Showing posts with label Holiday retirement communities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday retirement communities. Show all posts

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Holiday Touch Retirement Living Communities

Recently I wrote a blog post about Continuing Care Retirement Communities ... CCRC's.  These are communities where you can move in and age in place.  In other words, residents typically start out living independently in a private cottage or apartment and eventually get whatever additional assistance or skilled nursing care they may need as they age.  This is a very appealing option to retirees who want to make their own decisions, in advance, about where they will live for the remainder of their life, regardless of the health issues that may arise.  While the median age for people to move into a CCRC is about age 80, people do move into these communities in their 70s and, occasionally, when they are even younger. 

One of the lifestyles that came up repeatedly in my research and sounded very appealing was Holiday Retirement Living by Atria.   As a result, I thought I would write a post that focuses exclusively on this retirement option.  While these are independent living senior apartments and cottages, some of them also have on-site assisted living and memory care facilities and all of them can help you arrange for home health care services to come to your location to give you additional assistance with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, eating or taking your medication, should you need something between independent living and full assisted living.  In addition, since your basic rent includes all your meals, as well as housekeeping and transportation, most people can manage well in their apartments with very little additional help.  Every apartment also has a pull cord or similar devices so residents can easily contact the management in case of an emergency.

Holiday Touch Retirement Living Communities

There are currently about 314 Holiday Communities located around the United States, with additional locations in Canada.  In fact, Holiday is one of the largest provider of independent living units in North America and they have been in existence for 40 years. Here are a few interesting facts about their communities:

Management Teams live in the Communities
Residents have private apartments (or cottages) with a variety of floorplans available
Three meals prepared daily by professional chefs
Meals served restaurant style in a dining room
Weekly housekeeping in your residence
Linen service ... clean sheets and towels are provided
Free washers and dryers in on-site laundry rooms
Community game rooms and TV rooms encourage socializing
Exercise rooms and fitness programs for residents
Scheduled transportation to local businesses
Additional transportation to appointments and other errands
Volunteer opportunities in the community
A full schedule of activities and social events

Pet Friendly policies ... both cats and dogs are welcome
Emergency call systems in every apartment; get help when you need it
Locations in 43 states, as well as Canada
Independent living, assisted living and Alzheimers or Memory care options available in specific communities

Cost of Holiday Retirement Communities

One of the aspects of these communities that particularly appealed to me was the price.  Unlike many other CCRC's, residents of Holiday Retirement Communities do not have to pay the average $250,000+ deposit to buy into the facility and they do not have to make a permanent commitment or sign a long-term lease.

Instead, residents pay a monthly rental fee ranging from about $2100 to $3200 a month (in 2022), depending on where you live, the size of the apartment you select, etc.  This is an all-inclusive price for basic living expenses that includes your apartment, utilities (except for your phone), basic cable, meals, activities and social events.

In later years, if you need it, you may incur additional fees for extra care you need such as home healthcare, assisted living or memory care.  Assisted living and memory care can be provided in select Holiday Communities; other services may be provided by outside home health service providers.

There are no long-term leases.  In addition, if you have long-term care insurance through a private provider or the Veteran's Administration, you may be able to use it to pay for your additional expenses, when they become necessary.  Check with your insurance provider and the specific Holiday Community where you wish to live.

This total care arrangement has made Holiday very attractive to Veterans, with over 12,000 currently living in their communities, out of more than 30,000 total residents.

Holiday Travel Program

Another aspect of these retirement communities that I found appealing is their Travel Program.  At no additional expense, you can spend one week per stay in a guest room at one of the other Holiday communities in the United States or Canada.  Your stay will include all meals and access to all the programs and activities that are available at that site.  You can travel just for fun or in order to spend an occasional week near family members who live in another part of the country.

This means that you can enjoy warmer weather or celebrate special occasions with family members without having to pay for a hotel stay or meals in your temporary location.



If you are currently planning your retirement, check the tabs at the top of this page for more articles about where to retire in the United States or abroad, health issues as we age, financial information and changing family relationships. 

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  www.morguefile.com

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Housing Options When Your Spouse is Ill

Whether Baby Boomers like to think about it or not, you could reach retirement age and discover that either you or your spouse has a health or mobility issue that may make it difficult to live comfortably and safely in your current home or in the typical over-55 community.  Because of that, I thought it would be helpful to talk about some of the other living arrangements that are available as we age.

Remodeling Your Current Home

Probably the most common option is to simply remodel the place where you currently live.  Many people will make the necessary accommodations for their spouse for as long as they can.  They may add a chair lift to help them get up and down the stairs.  Ramps can be added to front doors, bars and walk-in bathtubs can be added to bathrooms, and other adjustments can be added to homes to make them handicap accessible.

People can also buy and lease hospital beds, wheelchairs, and other items that will make it easier for family members with mobility issues.

However, there are some problems that you may not be able to deal with by simply remodeling your current home.  For example, if you have a loved one with dementia, you could be concerned about what the future might bring.  Will they wander away from the house when you're not watching, or leave a burner on while they are trying to cook?  If the ill partner has physical problems and is unable to stand up, will the caregiver spouse be able to help them shower or perform other daily tasks?

In situations like these, the couple may decide that they need to move to a location where they can stay together but get some assistance.


Assisted Living Communities Like Garden Spot Village

When I posted last year about Garden Spot Village in the Lancaster County area of Pennsylvania, I revealed a community that has housing options that range from independent living villas and apartments to assisted living and dementia care options.  This community also features an indoor swimming pool, garden atrium, post office and branch bank in the main building.  There are exercise classes, art programs and a variety of interesting activities available daily.  This tremendous community is ideal for people who want to move somewhere while they are still healthy and remain there as they age and need more assistance.  A couple can both live there even if one does not need assistance but their partner does.

This wonderful community, however, is only one example of the many types of similar facilities that are available across the country.  Many Baby Boomers will want to seriously consider moving to one of these communities, especially if they or their spouse has a chronic illness that could limit their ability to live independently in the coming years.

Holiday Homes

An option that is similar to Garden Spot Village, but more widely available, is offered by Holiday Homes, a company that has over 300 communities across the United States and Canada.  All of them offer independent living apartments and about 70 of the communities also offer separate cottages for those people who do not need personal assistance at this time.

There are certain advantages offered by organizations like Holiday that can make their communities especially appealing to aging Boomers.  In particular, you may be interested in the Holiday Touch Travel Program that allows you to stay up to seven nights per visit in one of their other communities in the United States or Canada.  Your guest room, meals and other amenities are included at no additional charge beyond what you are paying to stay in your home residence.  This is perfect if you occasionally want to travel to a warm location during the winter or go visit your grandchildren in another part of the country.

Holiday communities offer meals prepared by a chef and served in a restaurant style dining room, a variety of activities, including outings and exercise classes, 24-hour assistance for those who need it, on-site dementia facilities, and personal security.  Every apartment is equipped with an emergency call system.

These are not sterile nursing homes, but true residential living facilities.  You are encouraged to bring your own furniture and decorate your apartment however you choose.  There is no long-term commitment.  You pay a monthly rental fee based on the services you need ... for example, whether you or your spouse needs any assisted living services. 

There are Holiday communities in nearly every state in the continental United States, as well as several in Canada.  Whether you want to live near your family and friends, or you wish to move somewhere warm like Florida, Arizona or Southern California, there is almost certain to be a location that will meet your needs.

To get more information or arrange a visit, use the phone number or website below: 

1-800-322-0999
http://www.holidaytouch.com/senior-living
http://www.holidaytouch.com/senior-living/independent-senior-living

If you are interested in other interesting places to live, use the tabs at the top of this article to find links to more articles about wonderful places to retire in the United States and overseas, as well as additional information of interest to retirees.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

(Public domain photo of an artist painting is courtesy of www.morguefile.com)