How to Choose an Independent Living Community
Congratulations! You’re retiring and ready for a change of pace. You’re no longer interested in taking care of a home – you want to spend time doing the things that you enjoy instead of monotonous lists of have-to-do’s – such as yard work and home maintenance. You want to know what your life would be like if you chose to move into an independent living community. We’re here to tell you all about it.
What is an Independent Living Community?
An independent living community is made up of seniors who want to live on their own in and with a community of others in their generation. In this type of setting you’ll discover social events, activities, clubs, travel opportunities, classes and restaurant-style dining. Gone are the days of cleaning a big house, worrying about fixing things that break and dealing with lawn care. In an independent living community, you can choose a smaller space that’s more manageable. Exterior and interior maintenance is taken care of. This type of living is designed to make your life easier and more enjoyable. It also sets you up for later – if you need more help as you age, an all-inclusive independent living community (typically called either a Life Plan Community or a Continuing Care Retirement Community) also provides a full continuum of care. They may offer some or all these levels of living for those who need care: assisted living, skilled nursing and rehab, memory care.
How to Choose an Independent Living Community That’s Perfect For You
Location, services and amenities, and the environment are things you should consider when finding the right fit for you.
Location. What’s important to you? Do you want to stay close to family? Is the community close to a metropolitan area or more rural? Is there a certain part of the country you’ve always wanted to live in? These are things people consider when they’re looking. Ask yourself these questions and create a list of independent living communities based on your answers. If you’re a Floridian or want to be, check out Lake Port Square in Leesburg, Florida. Our lush 78-acre campus is full of beauty for the outdoor lover.
Services & Amenities. Independent living communities offer so many wonderful things to help make your life as carefree and enjoyable as possible.
Day-to-Day – Every place is different. At Lake Port Square, you’ll find necessity types of conveniences such as; a cleaning services, a beauty salon/barbershopconvenience store, scheduled transportation to medical appointments and special events. Here, you can also enjoy pontoon rides, spending time in the lakefront gazebo, from our lakefront attending frequent shows and concerts and working on your golf game at our four-hole putting green. We even have a community flower and vegetable garden!
Fitness – Helping you stay as healthy as you can be, Independent living communities may have personal trainers, dieticians, fitness classes, golf courses, swimming pools and group fitness classes.
Education – Lifelong learning is considered by experts to be good for your health and well-being. Many independent living communities offer classes within the community such as art or languages, or are located near a local college or university where you can attend classes or special events.
Dining – While you’ll likely have a kitchen in your residence, independent living communities typically offer multiple dining venues with meals prepared by g award-winning chefs and a talented culinary staff.
Environment. It’s a given that you’ll be surrounded by people your own age. When looking at an independent living community, see if you can visit with some of the residents to get a feel for the community. What does the social calendar look like? Are they pet-riendly like we are?
How Long Can You Stay in an Independent Living Community?
There are many things to consider when choosing your next home. What is the level of care provided? When considering a community, find out what that looks like. For example, if you need help can you receive care in your independent living apartment, or will you need to move to a different part of the community? Do they offer skilled nursing and rehab? These are all important questions to ask. Lake Port Square is a Life Plan Community that allows seniors to seamlessly transition from one level of care to another, if health needs ever change.
How Much Does an Independent Living Community Cost?
An article about money and retirement in U.S. News talked about the costs of independent living communities. There’s an initial nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to $2,000. Monthly fees range from $1,500 to $3,500. In some communities the monthly rent covers most expenses while others charge you additional fees per each service. If you move into assisted living, the monthly fee increases. Make sure to review the contracts to find out all the details. At Life Plan Communities like Lake Port Square, you can have it all including peace of mind in knowing that you’re covered. You’ll have a one time entrance fee and ongoing monthly fee.
Making the decision where you’re going to spend your days relaxing and enjoying life is a tough one. Make sure you do your research and talk to friends and family to get their help and advice. Lake Port Square is a Life Plan Community that offers Life Care and multiple levels of living. You’ll be able to live here as long as you’d like, even if you need higher levels of care. If you’d like to learn more, contact us. We’d love to show you around!
