So Many Retirement Options, How Do I Choose?
Today’s senior living communities aren’t your parents’ retirement homes. This article will help you explore and differentiate all your options.
As you research each of the following, you will also be refining the exact services, care, activities, and lifestyle you want. Do you prefer a view, floor level or sun exposure? Check for elevators, parking options and storage. When you match them with your budget, I’m confident one of the following will be just right.
Apartment Rentals
Let’s start with senior living apartments. Senior living apartments can offer activities, services and care on a scale of ‘NONE’ to ‘FULL SERVICE.’ Some places are just a standard rental situation while those on the other end of the spectrum provide meals, services, activities, and care that rivals some of the larger retirement communities around.
Popular aspects of senior living rental communities are that there is no upfront entrance fee. In home care-givers and/or nursing services can be available for an extra fee. Some even allow your family members to provide care, which can be a budget-friendly option. “At home or travelling” care services allow you to ‘age in place’ more easily. Couples can also stay together when one needs more care than the other.
Maintenance Free, 55+ Communities
Imagine having your own spacious apartment or custom home, but not the worry of maintaining a home or yard! Similar to a vacation-lifestyle, this is a great option for active seniors who want to be free to travel, socialize and have many of their monthly expenses rolled into one payment.
Ask about outdoor spaces, hobby areas, dining options and parking (underground preferred!) At the more progressive retirement communities, restaurants, pubs, bistros, fitness areas, spa/pool, salon and libraries are all just down the hall!
Continuum of Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s)
Another category is the more traditional ‘retirement community.’ This option means that all levels of care (from independent living, to assisted living, to skilled nursing care and even memory care) can be found on the same campus.
A sense of community is a hallmark of these organizations. If you want to ‘join in’ where you live, these are a great option. The people who move in to these communities often become closer than family.
If you wish, maintenance free living and a virtually all inclusive lifestyle, enable you to create an active schedule because there are so many things to do!
You will rub shoulders with new friends who have shared life’s experiences through planned events, trips, clubs and activities.
Generally in a CCRC, you move from one building to the next when your care needs exceed the ‘fit’ of the previous apartment home, but you stay within the same campus. I know, the idea of moving again, even many years in the future, may not excite you, but having access to the right environment when you need it will be a relief not only to you, but your family as well. Some CCRC’s are Lifecare communities that enable you to move from independent living to a higher level of care without a significant increase in the monthly fee so you can do so without fear of exceeding your financial resources or jeopardizing your estate.
In closing, I encourage you to look for organizations that carry a non-profit orientation. That means that decisions are resident focused, instead of profits or ownership.
Fortunately, you have more and better retirement living choices than your parents had when they retired-- and with a little preparation, you can live your retirement life, your way!
By Sheila Brustkern, Sales & Marketing Manager, Friendship Village
