You’re probably familiar with the terms associated with saving for retirement, such as 401k, IRA, pension, and annuity. You’re likely to have checked your earnings record from Social Security and taken other key steps to analyze and maximize your retirement benefits.
Becoming familiar with the phrases associated with retirement living choices helps when it comes to deciding what option is best for you and your family. For instance, what exactly is a senior living community? What is the difference between Assisted Living and Memory Care? Below we identify the top five words you and your loved ones should know as you begin your retirement living journey.
1. Senior Living Community: This is a residential community designed for older adults that usually offers several levels of care, social opportunities, and additional services and amenities.
2. Assisted Living: Senior living communities often offer assisted living for seniors who need extra help with daily tasks such as taking medicine, dressing, and mobility.
3. Memory Care: Memory care is residential care that provides 24/7 professional support to seniors who have mild to severe memory loss, including those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
4. Resident Life Coordinator/Director of Activities: This staff member at a retirement community is in charge of planning activities and events to enrich the lives of their residents.
5. Deposit Fees/Monthly Fees: In addition to monthly rent, usually there is an upfront cost or deposit required to move into a senior living community. Most communities have “Second Occupant Fees” that make it more affordable for spouses to live together.
“The most important factor when choosing a community is finding one that matches your current health needs and can also accommodate any future needs,” says Diana Matthews, Executive Director. “You don’t want to have to move again as you age.” Diana adds, “It’s also key to tour the community, as well as check out their reputation online. We encourage anyone considering a retirement community to learn about their protocols for safety and cleanliness.”
“When you tour a community, you’ll want to observe how the staff interacts with the residents,” says Traci Vinson, Director of Sales. “You can often tell if there are warm and genuine relationships between the employees and the folks who live at the community. Ask for a calendar of events, and be sure to check out the quality of the meals being served.”
Vintage Care of Palatka offers both Assisted Living and Memory Care at our beautiful campus.
Our Resident Life Coordinator makes every day fun with interesting events and outings. Call us today at (386) 329-9905. The members of our friendly team look forward to helping you determine if Vintage Care of Palatka is the right fit for you or your loved one.
