get you to the
doctor. So if you really don't have that
support around you to do that, that's a really great option.
And most home care companies don't have a minimum a number of
hours. Of course, the price going down
as, as you, you know, lengthen those hours.
(11:32):
And so I always suggest that andgive people kind of when I find
out their budget, then fit them with a caregiver, an agency
company that can come in and help them with those things on
their budget. Yeah.
I mean, I hear people say a lot,Well, I can't afford that, but
they're really, yeah, there are options for everyone based on
(11:52):
schedule and based on the type of care you're looking for.
Really, Yeah, it's a really goodoption if you do absolutely want
to stay at home. So really I work with you with
the best options for where you want to be.
And do you see that kind of as the first tier as far as options
that might be available? Because it is a journey, you
(12:13):
know, we're, we're all getting older.
But you know, you don't have to answer all the questions right
up front, I would think. Yeah.
So that's usually the easiest for people that are just kind of
needing some support and they really don't want to move out of
their home. They love their home.
I'd see that as a first step, so.
Good. OK.
(12:34):
And this isn't self pandering, but I always push, push, push
that people need to have their estate plan in place.
So how important is it, right? How important is it for people
to have that in place before they start working through all
this? Are there are limitations if
they don't have those things in place?
What do you see from from where you are?
(12:55):
Oh gosh, yeah. I see a lot of when I see people
in rehab that they haven't givensomebody power of attorney to
help them through and they don'thave an estate plan.
So that's first thing I suggest is do you have a trusted person
to, you know, create that or do you have those things in place?
(13:16):
Do you know where those things are at?
Those documents, those policies that were taken out, Are you
familiar with them and know where they're at and have a
trusted attorney like yourself to help with those things?
Right. You know, it's part organization
advocacy and it really is, it's a team effort too, because I
(13:36):
know and you know, you and I have related things that we're
working towards and can often kind of touch base on a
particular person's needs. But the same thing with
financial advisors, you know that.
I'm sure you see that as well. Yeah, just knowing what your
budget is, because a lot of people don't know, do I have
enough money for this lifestyle?How long is that going to last
(13:59):
me? So if you don't have a trusted
financial advisor to help you with that, I do have a list of
them that I know like and trust.And so I'm always happy to to
help with those things too. How many?
People are you seeing coming from other places these days
getting busier and busier, you know, And the real estate factor
(14:21):
is a big one, too. It is, you know, quite a few
actually. What's fun is about a week ago I
toured an independent living community with some gals that
they're one's from New York, 1'sfrom Florida.
And so they were touring and they ran into somebody from New
York right about the same neighborhood that they were in.
(14:44):
So they recognized each other's accents and it was so much fun.
They just ended up really connecting and enjoying that.
Yeah. So you find that when you move
into a senior living community that you'll find people from
your area where you're from. And so that's that's the really
fun aspect of it. It's just a mix of people in
there. Yeah, you, you share a similar
(15:07):
perspective and life experiences, so.
Yeah. There's a connection there that
we forget about sometimes, but that that's really a big piece
of community, yeah. Yeah.
So I find a lot that the kids have moved here and they love it
here. And so they want to have mom or
dad close to him or both. And then they move here and I'm
(15:29):
not sure where to go, what to do.
So you have a lot of those that are looking for, you know,
neighbors, friends because they're new to the area.
And that's kind of a built in friendship right there.
Yeah, yeah. That, that is a piece that
people need help with as well. Let's flip the perspective a
(15:51):
little bit because the other group that I hear from, and it's
really needing help are the caregivers.
Not professional caregivers necessarily, but adult children
that recognize there's an issue or concerned about mom and dad
and and how are they going to make all this work.
(16:12):
Yeah, Well, learning those to have those crucial conversations
is so important. I see a lot of kids have been
worried for a while about mom and dad and worried that they're
still driving. That is a big thing, but they're
afraid to address those issues. But I also find seniors that are
afraid to talk to their kids. I hear that, which is
(16:33):
surprising. I guess that's the biggest
surprise to me is that they've said I want to talk to my
daughter about this or son, but they just, I don't know how to
talk about it. I'm going to do this so.
And then, you know, the other side.
I hear mom and dad don't want totalk about this.
They shut me down, you know so. Yeah.
(16:56):
I think making an intentional plan to talk about some of these
things can help with that. Yeah, well, creating a safe
space for that, because I find what drives out the most is
fear, and fear comes out as shutting people down.
I don't want to. And so people are really tending
to just not want to have that conversation because of fear.
(17:18):
They haven't. They don't want to look at that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's, it's really a holistic
kind of thing. You know, just if they hear home
care, then they think, OK, somebody I don't know is going
to show up to my house and tell me to do all these things I
don't want to do. That's that's not it.
Yeah. Well in that caregiver is
(17:40):
helping you stay independent andin your home.
So and people find that they enjoyed a lot more than they
thought they would. Yeah, a lot of times they become
important people in the family, so.
Yeah, they do. I've seen that over and over
again. Yeah, yeah.
So do you have any kind of success stories that or
(18:02):
something that happens often that you see and it kind of
motivates you when you get up inthe morning and you know, and
you just like sharing that because it it's the reason
you're doing all this. Yeah, well, the unknown is a
scary thing. So over and over, the success
stories that resonate with me are the ones that they just
(18:26):
feared going in. They don't want to go in to look
at senior living. And then when they do and they
actually move in, I see over andover again, we should have done
this years ago. I just didn't know.
So had I known it was this lifestyle and this much fun,
they just start thriving. And the exercise and the fitness
(18:47):
classes and the fun and the social and the great food and
the great meals really help people thrive.
And then they look back and go, why was I so afraid of this?
So those are the main success stories.
And then seeing people get stronger caregivers in their
home. I had a success story where she
(19:08):
discharged from rehab. She wasn't ready.
The case managers had said the insurance ended.
This is we don't see this. She's not ready to go home, but
that's the only option. So we got caregivers in place.
The caregivers helped her continue the physical therapy
got her stronger. She became independent again.
So that was really a beautiful thing to see.
(19:42):
Well, welcome back, Boomer time family.
I know my glasses are a little bit tinted.
I had to go outside and take care of a 911 situation with the
lawn guy, but it's nice and quiet now.
I didn't want you to have any distractions where I'm talking
to my friend Kai, I hear with Front Porch Senior Advisors and
we are just touching on so many important issues that I hear
(20:04):
these questions coming up all the time.
So thank you for being here, Kai.
I really appreciate that. Thank you for having me on here,
Nancy. Absolutely.
Let's let's touch on the cost issue.
I do think that it is a challenge for some folks, but it
(20:25):
you know, and they've got an idea of what the typical costs
are. I share that all the time, you
know, but it's not a one way street.
I mean there's it does need to be even a team effort from that
standpoint. What's part of the evaluation
that you look at in terms of that budget that you mentioned
(20:45):
earlier? So, yeah, and thank you for
addressing the cost to people wonder about that.
And that's a lot of times what keeps them from looking into it
because they assume that it's a lot of money and that they can't
afford it, which oftentimes is not.
So it's more doable than they think.
Home care, independent living, assisted living and memory care.
(21:08):
So to kind of know your budget, I usually like to find out, you
know, do you know where and whataccounts you have, you know,
what kind of financial resources, combined income.
And I can have a financial advisor help with that too.
Some people know, but it's more often that they aren't sure and
(21:31):
I can help with the cost. So cost of things for home care,
typical in the private realm, ifyou're looking at a private
caregiver is going to be about $25.00 an hour.
With companies, it's going to range in price from $30.00 an
hour to $35.00 an hour is kind of an average of what it's going
(21:53):
to cost. And so there are affordable ways
to do that couple of times. Having somebody come in a couple
of times a week and utilizing services a few times a week is
often really helpful. Independent living ranges in
price. You can go as low as around
$2000 a month. Now remember this is all
(22:15):
inclusive so this isn't 2000 a month plus everything.
This is right. It's not like a cost apartment
and then you got to figure out everything else.
Yeah, yeah. So this is going to include your
food, electricity, all of the things.
So 2000. Now if you want a larger
apartment and independent livingor assisted living, that's going
(22:36):
to cost a little bit more. So we're going to talk about the
lower end of things, but you cango up from there.
So assisted living where you have some help with showering,
medication management, things like that are going to run
anywhere from 4500 on the low end to like $8000 depending on
(23:00):
the building the and the. Type of care.
Department, how much care you need.
So yeah, those things are all factors and the memory care, you
can get into a memory care community for as little as
$4500. It's not going to be fancy, but
it's going to be, you know, provide good care and good food.
(23:24):
So and then up from there, memory care on a high end is
going to be about $10,000 a month.
So really planning for those things is going to be important.
And so knowing what you have is going to be important and
budget. Yeah.
And I think often times with that, you start looking at the
(23:48):
biggest asset that's maybe not needed anymore or figuring out
how to repurpose it and IE the family home, you know?
Yeah, yeah. That a lot of times is is going
to be something that can fund that.
So it is important though to getwith a financial advisor or
investment advisor to help with those things, so.
(24:12):
Yeah, you got to be careful. I mean, there's so many factors.
Again, any professionals in terms of determining the value
and any kind of tax implicationsand you know, where you should
put those funds, who you sell itto.
I mean, those are all things that could really trip you up.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So your your best defense is
(24:34):
getting pre planning and meetingwith you first and then making a
plan from there. So I don't think you can be too
early with that. And you know, the longer you
wait, the more expensive it's going to be, so and early you.
Don't know what you don't know really, I mean.
Yeah, and that's what I help with.
What are your options? Where are your resources?
(24:56):
Let me help you with that and guide you through that process
so. Yeah.
So how, how would someone initiate that conversation with
you? How do they get in touch with
you and and what do they need for that kind of first
discussion? So the easiest thing to do is
just call me. My phone number will be on here.
I think the four, 2-3, yeah 3. You can say it too if you want
(25:18):
to. You want to now and I'll have it
on the website for everybody andand where you're watching as far
as the podcast is concerned, Yeah.
OK. Yeah.
So you can definitely call me at423-356-2777.
That's my cell phone and call ortext me and that's usually the
way people reach me. They can e-mail me at
(25:40):
kaya@frontporchsenioradvisors.comand that is another good way to
reach me. But the quickest way really is
call or text. Weekends included.
Whenever you call, I get, you know, calls on the weekends and
I might be hiking or walking or doing something, but I'll
answer. Yeah, you know, you got to have
that quality of life and preservation of yourself too.
(26:02):
So be nice to her people. People are usually always nice
and they're just thankful to have a, you know, somebody to
guide them through this process.And yeah, it's hopeful to have a
guide. Yeah, absolutely.
So any other issues that we haven't talked about that you
(26:22):
think might be relevant to our conversation?
I do have people that may not beready for making a shift.
Maybe they can stay at home, butthen they get hospitalized and
there's some complications with that.
Or, you know, it just shows you that you really need an
advocate. Even in the hospital, you know,
people can linger, you know, so.Yeah, absolutely.
(26:44):
And usually that's what's prompting calls is something
happens. One thing I do want to touch on
though, are veterans so. Yeah, I'm glad you brought that.
Up. Yeah, yeah.
So veterans have some options and some benefits that they
usually don't know about. So that's a lot of what I do is
educating veterans on some programs that can provide
assistance both income as well as in home care paid for by the
(27:07):
VA. Biggest qualifier for that is
that you are in the VA healthcare system.
If you are a veteran and you're not, I can help you with that.
So I kind of know those ropes a bit and so can help you with
that and help connect you to theprogram that can provide a
caregiving for paid for by the VA.
(27:31):
So yeah. There are a lot of options out
there, just it's a process. Yeah, Options that they you
don't know about until we talk and then they go.
I had no idea the organizations that can put a ramp on my house,
put grab bars in at no cost to me, things like that for
veterans that they had no idea about.
So really contact me even if youknow you're not looking at
(27:55):
moving right now. So if you are senior that's
looking for options or possibilities then or guidance,
give me a call. Yeah, and, and just thought
about something too. So of course we're here in this
area. But if someone's in Georgia, can
they can they call you? What's your region as far as
people you can help? Well, physical location, I would
(28:19):
go approximately 60 mile radius around Chattanooga.
So yes, Georgia, Alabama, I can help physically in those areas.
Now if they're across the country or mom's in another
state and they're not sure what to do, call me because no people
in those states that can providethe same assistance that I do if
(28:40):
their parents is there or help them from here.
All right, just like an elder law attorney is really the best
when dealing with these things. If you don't want to go generic,
you want somebody who understands the issues, so.
Yeah. And what options to look for in
the state that you're in. Yeah.
Well, thanks, Kaya. Thanks so much for being here.
This is just, you know, a lot ofit's basic, but it's fundamental
(29:04):
to and it's really, you know, the the kinds of things that
people need to move through to be better aware and be prepared.
So can you give us our your contact information again before
we say so long for now? Yes, absolutely.
So give me a call or text on my cell phone is 423-356-2777 and
(29:27):
then you can reach me on e-mail which is Kaya at Front Porch
Senior advisors.com. My web page also has a lot of
resources as well and guidance, so feel free to access that at
Front Porch Senior advisors.com.Great.
Thank you so much for taking time to be with us today.
(29:47):
I so appreciate it. These conversations are so
important. Yeah, and thank you for all you
do, Nancy, because I know you provide so much education and
and all the resources. I enjoy it.
I want my my older peeps out there to be prepared and have a
great quality of life and a great finish.
So that's, that's what motivatesme.
But, and I will have your contact information and other
(30:09):
information on my website, nancykogar.com.
So you can go and find it there people and we'll have it
associated with the podcast. And I did want to say because
I'm always bantering you about this, but I see more and more
people doing it. Please, please like and share
the podcast and subscribe so that you never miss an episode.
That helps me to reach more people.
(30:30):
It helps to get this informationout and it helps you because
then you'll see me and, and my guess and not miss any
information. So right, right.
Yeah. So I, I hear my little long
people coming back again. So I appreciate their, their
patience, but I think we've, we've covered a good amount of
(30:52):
important issues for folks. So and if they need follow up,
you're the perfect person to call.
So I hope it encourage them thatthey do that and come back again
sometime. We've got something we we
welcome the community. So yeah, well, in all of you,
thank you for watching and I'll see you next time here on Boomer
TIME.
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