A Life Plan Community: How it Can Work for Your Future
Planning for the future has never been easy. There is no way for you to know what the future holds for you or your loved ones and so it can be nearly impossible to plan for it. But, luckily sometimes you don’t have to be able to predict the future to make a good decision for your future self.
When you look for a definition of a life plan community, you may find a few different things. In general, a life plan community is a senior living community that offers a combination of independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing services all on one campus. This means, as future needs arise or medical history changes, a person can continue to age in place while still getting the level of care they need.
When considering a life plan community and how it works, there are several important questions you should ask.
Continuing care retirement communities, or life plan communities, similar to St. Joseph of the Pines, are designed to help you age in place through every stage of retirement. Independent living is ideal for a husband and wife looking for a low-maintenance option for spending their retirement years. However, if one of their needs should change over time, they can find the additional support they need based on their health status, all while remaining close to their spouse and loved ones.
The hallmark of a quality life plan community is offering health care ranging from assisted living to short and long-term skilled nursing care.
Cost is often a major determining factor when it comes to choosing a senior living option. But, sometimes when you add up the cost of remaining in a home, it can be very similar to moving to a continuing care retirement community where everything is taken care of for you.
Some of the ways you can save money in a life plan community include:
• Utility bills
• Home repairs and maintenance
• Landscaping
• Housekeeping
• Purchasing groceries
• Activities and amenities
• Car payments and gasoline
Typically, residents pay entrance fees and monthly service fees in a life plan community based on the size and style of residence they choose. An entrance fee entitles lifetime occupancy despite their changing health status. The monthly fees can change based on individual preferences.
Check out this simple cost of living comparison to help you determine if a life plan community makes sense for your future.
While all life plan communities offer different amenities and services to their residents, it’s important you find one that offers things you’re interested in. By choosing a continuing care retirement community that is geared towards your interests, you have the ability to make new friends, stay physically active and challenge yourself mentally.
Some of the services and amenities you can find include:
• 24-hour security
• Housekeeping and general maintenance
• Trash removal
• Scheduled transportation
• Access to higher levels of care due to changing health status
• Chapel
• Library
• Hair salon
• Indoor pool/spa
• Exercise rooms
• Tennis courts
• Fitness trails
• And more
Interested in learning more about the benefits of choosing a life plan community for yourself, your spouse or your loved ones? Contact us today at St. Joseph of the Pines to schedule a tour and to discuss your options for living out your retirement years at one of our two beautiful campuses in North Carolina.