How Life Plan Communities Can Help Couples Stay Together As They Age
About 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need some type of long-term care during their lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). On average, women will need care for a longer period of time (3.7 years) compared to men (2.2 years). In addition, 20 percent of those age 65 and older will need care for more than 5 years.
An active, healthy lifestyle can help protect your mind and body from disease and injury—which often leads to a need for long-term care. However, there are no guarantees in life. So, the question of whether—and how long—you or your spouse may need care remains unknown. Life Plan communities like Carillon can help.
Stay Active With Life Plan
With that in mind, it’s best to make a move while you’re younger and healthy. Therefore, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the amenities and opportunities that come with a Life Plan community, also known as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). As a Carillon Senior Living resident, you’ll have access to all sorts of services and amenities that keep you active, healthy and fulfilled.
Such as:
- Walking trails
- Billiards, indoor pool, art studio, woodworking shop, libraries
- Fitness classes and wellness programs
- Social and recreational activities
- Community outings to Texas Tech sports, entertainment and cultural events
- Volunteer programs
Care When You Need It
Since aging is an individual thing, a couple should not expect that both partners will have the same needs throughout retirement. As a couple ages, one partner may require assisted living or skilled nursing services, while the other partner remains able to live independently.
A Life Plan community can help couples prepare for the challenges that an unknown future may bring. Life Plan communities like Carillon provide a continuum of services that are available if and when needed.
Services include:
- independent living
- assisted living
- various health care services, including memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation
If, after moving into a Life Plan community, one spouse eventually needs a higher level of assistance or memory care support, the couple can still be together at the retirement community.
At Carillon, providing a variety of residence options to fit individualized needs and connect family members is a priority for our community. And we do this with over 30 floor plan options. Specifically, our Pointe Plaza apartments are the perfect residence option for couples needing different care levels. Located at the center of our campus, these residences are well connected to amenities like the wellness center and Skylight Dining Room as well as the assisted living and skilled nursing care residences. With care residences nearby, you and a loved one are both able to receive the appropriate care needed and stay together in the same community.
How Life Plan Communities Work
Here is an example of how a Life Plan community can meet the needs of both partners over time:
Jim and Jane move into an independent living residence at a Life Plan community. A few years later, Jane is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The couple continues to live together for a couple of years. As Jane’s needs change, she moves into another section of the Life Plan community to receive additional care and support at a minimum increase to their monthly fee. Jim continues to enjoy the social benefits of living within the retirement community and can visit with Jane, who is just a short walk away, whenever he wants, providing him with the peace of mind that Jane’s needs are being met.
Couples who seek peace of mind in the face of uncertainty may want to consider a Life Plan community as a viable retirement living choice to ensure that both partners will be taken care of now and in the future.
Plan For Your Future With Carillon
Carillon Senior Living makes it easy to plan for your future with onsite access to healthcare, vibrant programs and amenities. We’d love to show you around our community so that you can see for yourself! Fill out a form here or call us at (806) 281-6106 to learn more or to schedule a visit to our community.
We also encourage you to take advantage of our helpful retirement planning resources. Check out our cost calculator to compare the costs of your current lifestyle versus living at Carillon. This tool is online, easy to use and confidential. Plus, we’d be happy to break down the results with you if you’d like. We also offer a complimentary retirement living guide that walks you through the important questions and terms to know during your planning journey.
The above article was written by Brad Breeding of myLifeSite and is legally licensed for use.