What living in a community that offers a full continuum of care can do for you — even when you’re healthy

Retirement communities focus on an independent lifestyle for active adults who want to enrich their lives. Most, though not all, also offer access to some health services within the community.

Originally called continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs, and now known as Life Plan Communities, there are somewhere around 5,000 retirement communities in the U.S. that offer — at a minimum — independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care.¹ Many, including all three Sun Health Community locations, also offer memory support and rehabilitation services. Some offer hospice care, as well.

A plan for the future makes it easier now

Now, if you’re in good health, you might be wondering why you should consider moving to a Life Plan Community. The short answer is this: for your peace of mind.

Until there’s a reliable crystal ball, we just can’t know what’s ahead. Our best bet is to prepare for what might happen, based on the information we have at hand. And that’s exactly what Life Plan Communities are designed for: having a plan in place that addresses a variety of potential scenarios.

Our circumstances can change significantly in a day’s time, and often without warning. Living in a Life Plan Community can quell worries about “what if?” For instance, if an unforeseen situation arises and you find that you need rehabilitation therapy, it’s good to know that you can get it right there in your own community.

Or, if your health changes over time and you begin to notice that you’re having difficulty managing your daily personal care on your own, it’s reassuring to know that help is available — again, right where you live. And the same is true if you should need memory care, as long as the retirement community you’re living in provides that type of support.

In the meantime, if you’ve chosen a Life Plan Community as your home, you can relax and fully enjoy your good health as you take advantage of the diverse selection of events, activities, programs and amenities that are available to you. By the way, that includes the opportunity to work with a wellness coordinator who can help you maintain and possibly even improve your health.

Closer is better

At this point, you might be thinking, But I can get whatever care I might need elsewhere, when I need it. That may be true. Consider this, though: Isn’t it easier and more convenient, not to mention less time-consuming, to get the health services you require close to home?

Let’s say you have a hospital stay and need to have physical therapy a few times a week for several weeks after you’re discharged. Instead of having to repeatedly drive (or get someone else to take you) to a physical therapy provider who’s miles away, if you lived in a Life Plan Community you could just go to the rehabilitation center.

And what if the time comes when you need to transition to assisted living? Rather than having to adjust to a whole new place, surrounded by people you don’t know, you could stay in the same familiar environment, where your friends are close by.

Guaranteed access is even better

As noted above, you may be able to get the care you need somewhere else, but what if there’s a waiting list? Sometimes it can take weeks or even months to get into an assisted living or memory care provider location.

If you live in a Life Plan Community that offers a full continuum of care and you’ve signed a Life Care agreement, you’re assured priority access to all health services available in the community. That’s true even if your financial circumstances change through no fault of your own or you outlive your assets. Every Sun Health Community location offers three Life Care agreement options, so you can choose the one that best fits your current health or financial situation.

An excellent choice for couples

Choosing a retirement community that provides various levels of health services makes perfect sense for couples because it gives them a solid opportunity to stay together in years to come, regardless of how their health might change.

It’s not unusual for one spouse to remain in very good health and the other to eventually need assisted living or memory care. In a situation such as this, the responsibility for taking care of the spouse that needs additional care doesn’t rest on the shoulders of the healthier spouse or other family members. And, by staying in the same community, it’s far easier to spend time together than it would be otherwise.

There’s no time like the present

If you’re weighing the options for your next move, or you’re gathering information for a family member, keep this in mind: One of the most common remarks people make after they’ve moved to a retirement community is they wish they had moved much sooner.

Once new residents settle in and find what a relief it is not to have to bother with home repairs or meal preparation or other time-consuming chores, they turn their attention to making new social connections and participating in activities that interest and engage them. Many discover that their health improves and their spirits are lifted, and not necessarily in that order. It doesn’t really matter which comes first — what matters is the result.

Here’s something else to bear in mind: If you wish to move to an independent living community, you must be able to live independently. That seems like an obvious statement, but if you wait and your health needs change such that you can no longer manage your medications or daily personal routines without assistance, you could miss your chance to live in Life Plan Community.

An alternative to moving

If you prefer to stay in your current home, you might still be able to enjoy the same advantages of living in a retirement community that provides a full continuum of care.

For example, Sun Health At Home is considered a Life Plan Community. That means Sun Health At Home members have access to the amenities and health services at any Sun Health Community location, and they can even sign a Life Care agreement to protect themselves in the future.

Making the right choice for you

With all of the options you have, it’s important to discuss them with your family or others you trust. Time permitting, do some research. Visit websites for retirement communities in your area (or in your intended destination) to help whittle down the possibilities. Call and talk with residency counselors at the ones that pass muster, and then go visit the communities in person, if at all possible.

The more information you have, the more likely it is that you’ll make a satisfying decision about where — or whether — to make your next move. If you’d like to learn more about the Life Plan Community options available at Sun Health Communities, our Residency Counselors are here to help.

¹ Research and Statistics for Seniors, https://www.seniorliving.org/research/ accessed 5/3/19