| Without a doubt, the continuing care retirement | | | | medical needs. In this type of living arrangement, it |
| communities provide the best option if cost is not an | | | | may be necessary to move from an apartment to |
| object. These communities provide a wide range of | | | | an assisted living setting and then on to a unit that |
| services including meals, activities, housekeeping and | | | | has 24 hour medical care provided. But, all of these |
| medical care. There is an admission fee and it is | | | | moves will be within the facility, so they will be able |
| substantial by many folks standards. On top of that, | | | | to bring their belonging along with them and their |
| there is a fairly substantial monthly fees. | | | | friends will still be close by. Couples can even continue |
| This is a housing option that has to be planned for in | | | | to live in very close proximity even if one is healthy |
| advance as all residents must be fully independent. | | | | and the other has significant medical issues. |
| However - once your elder has gained acceptance at | | | | It's interesting to note that while some elders may fit |
| this type of facility, they can stay for the rest of | | | | right in and be quite happy living with a mix of elders |
| their life, regardless of how much or what kind of | | | | at varying levels of function, others may actually be |
| care is needed. Some of these type of facilities will | | | | depressed in such a setting as it serves as a |
| charge a lower cost initially, then increase the cost as | | | | reminder to them of how they may end up |
| additional care is required. | | | | themselves. |
| Those who move into a facility such as this are | | | | Living in this type of arrangement requires a |
| generally pretty well off, but not always. It's not all | | | | significant investment. The move shouldn't be |
| that uncommon to see former blue collar workers at | | | | entered into lightly, and you should have your |
| these type of facilities because they were smart in | | | | attorney look over the agreement before you or |
| their early years and knew what type of situation | | | | your elder signs it. You will also want to know about |
| they wanted to be in later on in life and planned their | | | | about potential future fee increases as well as |
| finances accordingly. Most who have planned on | | | | getting an exact accounting of what the monthly |
| entering this type of facility do so because they | | | | fees will be to start and an idea of what they will be |
| don't want to be a burden on their children. | | | | in the future. These facilities are normally licensed by |
| So, what about the pros and cons of this type of | | | | the state, but not always. Sometimes, just the |
| facility? To me, the #1 pro here is the fact that once | | | | medical component is. Check with your state and |
| your elder enters the facility, they will never have to | | | | make sure if the facility is required to be licensed |
| move to a different facility that can handle their | | | | that it is and they are in good standing. |