What Boards and Managers Need to Know About Residents Aging in Place
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If your community is well run, chances are you have residents who have remained in place for decades but with more condominium and HOA owners choosing to age in place, the services you provide and the manner in which you operate your community naturally must change. 24 hour access for caregivers, nurses, and aides and the need for uninterrupted electricity to power life saving devices all bring new concerns. So, what should boards and managers do when care becomes part of the everyday community association lifestyle, and how can families avoid a crisis-driven scramble to ensure care for loved ones?
In this week’s episode, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Jacque Scherfer, Vice President of Best Care Nurses Registry in South Florida, to map out what in-home health care actually looks like, from ADL support with a home health aide to private duty nursing for complex medical needs. They also get candid about continuity of care, why the same caregiver can be a safety net, and the signs families should watch for like falls, medication issues, and slipping hygiene. Along the way, they talk cost, long-term care insurance, elimination periods, and why Medicare usually isn’t the answer for ongoing custodial care.
These in-home solutions also come with a host of condominium, cooperative and HOA realities: parking headaches, security access, privacy boundaries with worried neighbors, and hurricane season planning when someone relies on daily support. Donna and Jacque also share what legitimate screening looks like, including Level 2 FBI background checks and license verification, plus why “hiring privately” can backfire when coverage collapses.
Conversation Highlights: Conversation Highlights:
- What in-home healthcare really involves—and how it supports aging in place
- Early signs it may be time to consider in-home care for a loved one
- The most common services families seek from in-home caregivers
- The benefits and challenges of community living for seniors
- How caregiver schedules work and what communities should expect
- How reputable agencies screen, train, and staff caregivers
- What boards and neighbors should know about background checks, licensing, and insurance
- Common issues in associations involving caregivers—parking, access, and building logistics
- How boards and managers can reduce friction between caregivers and staff
- Warning signs of elder abuse and financial exploitation every community should recognize
- The risks of hiring caregivers independently vs. through an agency
- What role boards and managers should (and shouldn’t) play when residents are struggling
- Emergency planning: what happens if caregivers can’t reach clients during disasters
Related Links:
- Podcast: Are “55 and Older” Communities Still In Demand? What Must Be Done to Preserve Your Senior Lifestyle? An Engaging Discussion with Mark Friedman, Becker & Poliakoff
- Resource: Home Care FAQ
- Article: 55+ Communities – Do I Still Need a Survey Every 2 Years?
About Take It To The Board
Think you know what community association life is all about? Think again. Residents must obey the rules, directors must follow the law, and managers must keep it all running smoothly. Take It To The Board explores the reality of life in a condominium, cooperative or homeowners’ association, what’s really involved in serving on its board, and how to maintain that ever-so-delicate balance of being legally compliant and community spirited. Leading community association attorney Donna DiMaggio Berger acknowledges the balancing act without losing her sense of humor as she talks with a variety of association leaders, experts, and vendors about the challenges and benefits of the community association lifestyle.
If you’ve got a question, Take It To The Board with Donna DiMaggio Berger – We Speak Condo & HOA!
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