Visit a CCRC & Ask These Questions

This outline of questions will prove to be beneficial in recognizing the pros and cons of each community you visit. It will also help you to distinguish the differences between your top picks, so that you can narrow your search and choose the best community for you. Most communities will have handouts and brochures which they may give you to help answer the questions listed below (a site map, fee schedule, floorplans, dining room menus etc.) so that you don’t have to write down all the answers. Once you are home you can compile the answers on your own spreadsheet. It need not be as fancy as an Excel spreadsheet – simply anything that helps you organize your research.

·      Tell me about your community – size, age of community, number of homes and apartments, number of residents and number of employees.

·      Do you have a waiting list or are there apartments or homes available now?

·      Explain the different resident entry plans you offer.

·      If the plan carries a refund – how is that paid out?

·      What should I expect as I move to a higher level of care from a financial prospective?

·      Will you accept my long-term-care insurance policy (if applicable)?

·      What services are included with each plan?

·      Tell me about your dining options.

·      Do I have to make a reservation or can I have my meals whenever I prefer?

·      Do you have a dress code?

·      Tell me about your transportation services.

·      How often will I receive housekeeping and what specific cleaning tasks are included? Which task might I be responsible for handling over time in my independent living apartment or home?

·      Tell me about your fitness center and exercise classes.

·      What types of clubs and organizations do you have at your community? (This would be a     good time to tell the retirement counselor about your specific interests and hobbies.)

·      Do you have church services on campus or transportation to those nearby?

·      Do you have an on-site health clinic?

·      What amenities do you have at your community? Do you have a library, pool, bank, gift shop, hair salon, work shop, art studio, or dog park? Whatever is important to you from that standpoint – ask specific questions.

·      May I have over-night visitors and how long can they stay in my apartment or home? If they are my caregiver – can they stay longer?

·      Which utilities are included?

·      Are there emergency pull cords in each unit? Will I receive an emergency pendant?

·      Do you offer personalized living services or home health?

·      Explain your evacuation plan and procedure for acts of God – such as a hurricane – and other emergency action plans as might be pertinent in certain geographical locations.

·      Where will I park my car?

·      Tell me about your pet policy.

·      Do you have any noise complaints?

·      What is the construction of the building – are there fire walls?

·      If your apartment does not have a washer/dryer, ask how close the laundry room is to your apartment.

·      What would be my first step to make a move to your community?

·      Can you provide me with a timeline or checklist of required procedures to follow in making application for residency at your community?

·      May I have a copy of your contracts via email?

As you know, generally one question leads to another. This list will get you started on a thorough research path. 

Senior Living: How Adult Children Can Help Aging Parents

Retirement Communities 101 can help you understand and research the CCRC Senior Living Industry. The Introduction to my new book is below. I am happy to answer any questions you may have as you navigate the road to the next phase of life for your parents. You can contact me through my website danacornwellbodney.com .  

Introduction

            Researching retirement communities for yourself or a loved one can be very confusing. Most seniors will refer to this as their “last move”. The heat is on to wade through all the options and information to choose the best community based on their individual situation and circumstances. Your research will include surfing the internet, calling specific communities of interest based on location and plans they offer, and visiting those communities to see for yourself if it is the one for you. It may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

            I am a retirement counselor at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and this book is designed to guide you through the selection process. It is a practical guide to understanding and researching a CCRC. The senior living industry is growing rapidly and new communities are popping up on ever other corner in neighborhoods across the country. The process of learning each community’s admittance requirements, services offered and financial approval qualifications can be like going back to school again.

            It can be a grand task finding the appropriate type of community to fit your needs and merely schedule an appointment. You may not even have any “needs” yet at all, but are simply trying to understand retirement options and plan your future responsibility.

            Continuing Care Retirement Communities may be a very new concept for you to consider in your retirement research. A CCRC is a community which has all levels of care on the same campus. The journey begins in independent living and should a resident need more services or care, it is an easy transition to move to assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing.

            The questions you need to ask when considering a retirement community are in the following pages. You will learn new terminology and discover more options than you thought could exist for finding a solution in your new phase of retirement.

            You will learn the difference between and entry fee CCRC and a rental CCRC.  Entry fee communities offer a component called Life Care. It is a very beneficial option and synonymous with the term asset preservation and is a long-term care insurance policy.

            Your journey at a CCRC will begin in Independent Living. Many residents make the move as early as possible, which is age sixty-two, just to enjoy the active lifestyle.

            There are hundreds of CCRCs across America, each with detailed benefits associated with different plans for entrance and distinct standards of acceptance. That’s right – acceptance. Health assessments will determine if a person is appropriate for Independent Living.  There is a saying in the CCRC industry, “It is better to be two years too early than two minutes too late”.

            This book is a practical outline of steps to take to find the right community for you. It is designed to help you consider factors that may not have occurred to you and how they could affect your whole family. I will address pertinent questions you may want to consider as you visit different CCRCs.

            The research process involved with finding the perfect community for you or your loved one doesn’t have to cause anxiety. You will feel in control and less overwhelmed as you plan visits to communities you are considering for this important move in your life. Remember, all communities are structured differently. You are conducting your own research so ASK QUESTIONS. There are many general questions listed in the workbook section of the book for you to ask the retirement counselors at each community. at the back of the book for you to ask the retirement counselors at each community.

            Retirement Communities 101 is an easy read and more like a narrative than a text book, so we will have some fun along the way. I do not claim to be an expert on the extensive CCRC industry, but I can promise if you use my suggestions your road to peace of mind will have fewer bumps.

            Dog ear the pages – mark up the margins, highlight paragraphs and draw circles around topics of greatest concern. Do your due diligence and you will find the community that it right for you! Let’s get started.

                                        Welcome to Retirement Communities 101

Order your copy today!             danacornwellbodney.com  

Retirement Communities 101

New book arriving in January 2018. Reserve your copy now!

As the senior living industry continues to grow rapidly to accommodate the baby boomers, you can be sure you road to peace of mind will have fewer bumps with this guide in hand.

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This 4.7 Star rated book is now available through this website and on Amazon.

The changing of seasons brings the promise of new beginnings for some and mystery and mayhem for others as a unique cast of characters struggles to unravel the mysteries of this vibrant Southern locale.