Seamless transition
Gregory J. Alexander
Moving is hard. No matter what the situation is—moving to a college dorm, buying your first home or moving to a bigger home to accommodate a growing family, moving is stressful and emotional. One of the most difficult moves involves selling your home as you get older to transition to an independent living or assisted living facility. So why not limit this type of move to a one-time occurrence?
Choosing a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) allows you to transition between different stages of your life—all on the same campus. "Living in a CCRC is a way to prepare for the future, and you and your family don't have to worry about what will happen if a medical emergency arises," says Betsy Willett, a spokesperson for Roland Park Place, which offers independent living, assisted living and comprehensive/skilled nursing care facilities. Willett, who has 18 years of experience in the filed, says that when her parents told her 27 years ago that they were moving to a CCRC, she was upset. "I thought they were too young; they were 72 and 74 years old. It was the smartest thing they've ever done."
So, how does a CCRC work? "Ideally, you start out in an independent living apartment where you can choose whether or not you want to use the services available. If you need help with medications or have balance issues in the shower, you can have these personal services in your apartment. Then, if you decide that you need more services, you can transition to an assisted living apartment. You still have your private space with your own furniture; however, for a monthly fee, you can take advantage of more services, such as assistance with bathing, dressing and eating and having your bed made and your laundry done for you.
"If you have a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or severe fall, if necessary, you can move to the skilled nursing care area for rehabilitation," says Willett, who notes that many times, moves are made in the other direction, too, as your health improves.
At CCRC's like Roland Park Place, residents can take advantage of activities such as adult education courses, art classes, free concerts and exercise classes at onsite fitness centers. Willett says that it's up to the resident to decide which activities—if any—he or she wants to partake in.
"People are living longer, so quality of life is even more important than ever. Moving to a CCRC reduces your stress level and your family's so that you can enjoy life. It's a gift for your kids and yourself."
Area CCRC's:
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