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Anyone Else Looking Into CCRCs?

I've always planned on moving into a CCRC - a Continuing Care Retirement Community - where all kinds of services/activities are all on one campus, but no one is forced to participate in all activities, just those they want to and are capable of, around age 70, or so.  Since I'll turn 68 this Fall, I've started my search by determining the state/area to look at and have found 4 CCRCs to do more research on.

 

As a former planner, then scheduler, then data manager, I'm a believer in gathering all kinds of data based on a set of parameters that fit my needs. The trouble I'm running into is none of the websites provide the detail I want/need ( like toilet height, virtual tours of houses/apartments, as well as floorplans, screened patios or balconies since I'm allergic to bee venom, no stacked washer/dryer since I'm too short, etc.). I don't see the sense of exploring facilities further, if they don't provide what I need. When I sent an inquiry via their website, w/o my phone number, since I didn't want to be called, and clearly stated that in my e-mail message to them - I got a call the next morning that woke me up, from an overzealous young man who talked too fast and was intent on telling me about things I didn't want to know until her provided answers to my questions.

 

Since that time, I've made a spreadsheet with all my questions structured for Y/N answers first, then some questions about the individual facilities after I've explored their websites more thoroughly. For example, one facility only had a floorplan for the house with a loft they provided for those who started living in independent housing on the campus, no floorplans for assisted living apartments, while another had at least 20 different floorplans for all the different assisted living apartments, but no floorplans for the independent housing. (This is why I spent the time coming up with a separate spreadsheet for each facility.)

 

After the experience I had with the overzealous man at the first facility, I'm leery of contacting any of the facilities via phone or e-mail again, so am contemplating using the USPS to send a printout of my spreadsheet and asking them to mail it back to me after they've answered the questions, along with a set time for me to call them to go over any further questions I might have. I'm very leery of having more hardsell phone calls, even if I don't provide them with my phone number.

 

How has anyone else handled this experience? I had one friend tell me I should use a real estate brokerage firm as a go between. Another friend said I should hire an elder care lawyer. With the current stock and real estate market being chaotic, I'm not sure if I can afford several extra thousands of dollars to pay for additional services, since current conditions are not favorable for me to make a profit on selling my home.

 

Looking forward to hearing others experiences in this area.

Cee
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Periodic Contributor

If you don't want to share your email (and I totally get why you might not), just go to google and create a new address that does not use your name (socialbutterfly53@gmail.com) or just your first name (JaneIsRetiring@gmail.com). I have no idea if those are available but they are to help trigger your thoughts about a good address for you to claim. You use that address to correspond. If you decide against a place, you can filter all messages from their domain name to the trash. They won't have your real name or phone number so you won't get hassled in the mail or with unwanted calls.

When you have visited and made a decision to move somewhere, then give them your regular contact information. 

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Hi, I found a CCRC in the traingle between the three colleges in NC. NC is beautiful, but too conservaive for me. But this area is the third most liberal in the USA. I almost felt I could move there now--I have no siblings, a very small family, two children who I am very close to but they don't live nerar by.

I can't think of the name--I wondered if you'd heard anything about this place.

The ocean is two hours away,and I was hoping for somewhere on the ocean, but I'm not going to do FL--and two hours to the ocean is a wonderment to someone in the middle of Iowa. (I'm from Chicago and would love to live on Lake Michigan, but it's too expensive.)

I'm a writer and have plans to stop writing write until I can't--and it seems this place would allow me to have a continuing career. 

I also am leery of contacting places, because the calls and emails don't stop coming.

 

Cynthia

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Can anyone out there assist me in finding an ideal location? I do want to be near South Elry as this is where my kids and grandkids are based.

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Honored Social Butterfly


@ccnceewrote:

 

How has anyone else handled this experience? I had one friend tell me I should use a real estate brokerage firm as a go between. Another friend said I should hire an elder care lawyer. With the current stock and real estate market being chaotic, I'm not sure if I can afford several extra thousands of dollars to pay for additional services, since current conditions are not favorable for me to make a profit on selling my home.

 

Looking forward to hearing others experiences in this area.


>>

Congratualtions on your plan.  I hate to have to tell you this but at least in my experience there is no way to find out all of these details without actually visiting the facilities.  No matter what type of housing or community you are looking for, nothing beats first hand knowledge.  

I have toured every property I have considered and found lots of questions I never even knew I had until I went there.  

That would be my advice to you.  Pick your top choices and visit.  You might even have to make a return trip,

 

 

 

Life's a Journey, not a Destination" Aerosmith
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Thanks, nyadm, I do intend to visit the top 2 choices. My point is, if the communities don't meet my criteria to even begin with, why spend time, money and efffort on a tour/visit to all 4 of them. In the meantime, I'm still working on a spreadsheet for each one of the 4, between going through my current house, one room at a time to determine what I should donate, trash, try to sell, keep and pack. Sorry I wasn't clear on the next step after narrowing down the 4 choices to 2.

 

 

Cee
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In Rochester, NY we have one seniors community that doesn't force you to buy your townhome/patio home upfront. You lease your residence, at a large cost, but it allows you to keep your savings/investments working for you to maintain your income. It's also a foot in the door for continuing care when the time comes.

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Although I'm living sans any community support[and no family at age 68] combined taxes on 147K are $3813 after Basic STAR in 14471.

Perhaps that seems reasonable,but it isn't for me.Ergo I'm looking outswide NYState[..I won't be a snowbird].

Trying  to find a medical practice in the greater Rochester,NY area that is not:

-insulin/injectable diabetic  med pusher,non pusher of over  priced meds like Invokana and Januvia- grossly over priced despite insurance

-open to more herbal prepaarations

-doesn't always want  to foist [over  priced]specialists and tests

-isn't hoplophobic

URMC and UHC are both problematic.

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Periodic Contributor

While you won't be moving to my community, it is one of 15 in different parts of the country, and has a website that explains the different options,,,, 

Just google "simply the finest" or Liberty Village Peru, Il. (our home CCRC)

Be  sure to scroll down the pages to see what is offered. 

Villas... 1600 s.f. regular homes... like ours.

Estates.... 1 and 2 bedroom apartments

Hawthorne ... Assisted Living

Bounce Back... A recovery section

AJ's.  Fitness Center

Manior Court... Nursing home

Memoery Lane ... Alzheimers unit 

all together about 600 units. 

 

This is the newest version of a full service CCRC. 

 

 

 

Tom Young
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Dumb question:what's that cc..mean?

I'm looking for non insulin/overpriced Rx and non hoplophobic practices in the Rochester,NY area.If at all possible:over the counter or herbal Rxs.The price even insuurance discount??by UHC]for Invokana and Januvia is outrageous,and I will not do insulin or injectable diabetic meds.Also tired of constantly being[attempted to be]foisted on over priced specialists.I wonder of UHC would pay for non physicians[e.g.homeopaths or naturopaths]and herbals?

Thanks.

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About 20+ years ago I actually worked at one, very near the University the Seniors were retired faculty of. I loved the Residents; they loved the Staff; everyone cared.

 

I would love to find that type of place, no matter the status in life; just respect the person. Perhaps like that retired actors' home.

 

Just saying, with housing markets sky-high everywhere, how do we find affordable care at the level we need now that will adjust to our needs later, if necessary, and not impact income to the point our kids will have to pay?

 

Flower-child, 2 retirement funds wiped out by greedy owners; 1 liquidated by buyout.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

#VegasStrong

 

 

 

 


#VegasStrong
Phil Harris, actor and showman, to John Fogerty of CCR: “If I’d known I’d live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”
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