The Ball is in Their Court

As I drove down the entrance road going into the 40 acre complex of the continuing care facility a sense of peace came over me just seeing the dense woods and lake and I said to myself, I want to live here!---even though in the back of my mind I knew many of those trees would probably get cut down to build the planned addition. Their other independent living phase that was built nearly ten years ago is still beautiful and beautifully maintained with both walking trails in wooded areas and manicured grass areas. Their memory care buildings look like a plush resort on a lake and I had to look three times before I noticed the center court yard that overlooked the lake between the two buildings was entirely fenced in with decorative iron work. The non-profit that runs this complex, as I’ve said in a prior post, has been around since 1906 and has a good track record and reputation and other places around town.

When the down-to-earth sales representative sat down with me, I liked her immediately. With every answer she gave to my questions, my excitement grew. “Do you have a weight restriction on dogs?” “No, if you want to live with a 200 pound dog, that’s your business." “Who decides when it’s time to move a person from independent living to assisted living or skilled nursing care or Hospice?” “The decision is jointly made by you, our care team and your medical power of attorney.” But they support aging in place with things like help with showers or visiting nurses to keep you in independent living for as long as possible. “Personal safety is our main criteria in the choice to move someone out of independent living,” she said, “we don’t want people with dementia wandering around and lost.”

The unit I like has an entrance fee of $215,000 (or $205,750 if I reserve that unit in pre-construction). 25% to 75% of that entrance fee is refundable to your or your heirs depending on how long you live there. They’ll keep 1% for each month you are there up to 67 months. After that, there are no refunds. The monthly fee/rent I thought was a bargain at first at $1,800 but then she tacked on $250 to $300 a month for real estate taxes. Plus you pay your own phone and electric. Included in the monthly fee is their continuum of life-long care promise even if you run out of money, $200 worth of monthly vouchers to use at their restaurant or café, choice of underground or covered parking, maintenance, landscaping, snow plowing, water, sewer, basic TV and WiFi, monthly housekeeping, refuse collection, 24/7 security, and a personal emergency wearable alert button.

In addition to the $9,250 off the entrance fee if you sign up now, before they break ground, you get to pick out all the finishes---flooring, counter tops and paint colors, etc. You also get a $5,000 upgrade of your choice---a fireplace, a vaulted bedroom ceiling or a stackable washer and drier. Or you can use that upgrade money to pay a service that helps you downsize, pack and move---the average cost of which is usually round $3,000, she said---the more stuff you have, the more.they'll pay up to $5,000. (I’ll blog about this service later, it’s amazing all they’ll do.) While in construction they'll have get-togethers for the future residents of the 75 new units where you can socialize and get updated on their progress and to give them input on things like menus at the restaurants, what kind of equipment for them to buy for the exercise and the arts and craft room and other things I’ve forgotten.

In case you’re wondering how these things work, it costs $250---non-refundable---just to apply to buy in and the form is six pages long. It includes a detailed summary of your assets, income, banking, liabilities, health insurances, places to list your powers of attorney for health and financial issues. And if I qualify financially they will require a statement from my doctor on my general health and Levi will have to pass a ‘friendly dog’ test which he’ll be able to do with flying colors. I am totally in love with this place---enamored, enchanted. Pick your adjective. The location is perfect for me and for future interaction with my family and all my doctors, the neighborhood is good, and the grounds are beautiful. Of course, right now there is mostly 3-D architectural videos and drawings of what the buildings interiors and exteriors and land orientations will look like but I’ve always been great at reading those sorts of drawings. Move-in is projected to be the fall of 2020 which suits me just fine because it will take me that long to plot and plan and go through the painful process of downsizing. 

I filled out the six page application over the weekend and delivered it Monday afternoon. It should take about a week before I’ll know if I’ll be accepted but if I am the payment schedule is: 10% down to reserve the exact unit I want (and there are only three, one bedroom dog friendly, first floor units left), 10% when they break ground, 10% when I pick the interior finishes, and the remaining of the entrance fee is due at move-in. All those percentage payments are 100% refundable if I change my mind at any point right up until to move-in. 

On one hand it seems like I’ve made a snap decision the minute I drove down the entrance to the place, but it’s really been a six year educational process since my husband died to consider the various options out there. Plus the long electrical outage we had last winter and the terrible flu I had seven weeks ago scared me into knowing I can't keep living so isolated with no one checking in with me on a regular basis. I just hope I get accepted because I feel totally at peace with my decision. Finances and the doctor's report aren't the only hurdle to jump that could get me turned down though. Did I mention the place has a church affiliation and I have none so that could come into play. The powers that decide if I'm in or out might decide I'm not a good fit. I have no doubts I can fit in, I've been doing that my entire life, living in what has long been known as the city of churches. ©

10 questions you need to ask any continuing care retirement community 

Note: The floor plan above is the unit I signed 'an intention of interest' on and they will hold it until after I get approved or not.If in, I'll have to deliver my first 10% payment for it to be a done deal.