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As you enjoy this exciting, rewarding stage of life, you want to be sure that your next move empowers you to keep thriving. And as you start considering the options for active independent living in the Westchester County area, the breadth of options may seem daunting—at first.
To help guide the way, The Osborn in Rye has put together this blog series highlighting five key questions you’ll want to ask while touring the senior living communities in Westchester and Fairfield counties.
You’ll find the first three questions in this article. We’ll share the remaining two questions, plus a bonus tip, in Part Two, which you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned to our next blog for Part Two of this series as well as all of the other helpful articles we publish.
When you’re done reading this series, bookmark these blog posts, or simply print the articles and bring them along on each tour. With each answer you receive, you’ll be closer to finding the ideal spot for your next chapter. Let’s go!
It may seem like a simple question, but it has a huge effect on both the short-term and long-term experience for residents. You’ll want to clarify whether the community you’re visiting is a Life Plan Community (sometimes referred to as a Continuing Care Retirement Community), a 55+ community, a rental community, or something else.
As the name implies, a Life Plan Community gracefully combines the benefits of an active independent lifestyle with the peace of mind of a secure future. This means you can enjoy amenity-rich independent living today, with the guarantee of access to highly trusted and accredited care in the same location if the need arises later. By contrast, most 55+ or “active adult” communities do not offer any sort of on-site healthcare, which may necessitate another move later on.
Plus, even if the community you’re visiting is a Life Plan Community, this article explains why it’s worth asking whether the community is not-for-profit or for-profit in nature.
Understandably, cost is a major deciding factor for most people looking for senior living near NYC. You want to be sure that you make a wise investment. In addition to speaking with your own trusted financial professionals beforehand, be sure to ask about the community’s general fee structure and contract options.
Exact costs will vary by community, contract type, and the residence you choose, but the sales counselor with whom you complete the tour will be able to give you a good idea of what to expect. Typically, a Life Plan Community will require an “entrance fee” upfront, which is usually covered by the proceeds from selling one’s house. Most retirement communities in Westchester also charge a modest monthly service fee to cover meals, amenities, and upkeep.
The contract you choose also plays a big part on the financial side. It will stipulate how much of your entrance fee is refundable to you or your estate if you move out of the community after a certain time, as well as how or if you’ll be billed for any on-site healthcare services in the future. For example, The Osborn is one of the few senior living communities in New York—and the entire United States—to offer a 100 percent refundable entrance fee.
Of course, be sure to request examples of the exact contract types available at each community and review them with your lawyer or estate planner before committing.
You’ll want to get a genuine look at what your future neighbors have available to them both within the community and nearby. During your tour, look around and observe what’s happening at the community. Are neighbors out and about, greeting you and each other? Are the public spaces well maintained and inviting? And don’t forget to “go with your gut” – does the food at the dining venues look, smell, and taste delightful? (Most NYC-area senior living tours will include a meal.)
On a daily basis, the community you choose should provide you ample opportunities to thrive socially, physically, artistically, intellectually, spiritually, and more. Ask your tour guide how members of that community typically spend their time, as well as what’s available near campus for those seeking the outdoors, lifelong learning, fine arts, fun spots to visit with family, or unique local flair and fare. Plus, any senior living community in Westchester worth its salt should have a way to keep residents connected to the energy and soul of New York City, whether through regular group outings or transportation/shuttle services.
That concludes Part One of this two-part blog series. Part Two is coming soon, so check back on September 3rd.
In the meantime, we hope this article gave you some helpful aspects to consider as you embark on or continue your search among the senior living communities near Westchester. For our part, The Osborn has been serving the area for more than 100 years, and we would be delighted to show you around.
Click here or call 888-9-OSBORN to arrange your personalized tour of our community, and feel free to bring this article with you. We can’t wait to meet you!