I spoke to God face to face today--His Plea for He

[Sheila]

I talked to God face to face today. Before I tell you how I'm possitive of this, I want to tell you the story that led to my face to face encounter with Jesus.
Last week I took my eighty-one year old neighbor to look for a suitable nursing home for her. One of the nursing homes we went into had fithy narrow halls with up to four elderly in a room. The conditions were so horrific that I had to choke back sobs. The smell would knock you down. They are in worse conditions than the cattle we eat. The second nursing home was very nice but run like a hospital with four people sharing a toilet and two to a room. I started praying.
I said, "God, if you will give me the money, I will start a non-profit assisted living home for the low-income elderly. I will allow each person that is able to work the choice to work fifteen hours a week to help defray the cost of their stay. There are many elderly that can still cook, clean, do maintenance, etc. Some have been secretaries, janitors, etc." --I've dreamed for a week about how it would look and how I would run it. I showed Him an inner courtyard, individual rooms with a private bathroom. Rooms for couples. A large comfortable living room, a dining and kitchen, a library/game/music room.
I've driven around in my area looking at property-----I have no money.
Today, I saw a spool of thread in my mind--I didn't get the message. So--this evening I got the urge to go to the store. I drove straight to a store that I didn't intend to go to. I laughed at myself and went inside. The young girl behind the counter said, "Can I ask you a question? It's about God. Some people say that God talks to them and that He answers them. How does God answer people?" I said, " When I get ideas that I know I'm not smart enough to think of, I know they came from Him and I thank Him." She said, " Well, I have a man that always lets money get in the way and I don't know what to do about it." I said, " We should never let money get in the way of anything." This seemed like a strange and disjointed conversation and before we could continue another customer came in and she said, "Can you come back and talk to me about some things? I don't work tomorrow but I'll be back after that." I said sure and left the store. When I got outside it hit me and I started bawling. I talked to God face to face through the mouth of a child.
So His plea is for those of you that have funds or know how to start organizations such as this. I have not the knowledge nor the funding for such an enterprise. Have any of you been to a nursing home lately? Some of these should be out of business. Why can't ther be places that the elderly help run? This would give them a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth, a place that still feels like home. The assisted living facilities in my area are well above the means of a fixed income elder. One in the area costs $2200 a month in an area where most draw around $700 a month.
Do all in is name, the name of love----Yeshua Bless You

[bbyrd009]

There are extant models like you describe,
with problems of their own, of course
(I think the salt-and-pepper should be on the table;
Well, I think they should be on the stove. etc).
These tend to be low-cost options, that require some
hours of service each week--there's a great one in
the Aspen valley, I've visited it-very cool. If you're lacking
for ref's, I can dig up the name; but you were asking for
something else, which I am not quite clear on?

[KeptByTheWord]

Maybe you could just start with your elderly neighbor moving in with you, provided you have room of course, and just see how that goes first, making sure that it is something you are indeed comfortable with?

If it is indeed the Lord's will for you to do such a thing, doors will open of their own accord, and you won't have to push or knock anything down to make it happen.

But my practical suggestion would be to try taking care of this elderly person first and see if you can handle the extra care, and concern it would take, before going farther, and opening your own nursing facility.

[AreYouReady?]

There are a lot of state and federal regulation regarding nursing homes and day cares. It is unfortunate because the reasons these regulations came about is due to in the past, people would take advantage of the vulnerable.

Then there are zoning laws.

I know somebody who wanted to start one. She was told that she would have to remodel her bathrooms ... to make them elderly accessible. She was going to have to add rails to the walls and in the bathrooms and dining areas.

I would say that the Lord will provide if it is His will for you to proceed. He will provide the necessary things that will get you on your way.

[Sheila]

Can anyone start one for the elderly that can still take care of themselves? As a Landlord to renters. Except the landlord provides three meals, all utilities included, and just helps the tenants? Maybe a Landlord who accepts help of fifteen hours a week to defray the cost of the rent? One who conducts the work schedule for free? There are many elderly who are just afraid of being alone or who need companionship.

[AreYouReady?]

When I was in my mid-twenties, I had an elderly landlord who was afraid to live alone. She took in single girls only for $50 a month rent. She allowed us the use of the home, our own bedroom, shared a bathroom. She gave us storage space of our own.
Rule was:
1. You clean up your own mess in the kitchen after use.
2. You pay .50 per load when drying clothes to help with electricity costs.
3. You show courtesy to your fellow roomers...no loud music, parties...etc.

I suppose something of that sort could happen. I could rent a room for so much money. I could require that everybody keep clean their quarters and the common area. And so what if they decided among themselves if they wanted to barter out their duties...like one would rather cook than clean up afterwards? Or one would rather keep the bathrooms clean than to cook and clean up. Or one might rather do laundry for another if he/she would clean their bathroom? They could all be roommates?

In my area, there is a retirement community that has what they call "Greenhouses". It is a large home that everybody has their own bedroom and bathroom. There are nurse aide's that cook and they all sit down at the big table to eat their meals. It is a very nice set up. Of course... all the homes meet state and federal regulations. But the residents do not get to "help" with chores.

In any event, it would be wise to check with state and federal laws and of course keep in contact with families of the elderly. Unless there is a registered nurse on premises, medications could be a problem also.