Understanding Different Retirement Communities Based On Budget And Medical Needs

| Tuesday, April 5, 2011
By Byron Jonas


When one has lived their entire life on their own or with help of family, looking at moving into a retirement center can be quite a challenge for most aging adults. However, at times, doing so can create more freedom than one has seen in years. For often, individuals living in such locations are afforded full-time housekeeping along with any necessary medical care. So, whether one simply wants to live in a small community of like-minded retired adults, or needs help due to medical issues, different retirement communities offer different options for doing so.

So what are the differences between these three types of retirement communities? Of course, it is easy to know what one may need in relation to medical care when making a choice. However, as no retirement community is cheap, it is often good to shop around as much as possible when looking to make such a move. For, while there are three different categories of retirement centers, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of such communities available in various areas around the world.

For, while seniors who live in active communities do not require on-site medical attention, those living in active and supportive communities generally need some form of ongoing medical care. These type of communities are also often referred to as continuing retirement communities. Whereas, those living in supportive retirement communities, also known as assisted living centers or communities often require twenty four seven ongoing medical care.

For, when it comes to budget and cost, the hope of finding a great retirement community which one can afford can be quite a challenge. Just one reason it is good if at all possible to carry long-term care insurance as some such centers and communities do accept such coverage. A good reason to hold such coverage, with entry fees, monthly fees and medical costs, costs for such a community can range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars over the course of a stay.

Also, as one must generally come up with entry fees when moving into such a community, often move-in costs can be extremely expensive, ranging from a few thousand dollars to over a hundred thousand dollars, not something everyone can easily afford. So, if one has not yet reached retirement age, one may want to consider obtaining long-term care insurance, as some communities do accept insurance related to such care.

As such, whether due to medical care needs or old age, often one is going to have to access to ongoing monetary support in order to stay in such facilities. For, while medicare and social security payments may pay part of the premiums required to live in such a location, individuals are also going to need access to ongoing monetary support on an ongoing basis. As while these payments may cover a small percentage of the monthly costs, generally such costs can range from two to five thousand dollars and more when medical care is required.

Therefore, while there are different retirement communities available worldwide, individuals looking to move into such communities need to base their selection on both budget and health care needs. For, unless one can afford to stay in such a community, often one may pay heft entry fees, move-in, only to find in a few months there is now way to keep up with monthly costs. Otherwise, if one can not afford to continue their stay as agreed during the sign-up process, one may only move-in to lose any deposits, entry fees or other monies associated with such communities.




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