Senior Living Options

Today’s retirement living choices are far from the “old folks home” from years ago. Thanks to the baby boomer generation and the fact that 10,000 people turn 65 years old EVERY DAY, new communities are popping up everywhere and seniors have more choices for retirement living than ever before. Many of these senior living communities offer a vibrant environment and have the look and feel of a resort!  Every community has its own personality and its own service menu of amenities, from restaurant-style fine dining to transportation to caring for your every need as your health needs change.  Below is a brief description of what is offered today in Pennsylvania.

Independent Living 

Independent Living (IL) senior communities are typically apartments, and are mostly rental communities. To qualify to live there, you must be independent and be able to take care of yourself.  In these communities, they frequently have meals served on-site which you can take part in, however you have your own kitchen if you prefer to cook for yourself.  Most, if not all utilities (except phone) are included in your rent.  And of course, no more yard work or unexpected home repair costs...just pick up the phone and call maintenance!

You have your own place with your own lock and keys and you come and go as you please without asking anyone for permission, although many communities like to know when you come and go as a security so they know you are okay.  You may still be driving, but they also provide transportation for those that don’t to make it convenient for doctor visits and various social outings.  Most communities offer housekeeping, laundry, a pharmacy, hair salon, gym and physical therapists and other specialized services that come to the community a few days a week, should you choose to use them. Although not required to have a licensed nurse, most do have one on duty or on-call.  24 hour security provides peace of mind, and knowing help is near by if you ever need it provides comfort for you and your family.

Assisted Living 

The next level of care is assisted living (or personal care, which is discussed in the section below)which is thought to bridge the gap between Independent Living and skilled care. This is typically where one needs a little bit of help…as in help with bathing and dressing, or simply needing some supervision from time to time to make sure things are okay.  Examples of this might include medication reminders and assistance getting up and going in the morning and of course all meals and housekeeping are provided for you. You still have privacy and independence and you can still come and go as you please, however, you are most likely not driving anymore. The state of Pennsylvania requires assisted living residences (ALR) to have kitchenettes, a private bathroom and door with a lock.  You can furnish your own apartment and typical amenities in addition to meals on-site is laundry and transportation to doctor visits and other outings.  Most ALR’s offer various levels of care packages based on an individual’s specific needs, which may allow the senior to “age in place” for a longer period, or potentially not have to move to a higher level of care in the future.  An ALR must always have a licensed nurse on duty or on call, and a registered dietitian must also be on staff or under contract.  They may also offer Memory Care.

Personal Care Homes 

Many Pennsylvania retirement communities offer personal care that provide most assisted living services but have decided not to pursue assisted living status. This is because assisted living licensure can drive up administrative and staffing costs without increasing the quality of care. So, "Assisted Living" and "Personal Care" are often terms used interchangebly.

In Pennsylvania, a Personal Care Home (PCH) offers housing, 3 meals a day in a social dining room setting and assistance with medications and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Just as with Assisted Living, residents have caregivers who are there to assist with personal care tasks such as dressing, showering, grooming, housekeeping and laundry, as well as medication administration and management.  Personal care homes are not required to offer private rooms or bathrooms although many do.  Personal care homes are not medical facilities and are not required to have medical staff; however most do offer medical supervision on site. Some PCH offers other extra benefits like memory care and/or respite care. Personal care homes may not admit or retain residents who meet the state’s eligibility criteria for nursing home care, therefore residents tend to be more independent and have fewer complex medical needs.

Skilled Care 

Beyond assisted living/personal care is skilled care or what people have historically referred to as nursing homes or long-term care facilities. 99% of the time these communities are for people who need ongoing and around the clock medical supervision. They are not age restricted so you may have people of different age groups living in these communities and they are typically not private. You may have people that come and go out of your room so your door may remain open during the day as opposed to a private suite or an apartment where you have privacy.  Skilled Nursing Facilities provide 24-hour continuous health care services as well as room and board. The health care services include basic and skilled nursing care, rehabilitation and a full range of other programs, treatments and therapies such as occupational therapy and physical therapy. Skilled nursing facilities also manage complex medical needs that require equipment, such as ventilators and IV lines.  They may also offer Memory Care.

Memory Care 

Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer's patients need constant 24 hour supervision, and retirement communities that offer this specialized care for seniors provide a secure environment and skilled workers to care for your loved one.  But just as important, a senior community that offers Memory Care services provides relief for a spouse that has been caring for their loved one around the clock, giving them time to socialize with other seniors, meet their friends for lunch or play a round of cards, knowing their spouse is down the hall and being well cared for by a loving staff.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) /Life Plan Community

Did you know Pennsylvania has the most CCRC's of any other state?  For good reason! These communities offer all levels of care on one campus. They have independent living, assisted living and/or personal care and skilled nursing. Also in today’s world, most are including memory care for people who have some form of dementia or need a little closer supervision. Many CCRC's offer cottages or duplexes in addition to apartments for Independant Living.  Oftentimes, CCRC’s require a sizable upfront investment. The benefit to those looking for such a community is that you are pre-paying today for your future health needs tomorrow. You typically start out at the independent level.  You get around well, however, as your health declines and you need more support you don’t have to move to another retirement community; you simply hire in-home care workers, or perhaps move to another part of the campus. Of course, the goal is always to keep you independent for as long as possible. Suppose your spouse needs more supervision but you don’t.  In that case, your spouse may live in one part of the community and you in another, but you are still in the same community and in walking distance to each other, not across town.  That is where the set up comes in financially. The expense is not as extreme as it would be if you needed to live in an independent community and your spouse needed medical care and needed to be in an assisted living or skilled nursing community. The expense for 2 separate living arrangements or levels of care could be quite large.  When you move into the CCRC and make an initial investment in that community it helps offset future costs of needing more care. CCRC's offer all the same amenities as described above for each type of senior living community, however each CCRC has it owns contract and expenses and fees.  Many offer some sort of refund of your initial investment upon moving, or death, as well as a guarantee that should you outlive your assets, they will continue to care for you until death.

Condos, Townhomes, Active Adult Communities

Not ready for a senior living community, but ready to downsize and have less maintenance?

Retirement communities are not the only options. There are other maintenance-free retirement living options which include condos, townhomes and many active adult 55 and older communities throughout the county. There is no one better than your real estate agent who specializes in serving seniors to be able to help you locate, tour and determine if those communities meet your needs.

If any type of these senior living communities sound appealing to you, or you would simply like to learn more, I  have personally toured many retirement / senior communities in and around Berks County and would love to share with you what I have learned and observed.  I would  also encourage you to meet with an advisor at the community. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional, CSHP and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, SRES I  can help you to arrange to meet with the marketing directors and salespeople at the communities, as I have met many of them.

Not ready to meet with them personally but curious what senior community living is all about? I offer senior community group tours to local senior communities in and around the Berks County area.  Give me a call so I can put you on the list to be notified of upcoming Group Tours!  484-824-0973