May 28, 2019
Seniors Have Options
By Mary Huebbe
Marketing Director at Ridgecrest Village
Have you thought about your future? Do you know what options are out there for you? Are you sitting on the fence not sure what road you should be on? What is the best way to live your life to the fullest and age with dignity?
Throughout our entire lives we are changing. As we grew up we moved from our parents’ home, perhaps to a dorm or small apartment. Think about how that home fit your lifestyle at that time. Or maybe when you first were married, and then started having a family, what changes in your living conditions did you go through? Have you moved since your family has grown up and moved out? Your living environment should fit your current needs. Does where you live now fit your changing needs? Do you have support and assistance, and opportunities for interactions with others? Studies show these are important things to age successfully.
And while moving is hard, isolation is worse. I know this first hand from watching my parents, still living on the farm into their 80s. They used to do so much and were very active in the community. They were either off traveling or had friends over all the time. Now when I visit them I feel a little sad. They refuse to leave their house, yet neither one of them can take care of it. They bicker and express loneliness. The true story is they have isolated themselves and are no longer enjoying life. But they refuse to leave this place they call home. But what is a home? It’s more than just a house, it’s a place of comfort and security, and can be anywhere you live. Your attitude makes all the difference! This brings me to a second choice.
You can move to a Senior Community, there are several different types to choose from. All of them can simplify your lifestyle and give you the freedom to enjoy your time, as well as the opportunity to belong to a community.
Not every senior community is right for everyone, so how do you decide what fits your needs? My suggestion is to tour them all! While this can be time-consuming, this phase in your life is just as important as the college tours you may have taken for yourself and/or your children. Senior communities offer differing levels of care, which means later in life you will need to be prepared to move again. If moving again isn’t what you want then you need to research continuum care facilities. They offer senior living from Independent to end of life.
There are differences in continuum care facilities as well, some are only rentals; so no matter what level of care you need you pay that price. Independent living averages $2,500 per month, assisted living $4,300 a month or nursing care $8,000 a month. These averages are for the Midwest only – and I know that in Chicago these numbers are way low!
Facilities like Ridgecrest offer a Lifecare program; this is where you pay a modest entrance fee and a reasonable monthly payment that provides multiple amenities. Included in the Lifecare option is the right to advance to other stages in the facility if it becomes necessary, with the only additional monthly payment for the extra meal costs associated with assisted living, memory care or nursing care. The Lifecare program offers residents the opportunity to control their future health care needs; which often results in saving thousands of dollars each month when the time comes to use the higher levels of care.
If you would like to discuss things in more depth please give us a call. We would be happy to spend some time with you going over your specific wants and needs. Call Mary or Karen at (563) 391-3430.
Mary Huebbe is Marketing Director and Karen McCoy is Marketing Consultant for Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, Iowa. For more information about Ridgecrest Village, contact Mary or Karen at (563) 391-3430.
