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Going to the source At a recent resident forum at Las Ventanas, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) nestled in the Las Vegas valley of Summerlin, (www.lasventanas-lifecare.com) residents didn’t hold back in chronicling the added independence they individually gained by moving to Las Vegas’ only continuing care community. “This move made my kids ‘worry-free’. I know I’m not a burden to them, and they know that the simple things, like shopping and maintenance are taken care of,” said one resident about her decision to move with her husband. Another couple said that the decision was theirs alone. “We basically told our kids to ‘butt out!’ This is what we wanted to do.” Another resident was adamant, “Do it now! What are you waiting for?” Socialization, security and safety are added benefits of retirement community living. Marilyn Witney, whose elderly parents moved into The Heritage of DesPaines, (Illinois) more than a dozen years ago gained her own sense of relief about her parents’ future. “As their health became more of an issue, this move made so much sense. Now that my mother is gone, I don’t worry about my dad keeping active or going to social activities, especially in the winter. There is so much for him to do right there, and so many friends.” At Senior Living Experts, Lisa Sneddon works with prospects to evaluate their care needs, budgets and geographical preferences. “When I am meeting with people whose budget does allow them to actually afford it, I try to point out the costs of remaining in their home. Many of the retirement communities provide work sheets to help seniors see that it is costing them a lot more than they think to stay at home,” Sneddon said. “If they currently own but are not paying a mortgage, they are still paying property taxes and utilities, association fees, and home owners insurance. They are also having to pay for repairs on the home which can get expensive if they need to replace siding or a roof or even a hot water tank!” Sneddon also encourages her clients to factor in the cost of day-to-day household upkeep. “They may be paying people to clean, mow the lawn, shovel the driveway and provide transportation. They have to still pay for groceries as well - where meals are usually included in the cost of retirement living.” Give ‘em what they want! There are very few ‘old folks’ homes as they were known in past decades. The new continuing care communities offer internet access, full wellness facilities, swimming pools, intergenerational programs, and a host of dynamic amenities. With lifecare communities, residents will be cared for at every stage of their lives. One 62 year-old woman who had just moved into a continuing care community in Illinois saw this transition as one of her best decision about her future. “I don’t want to have to move later on when my health declines.” From a financial standpoint, many CCRCs, like Las Ventanas, offer a 90 percent refundable entrance free. The refund is made when the resident decides to leave, or it can be paid to their estate. In most cases, there is no mandatory length of stay. When it works Whenever possible, involve your elderly relative in the decision to move or stay. If the venue is unsafe, you have to take action immediately. Start the conversation, and then do the homework. Any one of the fine continuing care communities in your area will act as a willing resource for information, and answer your questions. Yes, even if you live in Poughkeepsie, and your mom lives in Las Vegas, call for help. If your parent lives out of town, call the Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 or go to www.eldercare.gov . For long distance case management of your parent, contact a case manager in your parent’s area. The beauty of bringing in this valuable resource is that you will have a professional making the assessment of your parent, and then the manager can help coordinate and build in the layers that fit your parent’s needs To hire a case manager to assess your parent’s situation long-distance, visit the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers, www.caremanager.org . 520-881-8008. Sneddon offers lifestyle advice to her clients. “This kind of living allows them to do just that, live... not constantly work at keeping up their house or staying isolated. It allows them to do things they might not have a chance to do if they stayed at home, such as making new friends or participating in a new activity. It helps they feel more active, more involved in the community, more in control of their life, with the peace of mind that care is there if needed. “ She encourages both the parent and their adult children to step up and take action. “Who wants to sit at home alone wondering what is going to happen if they fall? Sometimes you have to bring out the "what-ifs" to help them see the whole picture.” Ready or not, it is never too early to make smart choices about sensible retirement community living. |
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