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Tips for Choosing a Retirement Community
Today's retirement communities offer a wide range of lifestyle choices, from basic apartments to luxury
accommodations with all the bells and whistles.
Many options await you. Here is a list of different types of senior housing along with definitions and questions
to ask to help in your decision-making.
Retirement community options range from completely independent lifestyles through skilled nursing care. Features can
include housekeeping service, from one to three meals per day in a common dining area, organized recreational and social
activities, van rides to grocery, medical and other appointments, and safety features such as call bells for assistance.
Facilities range from basic apartment complexes to campus style, park-like or luxury hotel-style settings. Entrance fees
and monthly costs vary tremendously. Care options range from very little care for healthy, independent residents, to help
with daily living needs for frail individuals, to complete nursing care. Some facilities specialize in treating people
with Alzheimer's or other memory problems.
Independent Retirement Apartments/Communities: Month-to-month rental facilities feature independence for seniors. This
arrangement allows you to enjoy an active, independent lifestyle in a community setting with organized social and
recreational opportunities, but allows you to move quickly when your needs exceed the services offered. Facilities
are usually apartment or condo style units, although cottage-style living options are growing in popularity. They
come with complete living units: kitchen, bedroom(s), living room and bath(s).
Assisted Living facilities offer independent, community style living such as described above, but also offer more
care with 24-hour nursing supervision for help with needs such as medication, bathing, getting dressed and
laundry.
Nursing Homes provide skilled nursing care for people who cannot live independently. These facilities offer
substantial day-to-day care, have 24 hour nursing and an attending physician.
Continuing Care Communities are designed to meet residents' needs from the active, independent lifestyles
experienced in independent retirement communities, through assisted living, to skilled nursing care all on
site at the same facility.
Adult Family Homes provide housing, meals and some assistance with daily living. They are single family homes in
residential areas.
Some considerations when choosing a retirement community:
Cost - According to the U.S. Department of Labor, no more than 60% of your income (or combined income for a
couple) should go toward supporting you in a retirement community. Consider entrance fees and monthly costs.
Is this a non-profit or for-profit facility? Are any subsidies available? Do you have long-term care insurance,
pension benefits or other resources to help with these costs? *Be sure you know all services that are (and are not)
provided for your monthly fee.
TIP: Total all of your current monthly expenses including housing costs, food*, home maintenance, utilities,
real estate taxes, housekeeping and other housing expenses and compare to the monthly expense at the community
you're considering. Make sure you know what the contract covers in terms in services and meal plans.
Services - What are the full range of services available, which of these are covered in the basic fee and which
are extra? Do you require help with any day-to-day activities or housekeeping chores? Fully consider all services
or assistance you need now or may need soon when selecting a facility. Make sure you fully understand the contract
and what it covers in terms of services.
- What is covered in the upfront fee?
- Would you (or your heirs) get any part of your upfront fee back if you move out?
- Make sure you understand the change in monthly fees should you start in independent and move to assisted living.
- If married, will you have to pay more in monthly fees if your partner needs assisted living and you want to keep
your apartment?
- Consider having an attorney look over any contract before you sign it.
Transportation and Medical Services - Consider how frequently you need to keep medical appointments. Does the
community transportation schedule meets your needs or offer alternatives? Will you be able to keep your old
doctor or will you need to find a new one closer to your new home? Can you transfer your prescriptions and does
the new pharmacy accept your prescription coverage plan?
Meals - Do you have special diet needs? Do you like the menu? How often are meals served and what meals are included
in the fee? Are snacks available during non-meal hours?
Activities - Does the facility offer the types of activities and programs that you enjoy? Check out their full
schedule.
Location - Is the facility convenient to friends, family, and the activities you enjoy?
Walking and public transportation opportunities - Although many communities offer transportation for shopping,
medical appointments and excursions, is there a nearby bus stop? Check out walking trails and routes in the
neighborhood. Is there a nearby library, along with other services that are important to you?
Affiliations - Does the facility have a religious, fraternal or governmental affiliation?
Pets - Do they accept pets?
Make a list of your criteria and questions, and visit several facilities that seem to meet your needs.
Bring a friend or family member to compare notes and help ask questions. Use your senses … do you like the
looks of the place? How does it smell? See if you can have a meal at the facility and attend some scheduled
activities. Ask about the management, their experience in the business, their track record and check out the
management's reputation at this and any other facilities they manage. What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Does
the staff seem harried or irritable? (might be a sign of understaffing). How long has key staff worked there
(administrator, head nurse, social worker, marketing person)?
For more information, check out the book by Dr. Heather Young and Dr. Rheba de Tornyay of Seattle - Choices:
Making a Good Move to a Retirement Community available through
Amazon.com.
Dr. de Tornyay reports that her book
takes a unique approach and is meant to help people understand the emotional adjustment of moving to a retirement
community. She advises you make sure your choice takes into consideration your values - and that you take the time
to know what is important to you.
Dr. Rheba de Tornyay is Dean and Professor Emeritus of the University of Washington School of Nursing and has a
lifelong interest in healthy aging. The UW de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging - committed to advancing and sharing
knowledge about successful aging - is named in her honor.
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