Someone stopped me in the Bistro the other day and told me he often uses the articles that I have been putting in the Roadrunner to share with friends who are considering a move to Beatitudes Campus. That was a much appreciated compliment and it occurred to me today (New Year’s..) one of those reflective times when I am thinking of a lot of plans for 2018) that it might be worthwhile for all of you to have a bit of a tool to use when speaking to family or friends about their potential move to our Life Plan Community.
That’s really one of the best points – “Life Plan.” When you made the decision to live at Beatitudes, you did yourself the favor of taking one of the most important steps in planning for your “senior” years. If your friend or a loved one is considering their senior living options, they likely have begun doing research on retirement communities. With all of the choices available, it can be a lot to take in so the decision process can take some time, depending on the situation. Some senior living decisions are needs-based and move much quicker, while others are more preference-based and can take months or even years.
The timing conundrum
Ideally, one should not wait until the day they need to move to begin planning. If for no other reason, this can be problematic because of the very subject I am addressing here—there could be a wait list for the living setting you prefer. But one of the challenges of planning ahead for long term care housing needs is that it can be hard to foresee exactly when you will need it. It could happen slowly with the natural aging process or the progression of a degenerative disease, or it can occur quickly with an illness or injury. So it is advisable to get on the waiting list if you are looking at the Beatitudes for yourself or a family member; this way, when the time comes and your house sells or situation changes, you will hopefully be near the top of the list and, most importantly, you will be able to enjoy the many, many benefits of independent living on the campus while you can.
We are taking reservations right now for the new patio homes that we’ve announced and will begin “pre-sales” (deposits) in mid-February. Our priority program has reached 56 members with 47 who have paid their initial placeholder deposit for a chance at one of our 34 patio homes. One of the additional benefits that has also occurred during the last few months as we have presented the opportunity to hundreds of interested prospects has been that some are deciding to move into our present residences rather than wait! If your friends or family are eyeing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC, also known as a Life Plan Community) another consideration is that many communities require new residents be able to “walk in,” that is, they must be relatively able-bodied when they first move to the community. In fact, many Life Plan Communities have a very active base of residents such as we do who live independently today, but want to be someplace where care is available to them on-site when needed. Most Life Plan Communities maintain an assisted living and/or health care center in addition to offering independent living such as Beatitudes Campus. We are blessed to have such highly rated licensed care options here for eventual needs as well as supplemental care options (Beatitudes Home Health and Beatitudes at Home) to extend independence.
How waiting lists work
Many Life Plan Communities have wait lists—yet, these lists are not necessarily just for assisted living or skilled nursing. When applicable, wait lists are often also associated with an independent living residence. When adding your name to a wait list, you’ll typically specify which type of unit you desire, e.g., a patio home, one or two-bedroom apartment, etc. When a resident in your desired unit type moves out (often because their needs have progressed and they are transferring into the on-site assisted living or healthcare facility) then the unit becomes available to you.
Once you’re on the wait list, retirement communities may offer a variety of perks to future residents—maybe unlimited use of their pool and exercise facility, or access to other community events and activities. We have begun our L.A.F.F. (Lifestyle, Activities, Fun and Friendship) Club to facilitate that very type of relationship to the campus. In fact, a growing number of Life Plan Communities are beginning to call their wait list a “membership” just like ours. I would encourage residents-to-be to take advantage of this benefit as it allows you to begin the process of assimilating into the community and meeting future neighbors, even before you live there. We do have some club members who have not put their names on the wait list, but many do so in order to have good familiarity with the campus when the time is right.
It is also good to be aware that some communities will have an internal waiting list such as we do. If you find yourself in a situation where you need (or want) to move into the community and your preferred unit is not available—forcing you to settle for your second or third choice–you can go ahead and move in but stay on the internal list and wait for your desired unit-type to open up. Existing residents will typically get priority over non-residents, so you may be able to get your preference more quickly. Adding your name to the waiting list is one of the ways you can plan for your future. This step can give you and your loved ones a level of security, knowing that you will be well-cared for in the future.
Remember that, as a Beatitudes resident, if you refer a prospect who becomes a priority program member, you’ll earn $100. If that prospect does sign a residency contract and move into Central Park or a Patio Home, you’ll receive a $1,000 bonus after they have lived on campus for four months. Your second successful referral is worth $1250 and the third earns $1500 – that’s a possibility of $3750 a year! The only requirements are that the prospect is not already in our marketing database and that you do register the name with the sales staff prior to their initial tour.
These are indeed exciting times here and we are equally as excited to see all of the progress being made!
