Perhaps not for everyone and not a long term solution but it would be a fun couple of years for seniors who need a little extra help.

A year in an “assisted-living facility” costs Americans, on average, around $28,500 a year. In large cities such as Chicago, costs are even higher, topping $40,000. Living in a dedicated cabin aboard the Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas, on the other hand, rings in at a rather competitive $33,260 a year.

Luxury liners offer many of the same amenities as old folks' homes: meals and housekeeping, laundry and hair-dressing services, and even an escort to dinner. They have handgrips in the toilets and walk-in showers. And they also provide plenty of things that land-based facilities do not—such as premium-grade ozone, nightly entertainment and round-the-clock access to medical care.

“Cruise ships could be considered as a floating assisted-living facility,” says Lee Lindquist, a geriatrician at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She first took a cruise last year and was struck by the untapped potential. She has now proposed a new model for old-age living, which she calls “cruise-ship care”, to be published in November's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Over and above the competitive pricing, Ms Lindquist thinks that cruise ships will actually provide a better service to the elderly. It is hard to beat their staff-to-client ratio—one employee for every two or three passengers, compared with one for every 10-40 residents in the average home.

Creative ideas and solutions abound.

[read]

Comments

[David Engelman]

Your idea is very creative and 'out-of-the-box'. I'm a big fan of creative problem solving. However, and unfortunately, seniors who move to assisted living facilities usually need more and higher levels of assistance than a cruise ship is prepared to offer. Further, specially trained caregivers offer care in assisted living facilities whereas cruise ship employees are more geared toward hospitality than caregiving. Further, family visits would be severly restricted by living at sea as opposed to an assisted living facility. If anyone would like information on assisted living options in chicago, detroit or cleveland, please call www.selectcare.org at 1-877-SELECT-5 (1-877-735-3285) and talk for free to a Senior Living Advisor.

[Mark Stricklett]

What a creative idea! Do you think that long term care insurance will pay the bill on this one? I don't think so... LTC payments are becoming more restrictive and require certifications and license by various staff - something I don't think would be available on board.

Private pay - yes, this would be a great option! For those without walkers, wheelchairs and canes.

If you are interested in quality independent,assisted or memory care services in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida or Tennessee - Give us a call at 706-336-5848

Best Wishes!