Not a Conveyor Belt…

Posted on

Feb 26, 2018

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Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are a popular senior living option in our region. The Chambersburg to Lancaster corridor is rich with outstanding communities, offering todays retirees an active, healthy lifestyle and valuable answers to their financial and health-related what-ifs.
Visitors to a modern and comprehensive CCRC leave impressed with the beautiful Residential Living accommodations, the great programming and thoughtful assistance in Personal Care, and the compassionate care and expertise in the Health Care Center. At the end of the day, however, first-time visitors often debrief at the kitchen table and come to the conclusion that the program is almost a conveyor belt to decline: you begin in an apartment or a cottage, you progress to Personal Care, then to Nursing Care, and then

Such thoughts are a common misconception. While some residents in a CCRC transfer through all the levels of care, many will not. Most apartment or cottage dwellers will take advantage of the Health Care Center on a short-term basis only, after a surgery or a hospital stay, and return home to their apartment or cottage with the support of residential nurses and other services if needed. Unlike their old friends who decided to stay at home on Main Street no-matter-what, they will see people every day, exercise mind and body, and take advantage of transportation, dining options, and support services. To tell you the truth, moving to a CCRC is likely to decrease their chance of needing long-term care later on.

Aging in Place is a great idea, and it is what we all wish we could do when we get older. Interestingly, your chances to age in place increase if you move very close to a Health Care Center, into a modern and well equipped CCRC. (Hint: When you start comparing villages to determine the perfect fit for your requirements and your budget, be sure to inquire about the availability of la carte nursing services in apartments and cottages.)

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Editors Note: This article was submitted by Oliver Hazan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Cross Keys Village-The Brethren Home Community in New Oxford.

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