Tips For Choosing The Perfect Retirement Community

Whether you are a retiree or a caregiver, choosing the perfect retirement community is an important decision. Not all retirement communities are the same, and the one that you choose should be the one that you (or the retired person in your care) should feel comfortable remaining in. Retirement communities are grouped into types based on certain factors, and knowing these types (and factors) is the first step towards choosing the perfect retirement community for your situation.

Tip#1: Know Which Types of Retirement Communities Are Available

Basic Types of Retirement Communities

While the names may vary, there are essentially four types of retirement communities, which are:

• Independent: Independent retirement communities are ideal for healthy, active, retirees with greater mobility and ability to meet their own basic needs. Most independent retirement communities provide services such as meal delivery, laundry, etc, and the majority of them offer opportunities for seniors to interact with each other via community activities and recreational facilities. Some independent retirement communities are also called Transitional Care facilities, because they allow residents to “transition” from one level of care and living assistance to another as their needs dictate.

• Congregational or Community (Also known as Continuing Care): These are the most common type of retirement communities, because they offer the convenience of private/semi-private apartment-like residences, along with many services, such as transportation, meals, laundry, some living assistance, etc. Many of these facilities are classified as Traditional Care facilities as well.

• Assisted Living: These types of retirement communities are designed to help retirees who need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc, but who may not require round-the-clock care. These types of retirement communities may be incorporated within traditional nursing home or elderly housing facilities or they may be independent.

• Specialized Senior Care: These types of retirement communities are designed to care for elderly persons suffering from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Most of these facilities are structured to provide more care and assistance as residents progress through the different stages of dementia

Tip #2: Ask The Right Questions

Once you have determined which type of retirement community is right for you, the next step is to visit each community that you are considering in person in order to better asses the facilities. Here are some helpful lists of questions that you should ask the director of each facility during your tour:

What Are The Features of Each Unit?

Depending on the type of community that you are visiting, most facilities that offer private and semi-private residences should have the following features in each unit:

• Extra Lighting
• One-Level Living
• Easy-To-Open Cabinets and Doors
• State-Of-The-Art Security Systems

What Is The Overall Atmosphere or Attitude of The Facility?

• Casual or Formal?
• What Types of Community Activities Are Available?
• What Are Some Examples of Typical Dining Room (Or unit meal delivery) Fare? Try to have at least one meal at the facility during your visit in order to determine this for yourself.

Which Types (If Any) Of Recreational Facilities Does The Community Offer?

• Pools?
• Spas?
• Gymnasium?
• Spa Services?
• Tennis Courts?
• Bowling Alleys?
• Golf Courses?
• Etc.
• What Are The Different Community Policies And Restrictions For Residences?
• Visiting Hours
• Guest Policy
• Gardening Policy
• Pet Policy
• Etc.

What Types of Medical Care Facilities Are Offered?

This will be more readily apparent in some types of retirement communities than in others. Depending on your individual health needs, or the needs of the elderly person in your care, you should pay close attention to the types of care that are (and are not) offered at each facility, and whether the possibility for transitional care within the same facility exists.

What Type of Disaster Preparedness Plan Is Currently In Place?

• Does the facility have an emergency plan?
• When was the plan last updated?
• May I review a copy of the plan?
• When was the emergency plan last exercised?
• Do you have evacuation procedures?
• How do you notify residents if an evacuation is necessary?
• How are residents with disabilities evacuated safely?
• How are disaster kits handled for residents and staff?
• How are family members contacted in case of an emergency?
• In case of emergency, how long are you prepared to take care of my family members?
• Are there on-site security personnel?
• Do you teach lessons on preparedness to residents and staff?
• What is the percentage of staff members who are trained in basic and advanced first aid?
• Do you have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) clearly marked and readily available? What is the percentage of staff members who are trained to use it?
• In case of power failure, do you have an emergency power source or back-up generator?

Know Your Budget Before You Search

The convenience of living in a retirement community usually comes at a price, which includes not only rental or mortgage payments, utilities, and insurance, but also any up-front or ongoing fees you’ll owe. Some types of retirement communities, for example, may charge a hefty fee for “buying in” to the community. Another ongoing fee you may need to factor in is a homeowners or community association fee that may add hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to your monthly housing costs.

In general, the higher this fee, the more services or amenities are included, but make sure you understand what you’re getting for your money. Be sure to also factor in the taxes. Even states with no state income tax may have high property taxes, sales and restaurant taxes, or “hidden” taxes on luxury goods or investments. Your financial professional or tax advisor can help you determine the impact that such taxes will have on your finances, and help you make a budget—before you start touring retirement communities.