When you’re ready to make the move to a life care community, take time to research your choices. These communities offer a comprehensive program including health care, meal plans, help with household tasks, and social activities — all geared toward helping you live a longer, healthier life.

Thoroughly investigate at least two life care communities. A brochure and tour will highlight the amenities and activities (see “Look for These,” page 74).

Meet the family

Stay in a guest room for a couple of days to experience the everyday life of the community and get residents’ unfiltered opinions of the place. Are people friendly? Is there a feeling of camaraderie?

Get an assessment of the quality of care from people who have spent time in a health care unit. Stroll through the skilled nursing section. Is it clean and orderly? An odor of urine is not a good sign. Are patients with dementia housed in an isolated unit to prevent wandering?

Make sure the food measures up to your expectations. Is there a dietitian on staff or available for consultation to create menus accommodating allergies and other medical conditions? Is there a food service committee that works closely with the staff to ensure tasty and healthy fare? If the food is catered, residents might have little or no say as to its quality. To fully enjoy retirement, you must like the food.

What to do?

A good life care community offers lots of activities to maintain healthy bodies and minds, such as arts and crafts, pottery, painting, and weaving; table games, poker, and bingo; body building, hiking, and aquatics — and many more. Ask what activities are available to those confined in health care units. Do they enjoy birthday and holiday parties, arts and crafts, videos, music, and pet visitation?

Help at hand

A wellness program should be high on your list of desired amenities. This program assists with grocery shopping, bathing, grooming, personal hygiene, personal laundry, medications, and other activities. As residents age, help with minor tasks can enable them to live independently as long as possible. Ask about the number of free hours of assistance allotted to qualified residents.

Money changes everything

Life care contracts vary (see “Life Care Defined,” page 62). Before you sign an agreement, study the refund clause in case you decide to cancel at some future date. Normally, the amount returned to you is based on the number of months since buy-in. Is a similar amount returned to your estate in the event of your death? Consider asking an accountant to validate the financial status of the facility.

A monthly service fee usually will cover your portion of the operating expenses. Ask how much it has increased over the past few years — and what arrangements are possible if your future finances fall short. Are funds available to assist residents entering financial straits? Also note that a significant part of your rent and entrance fee is deductible on your income tax return.

Happily ever after

Residents of life care are likely to enjoy greater life expectancy. Why?

• They suffer less anxiety and stress. For example, they no longer have the burdens of home ownership: no leaking roofs, no snow shoveling, no plugged-up drains — they just call the maintenance department.
   
• They don’t worry about which relatives can come to their aid in the event of a serious, lengthy disability. And when they develop a new ailment, a nurse will insist they see a doctor — pronto.
   
• They eat regular, balanced meals.
   
• Immediate professional assistance is available in the event of a heart attack, stroke, choking, or other medical emergency.