I don't remember ever seeing a discussion of CCRC's here. In this area, here's how they work: One "buys in" for let's say, $300,000 or up for a one, two or three bedroom apartment in a highrise building. This is considered independent living, and there is a monthly fee of several thousand dollars to cover meals, transportation, housekeeping, etc. Services can be added (help with activities of daily living) for additional fees. There are tons of social activities, outings, etc. If someone needs more help, there is an assisted living facility on the same campus as well as a nursing home. When the resident(s) pass away, 90 percent of the initial buy in fee is returned to the estate. One of the benefits of this type of setup is that it is designed to be people's last move--they can stay in the same community for the rest of their lives, at whatever level of care suits their needs.
Here's the thought that just occurred to me--especially when dementia is involved, how do people ensure their LO's will get the best care in a CCRC? I think we would all agree that all dementia care facilities aren't equal. Has anyone moved to a CCRC after their LO's dx? How did you judge the quality of dementia care?
I think Joan's arrangement is much better--renting wouldn't lock you in as much financially, I like the idea of a little villa vs. an apartment in a high rise. Especially for those of us who are younger, I think it would allow us to continue a life more like those of our peers, rather than being thrust into a community of people who are 10-30 years older. (Don't get me wrong--I love older people--but it would be a constant reminder that my DH and I have been forced to skip over some of the middle age years and been thrust into an older lifestyle.) However, in our area, I don't think anything like Joan's setup exists.
I've heard of these kinds of business/living arrangements, but they don't appeal to me. That's an expensive way to go. Of course, all choices are expensive if we've reached the stage of needing continuing care of one kind or another. Joan's arrangement sounds ideal to me. Wonder if there are similar places outside FL.
Our house, which we downsized to, is getting to be a hindrance rather than a blessing. I realized this Spring that the yard needs too much upkeep for me to handle and we already have someone come to mow the lawn. Also am finding the bathroom is too small for 2 to move around in and DH is requiring more assistance there. But we live in a small town and no one here has had the foresight to build any single story condos or such that would be suitable. We were in Illinois visiting family a few weeks ago and they have several communities of the type of housing we would need. Our friends here are such a help to me that it just isn't feasible to pack up and move cross country just for the housing. Wish builders were more in tune to the aging population. There is a development such as Marilyn mentioned but I don't want to be stuck there when DH has passed. I'm 64 and hope to have a life ahead of me.
We looked at a place similar to what Marilyn described recently. It has independent apartments, a memory care unit that is reported to be very good, and an assisted living facility. It does not have a nursing home, buy the are planning to build one soon. However, the up-front cost and monthly fees are pretty high. You get 90% of the up-front fee back if you move out or you estate gets it if you die. However, you only get it back when your apartment is re-occupied. That could take a long time. If I didn't want to stay there the rest of my life, I would be stuck, because I wouldn't have the money to live anywhere else until the rented the apartment.
We are in Illinois. Where were the places you saw phil4:13?
We were in Joliet. They had quite a few communities with homes that were perfect for "downsizing" families. They were one story and the prices varied as to location. My ideal place would have a garage, large bathroom and plenty of storage!
I live in a 55+ gated community. Houses range from villas to large singles like mine. Two car garage. I didn't realize it when I first bought-but entire house is built for the handicapped. No steps into house or shower, electric switches are placed lower on wall and outsets are above baseboard level. All door handles are levered and both bathrooms have toe space in front of sinks to accomodate those in w/cs. Included in the HOA dues are: cable, sprinkler system, lawn care and use of a magnificent club house and olympic pool. Age range from 50's to who knows. The folks I know are all very active with tennis, aerobics, bocci and more clubs and cruises than you can imagine.
I can only comment on my situation, which I like better than the "buy in" places. As Marilyn mentioned, we rent. We had no choice, after our financial meltdown, but even if I had the money, I still like this better. Absolutely no worries. No indoor or outdoor mainentance. I don't even change lightbulbs. No taxes, no repair bills. An appliance breaks - they fix it or replace it. Hurricane impact windows, so no worrying about hurricane shutters or the huge bill of installing the permanent accordian shutters.
In Florida, there are many places like this. There is the Assisted Living Building. Behind it is a small Independent villa neighborhood - 8 buildings; 4 villas each. The villas are small houses. Although we come and go as we please, we get weekly cleaning, a dinner meal delivered, and as I mentioned all maintenance. Inside and out. Physical therapy on the premises. They come to get Sid and bring him back. (He walked across the street himself before he broke his foot.) If I need extra help, the ALF staff makes all the Home Health arrangements for me.
The Assisted Living has 4 levels of care AND a dementia unit. When people move from the Villas to the ALF, care is provided all the way up to level 4, which takes most people up to death. The only time a move to a nursing home would be necessary would be if the person had a stroke or similar and was bedridden and unable to feed themselves. The dementia unit is locked, and specialized dementia care is provided.
This was the best decision I could have made. There are other communities like this, but without villas. The independent living is a high rise building. There are 3 buildings on the premises. Independent, assisted, and nursing. Same idea as this - rent - but instead of a villa, the independent is a high rise.
Joan, is there a corporation name so we could check on-line to see if they've built the same "stuff" in other locations? It seems FL has really developed senior/retiree facilities. Not trying to be nosey.
Janet, these were just 55+ communities so if you needed Assisted Living that wouldn't work. I know that in Joliet there were several like that though. Joang sounds like a great idea but we don't have anything like that around here. We are 65+ miles from the nearest city.
The main corporation is Bell Senior Living. They have communities all over the country, but I don't know if they are exactly like this one. The link to mine is http://www.thepalmsofstluciewest.com/
Joan, great looking place. I can see why you are so happy with your choice.
Here in Vancouver they are realizing that they have little housing for the aging baby boomers. All housing being built are multi story which as we age many will not be able to do the stairs. So, now the mayor is trying to get developers to add single story, affordable homes to their projects. But then for many of us, even 'affordable' is not affordable.
We're looking at a CCRC. The one we're most interested in has houses, villas and one and two bedroom apartments. There is independent, assisted living, Alz. care and continuing care which is same as a nursing home. This one is really nice with beautiful landscaping and all amentities. It is a little expensive, but thinking about the cost of keeping up the house and land we own now plus possibility of care needed for DH is staggering. My main thought is that if we buy into this, if something happens to me, I'll be taken care of (or dead!) and DH will be taken care of...also the thoughts that further down the road if I couldn't drive and he had to be in special care, I would be near him and could visit. There are so many things to think about. So many possibilities and so many choices. I think one of the most compelling is that our children would have more peace of mind knowing that we were in a safe place with good care when needed.