By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-04-20 23:19:52 | Word Count: 664
It’s very often a difficult and emotional decision to leaving one’s home for a retirement community. While its tough to leave the familiarity of the home you’ve toiled on, often raised children in and have grown to love, there are a tremendous number of excellent retirement communities in Florida, each with their own unique personality and features. The key lies in finding the senior retirement community that’s just right for you.
Deciding which senior community fits your needs is challenging. The most important thing is to choose the type of retirement community that best fits your lifestyle and both current and future needs. Some Florida communities promote themselves as independent living communities while others offer assisted living or even full scale nursing care. No matter which type of community you choose, make sure that it’s completely equipped to handle all of your personal needs.
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Before making any final decision on a senior retirement community, there are several things one must keep in mind. First, retirement communities are often expensive. If you’re seeking an apartment or single family home located within a community be prepared to pay entry fees that typically run anywhere from $15,000 to $250,000 depending on the dwelling’s size and locale. In addition to entrance fees, consider whether you will be able to afford the ongoing monthly fees associated with your new home. Many communities recommend your monthly income is at least twice the amount of all retirement living fees.
Secondly, make sure you know the services that are offered and what their costs are, if they’re included in your community’s association dues or if they are extras. In the case of retirement communities with assisted living and nursing facilities, some provide a flat monthly rate for these additional care services while others will charge a base rate and extra if you require further assistance above a pre-defined level. Some facilities have what’s known as a fee for service structure. In this scenario there will be no set monthly rate with expenses, depending completely on the type of care you require.
Keep in mind that is also important to apply to senior retirement communities while one is still in good health. Waiting for a medical condition to arise before considering a retirement community could cause one’s entrance application to be rejected.
To feel totally comfortable with your new senior retirement community, it’s important to do extensive research prior to even visiting the location for the first time. Once you’ve done a sufficient amount of background investigating on your own, it’s important to not only visit the community but to pay close attention to details. A great number of communities encourage potential residents to spend the night as a “free trial” and even have eaten their meals in the community’s dining facility. It’s also a good idea to simply strike up a conversation or two with existing residents. Chances are much greater that these conversations will shed more light than conversing with a staff member or going on a traditional tour.
If your touring a senior retirement community in Florida, which provides assisted living and/or nursing facilities, then you need to pay close attention. Make sure to notice if these areas are clean, well maintained, and staffed with friendly individuals. It’s also important that specialized areas feel like a part of the community itself, not some isolated ward.
Before committing to a senior retirement community the most important step is to review your contract thoroughly and ask any questions you might have. Any contract should explain what you are paying for, including information about your living quarters as well as how many meals are included in your monthly fees. Your contract may include housekeeping, laundry, and transportation at no additional cost to you vs. being provided for you with extra charges on an as needed basis. Make sure to fully understand all the details, express any concerns, and ask as many questions before signing on the dotted line.
