When deciding to choose a continuing care retirement community there are several key questions you should ask to ensure that you’re getting the best amenities without being overcharged.

Below are the top 5 questions that we recommend asking every retirement community that you are interested in living.

1) If I need a higher level of care in the future, what additional costs should I expect?

You never know what the future may hold, so it is important to have as much financial information as possible, especially with regards to your future health needs. Riddle Village offers a Lifecare contract to its residents. This contract provides living accommodations, residential services and amenities, plus unlimited personal care and skilled nursing care without an increase to the monthly service fee (except for normal increases related to the operating cost inflation adjustments and ancillary items).

Lifecare helps assure no single resident will face financial ruin because of personal care, memory care or skilled nursing costs. Not all continuing care retirement communities offer this comprehensive contract. It is important to understand the difference between the contracts offered at CCRCs and how they will affect you financially in the future.

2) What is the medical and financial criteria to enter your community?

It is standard in many communities to require a prospective resident to meet a medical and financial criteria prior to being approved for residency. In a Lifecare community, the medical review is used to determine the ability of the applicant to function or live in the residential living apartment and to determine the level of risk or burden on the community either immediately or in the future. The financial review analyzes the ability of the prospective resident to comfortably (not causing undue pressures, burden, or limitation on the applicant’s lifestyle) afford the required entrance and monthly fees.

This criteria takes into consideration the ability to pay the monthly fee over a period of time.  Which can be based on the life expectancy of the applicant or a conservative formula that calculates present income that is considered upon future earning on existing assets, future annual increase on monthly fee, and other expenditures above and beyond the monthly fee.

3) What amenities and services are included in the monthly fee?

Any community you visit should be able to provide you with a list of included amenities and services. It is a beneficial exercise to evaluate and compare each community you visit. As you will learn quickly, not all communities are alike and some services and amenities may be more important to you than others. Click here to download a comparison worksheet that will help you get started!

4) May I see your health care center…today?

Anywhere that does not offer last minute visits should raise a red flag. Health care centers need to always be prepared for visitors and have a representative on hand to answer any questions you may have. Visiting a health care center on short notice is a great way to observe resident satisfaction, staff interaction, and appearance of the center. It is important to visit the health care center before making a final decision to join a community.

5) Can I “test drive” the lifestyle?

There is only so much you can learn from a brochure, which is why most retirement communities offer a variety of ways to really experience the lifestyle that they have to offer.

The easiest way to picture living somewhere is to explore it yourself. By setting up a tour, joining residents for dinner, or even spending a night or two in a guest suite, you will get a feel for what it is really like to be a resident. Moving into your future home is life-changing, but a lifestyle visit will help you to decide whether a particular community is the right place for you.

For more information about what Riddle Village has to offer request a brochure or schedule a visit today.