Let's stay together
Nancy Menefee Jackson
What happens when one spouse is healthy enough to live independently—but not strong enough to provide the kind of help and care their ailing spouse needs?
The answer is a continuing care retirement community, which offers three levels of care—independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care—designed to address just that problem.
"But it's more rich than that," explains Sherry Parrish, LCSW-C, director of resident life for Charlestown Community Inc. "We have on campus here total home care so that people can stay in their homes. It offers them a more complete level—they can stay home and you can get respite care when you need it. It helps those who need help but don't want to separate from their spouse."
But if spouses find themselves giving too much care after the home health personnel have left, or it's no longer safe, then it's time to look at the assisted living or nursing home options—all right on campus.
While that's a wrenching moment, Parrish notes, "When they've kept the spouse in the home as long as possible, then they tend to make good decisions about care." Often a move to assisted living or even a nursing home may be rehabilitative and the spouse might be able to return to independent living.
But even when a spouse must remain in the care center, they're an easy walk or a quick shuttle bus away. Bad weather or fear of driving won't keep them apart. Spouses can visit all day long, eat meals together in the dining rooms, attend activities, and go to the doctor's office and to church together.
It's equally easy for friends in the community to visit. In fact, Parrish says, when a spouse dies, the surviving spouse often continues to visit the friends she's made in the care center while visiting her spouse.
A variety of options
Living options at Charlestown start in the mid $90,000s, with $270,000 as the mid-range, although premium living spaces can command as much as $500,000. Monthly service charges start at $1200.
At Augsberg Lutheran Home & Village, a studio apartment starts at $56,100 with fees starting at $1145, a one-bedroom apartment starts at $80,800 with $1232 in fees while two-bedroom apartments start at $124,000 with fees of $1364. Extra-large floor plans are available for an additional cost.
Maryland has 32 continuing care communities, and a complete list can be found on the department of aging website.
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