Questions to AnswerWhat’s important?
What type of facility best suits your needs?
What services are important to you?
How long has key staff been at the facility? Does staff have specific advanced education and certifications? Have you checked References?
What kind of reputation does the facility have? Get information from all resources
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How to Choose the Best
Retirement Community for You
By: Jean A. Daily
Marketing Director at Westminster Village
The most important part in choosing a retirement community is doing your homework.
Consider your overall health and genetics. Do you have health concerns that require you to be near a certain medical institution or are you 70 and both your parents are still very independent in their 90’s? Do you already have some health issues? Have you had a knee or hip replacement that will require you to choose a place that is handicap accessible? Have you been diagnosed with type II Diabetes? If so, you need to make sure wherever you choose can accommodate your dietary needs.
Location is another consideration. Do you want to stay in your current area with current friends and possibly family? Do you want to move back to your roots or to the beach? Is it important that family be in close proximity? After answering these questions, you should have an idea of what geographic area would be best for you.
Now that you know what geographic area you want to live in, find out what retirement living options are available. You can contact organizations such as Area Agencies on Aging, retirement organizations like Life Services Network in Illinois or the local area Chamber of Commerce. Find listings of local facilities in phone books. You can also check with doctors and medical institutions to find out what retirement facilities are in the area.
Most facilities have brochures. From the brochures, you can start making lists of the pros and cons that are important to you. It may be the view, the bridge groups or the menu choices.
After studying brochures, you should have a couple of retirement settings in mind that fit your needs and your pocketbook. Armed with lists of pros and cons and your questions, make appointments to see the facilities.
It is good to make an appointment so staff will be available to answer questions. It is important to have read the brochure prior to your appointment at the facility, that way you have a better idea of what questions you want answered. There are so many areas to cover, the consumer should read all of the information provided so you will not have any surprises down the road.
There are many different types of facilities, their services and offerings are all different so you will have to do your homework to know what you are buying.
There are low income retirement buildings. They mainly provide an apartment and in some cases a few social programs. There are parks where you bring your home, modular or RV. These adult living communities usually have a recreation center and social programs. There are gated communities that can be free standing cottages, duplexes or even four-plexes. There again they usually provide only social programs unless they are part of a larger retirement center.
Free standing rental properties for older adults are all over the country. They can be buildings with independent apartments, assisted living apartments, or separate skilled care facilities. Many of these are for profit facilities and part of a chain. Facilities offer various services depending on the level of care. Services range from one to three meals per day, housekeeping, maintenance, activities and/or social programs and laundry. They may also provide transportation. In assisted living facilities medical services can sometimes be an option depending on state law and licensure. Medical services can include help with bathing, dressing, or medication management.
An option that can give you a variety of life styles is a CCRC, Continuing Care Retirement Community. Many of these facilities are not for profit but some are for profit. These facilities are on campuses that have more than one level of care on the campus.
They can go from independent duplexes or cottages to skilled nursing care, often with one or more levels in between, all on the same campus. Price structures for these can vary greatly from rental, with no long term commitment to facilities, or plans that will in exchange for a large sum of money or all your assets, take care of you for the remainder of your life. It is very important to carefully read contracts and understand the cost and fees, so you know what you will get for your money. CCRC’s can also offer a variety of services including; meals, housekeeping, maintenance, transportation, and medical services in certain areas. CCRC’s will usually have activities and social programs.
You as the consumer need to decide which type of facility will fit your needs. Obviously the advantage of a CCRC is once you select a facility, you will only need to move within the facility when more advance levels of care are needed.
What services are important to your needs? Do you need meals, all three or just one? Is it important to you to have menu choices at a meal? When shopping for a facility ask to have a meal in their dining room to try the food and see what type of menu they have. Do you need laundry services, transportation, housekeeping, or medical services? Make sure to find out what services are included in your fee for each and every level of care.
When you are touring a facility, ask about the staff. Find out how long key employees have been with the company and at this facility. Do employees have special certifications? Find out if the facility is part of a chain, and if so how decisions or policies are made. What may be right for a facility in Washington DC may not be the best policy for a facility in Iowa. Is the facility part of an affiliation? Does the association do surveys? Does the facility you are considering do surveys, if so ask to see the results.
When you think you are down to your final choice or last couple of choices, start asking questions. Ask anyone who might professionally work with the facility. Such as doctors, nurses, social service people and clergy. Most importantly talk with current residents or their families to get their opinions on the facility that you have chosen.
Now that you have done your homework, gathered your facts, made your list of pros and cons, checked floor plans, and all the services, you are ready to make your decision. Evaluate the value of what you get for the cost. Does it feel like home? Do you like the staff? Does everything check out? If you are comfortable with all the answers to these questions, move in, you are home.