Senior Living 101: There Is a Lot to Choose From and Think About

If you are an older adult beginning to explore senior living community options, you have no doubt discovered that there are a lot of choices, and wading through them can be confusing! The services offered and the extent to which they address the challenges of aging vary from one community to another.

The reason you decide to move may be different than for others making the same choice, but one of the major reasons many people move is for the peace of mind that comes with having a plan in place for your future. If having a plan is one of your reasons for taking a look at your options, you are not alone. Let’s take a quick look at some basic details and then explore some types of senior living communities. It often helps to narrow the field and decide the kind of community and plan that will make the most sense for you personally.

A Few Basics

One characteristic that most communities have in common is a minimum age requirement. You will sometimes hear senior living communities described as 55+ or as age-restricted. If it is important to you to be around adults with whom you may share similar life experiences, then a senior living community may be a great fit because while you and your neighbors may have visitors of all ages, many of your neighbors may have had experiences similar to yours, making it easier to relate to each other.

As you explore, you will consider costs, size, amenities, culture and location. Another key feature to consider is whether the community offers a full continuum of care. The term continuum of care refers to the ability to meet needs for health and wellness as a person’s needs change. If a community offers a full continuum of care, this means it offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing services.

Community Living: Active Adult Communities

Active adult communities cater specifically to those who can live independently but seek a low-maintenance lifestyle. A key feature that distinguishes many active adult communities is that residents own their homes as single-family dwellings. Active adult communities tend to be for-profit developments.

Active adult communities do not offer a central dining facility or other common spaces often found in other types of retirement communities. Sometimes there is a small clubhouse where space is dedicated to social gatherings, or there is a gym or small fitness center available to all homeowners.

In some active adult communities, floor plans may be designed to support aging in place for as long as possible, but the community does not provide assisted living or healthcare services in any form. This means that another move may be necessary if health needs change. If you are independent and older than the age of 55, and you want to own your home but not be responsible for maintenance, then an active adult community may be a choice to consider.

However, if you want a plan that includes knowing you will have care, be sure to consider what the next step might be if you are no longer fully independent, which means you may not be able to continue living in an active adult community.

Community Living: Independent Living Communities

Independent living communities are often referred to as rental retirement communities. Rental retirement communities typically feature apartment-style living, but in some areas a community may also offer freestanding homes.

A rental retirement community will charge a monthly fee that may include meals and other services such as housekeeping, maintenance, and social and recreational activities.

The general concept behind independent living communities is to help residents remain in their independent living apartment for as long as possible, thus delaying the need to move to another community to receive care. Therefore, supportive services may be available to residents in their independent apartment, but these services are often limited compared to what you might find in a Life Plan Community. All supportive services are paid for by the resident at the full market rate and are not included in the monthly rental fee.

If you move to an independent living community and then require a higher level of assisted living or skilled nursing care, you will need to move to another community to receive that assistance. As with active adult communities, this means a plan for a possible additional move should be in place.

Community Living:  Life Plan Communities (formerly referred to as continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs)

A popular senior living option is a Life Plan Community. A Life Plan Community provides a broad range of services typically spanning the full continuum of care.

In general, a Life Plan Community combines one or more of the previously mentioned types of communities with the availability of on-site assisted living and skilled nursing services. This means that the best of living as an active and independent adult is available, as are additional levels of care when and if they are necessary.

Life Plan Communities have contracts with their residents that define how lifetime housing and priority access to all levels of care will be provided. Life Plan Communities will have an entrance fee along with a monthly service fee. The fees vary with the size of the residence and whether one or two people will be in residence. The entrance fee may be partially refundable when you are no longer living in the community.

Most Life Plan Communities are not-for-profit communities. This means they are typically sponsored by or affiliated with faith-based organizations, health systems, fraternal organizations or universities.

The appeal of a Life Plan Community is that a resident, who is independent, has peace of mind knowing that the community in which they reside is equipped to provide healthcare services that may be required in the future. And because of the fee structure, they know their plan helps to control the cost of future care. This can help to lift part of the burden that might otherwise fall on adult children or other family members. Those who choose to move to a Life Plan Community are planners. They prefer to take a proactive approach in addressing their future housing and healthcare needs.

Another reason people decide to call a Life Plan Community home is the maintenance-free lifestyle and socialization among peers with like-minded interests. A Life Plan Community creates an unrivaled sense of belonging, connection and community. If a plan for the future that covers independent living, provides care you can afford, and connects you with others sounds like a good fit, then a Life Plan Community may be the choice for you.

In today’s world, there are a multitude of senior living arrangements. Understanding each type and what is best suited for you takes time and investigation. We would like to meet with you to understand what is important to you and let you know what we are all about, too!

To learn more, please fill out the request form or call us at 239-772-1333.