What are the Living Options at a Life Plan Community?
A Life Plan Community, also sometimes referred to as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), offers a complete range of retirement living options all in one single senior living community. As your needs change, you can seamlessly transition to advanced levels of care while staying in the community you know with your good friends and the caring team you trust. Life Plan Communities also typically offer a wide range of exceptional amenities and services and a robust calendar of life enriching activities.
Let’s take a quick look at the different living options available at a Life Plan Community.
Independent Living
Independent Living at a Life Plan Community is the perfect choice if you want to say goodbye to the hassles and headaches of home ownership and are ready for a carefree, maintenance free, active lifestyle that offers the flexibility to do what you want when you want. You’ll be able to enjoy the wide array of amenities and services the community has to offer—including health and wellness opportunities, premier dining, educational and cultural programs, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and more. Residents in Independent Living often share common words of advice for healthy, active friends considering a move to a Life Plan Community: Do it now and take advantage of all the fun!
Assisted Living
Assisted Living is the perfect living option for those who want to continue enjoying the life they love but just need a helping hand. In Assisted Living, residents have personalized plans to assist them with the activities of daily living—whatever they need, it’s always their choice, and the plans can change as needs change. Examples of “activities of daily living” (often referred to as ADLs) include bathing, dressing, grooming, and medication management. The goal of Assisted Living is to help residents live as independently as possible while getting the help they need when they need it.
Memory Care
Memory Care is a distinct “neighborhood” within a Life Plan Community that provides a safe, secure environment with specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementias. Team members are specially trained to deal with the unique challenges of Memory Care, providing physical assistance as well as engaging in activities with residents that are designed to preserve cognitive function.
At Westminster, we offer a proprietary approach called Heartfelt CONNECTIONS–A Memory Care Program™. It’s a program that truly emphasizes the individual and is rooted in the belief that the abilities a person retains are more important than the abilities that have diminished over time. Using a variety of tools, we capture the rich tapestry of residents’ lives. These insights serve as the foundation of personalized care plans that enhance the physical and emotional well-being of our residents. It would be virtually impossible to duplicate this level of round-the-clock safety, sense of community and socialization, and specific expertise in Alzheimer’s care by using an in-home care service.
Skilled Nursing
So, Skilled Nursing has the word “nursing” in it. Does that mean this area looks and feels like a hospital? The answer is an unequivocal “no!” Skilled Nursing offers long-term, 24-hour supervision and medical care, as well as short-term care after a hospital stay, surgery, or illness. Team members include licensed nurses, doctors, and therapists. But the Skilled Nursing area of a Life Plan Community (often called the Health Center) doesn’t feel like a hospital. On the contrary, it’s designed to have the same, comfortable feeling of home as the rest of the community.
Choose the Living Option and Lifestyle That’s Right for You
Life Plan Communities offer a full range of senior living options and often provide the flexibility of a variety of entrance plans. You or your loved one can typically move directly into the living option that’s just right for you.
You also may gain some tax advantages. Entrance fees and a portion of monthly fees may qualify as medical expenses, potentially deductible if you are itemizing deductions. This can result in a lower taxable income. Additionally, some states offer tax breaks for Life Plan Community residents, such as property tax exemptions or deductions. Furthermore, selling a home can trigger capital gains tax, but using the proceeds to pay a Life Plan Community entrance fee might mitigate this. Consulting a tax professional is advisable to fully understand what specific advantages are available to you and how you can optimize these potential benefits.
At Westminster, we’d love to have the opportunity to speak with you about all the advantages our Life Plan Community has to offer. Contact us today to find out more about our senior living options and see how we can be Extraordinary, Together.
