When Russ and Judith reached their retirement, they knew for sure that they wanted to make their own path and their own decisions. This overriding desire was partially about having control over their lives, but also their desire to not leave this burden for their kids. Like many retirement-age people today, Russ and Judith chose a Life Plan Community, also known as a Continuing Care Community, that provides access to a full continuum of housing and care options, from independent living to skilled nursing care, for the rest of their days – no matter what. This peace of mind is allowing them to fully enjoy and take advantage of their low-maintenance, independent, and vibrant lifestyle.
Judith remembers cleaning out her parents’ home after she and her siblings made the decision that they could no longer live in the family home. “It was awful,” she said. Russ too had a similar experience with his parents.
“Our kids will never have to take care of us,” Judith says. “They won’t have to clean out our house or take our car keys away, and that is what we wanted.”
After researching all the options and visiting several properties, Russ and Judith chose Holly Creek in Centennial, CO. “We love the smallness of the community and how people wanted to know about you, not your resume,” Judith explained. “There is a kindness and comfort level that we felt at Holly Creek that we really wanted.”
What is a Life Plan Community?
A Life Plan Community secures access to senior living and care options including independent living, assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing care should one need it in the future. Life Plan Communities often provide full amenities and an opportunity to enjoy maintenance-free living with all the freedom of living on your own. Meals, transportation, home maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, security and utilities may be provided. It takes the worry and work out of living and allows the resident to enjoy their retirement. At a community like Holly Creek, residents are also encouraged to find or deepen their personal purpose by enriching the community with their unique skills and experiences.
There are about 1,900 CCRCs (Life Plan Communities) nationwide, according to the nonprofit National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). The chief benefit of Life Plan Communities is that they provide a wide range of care, services and activities in one place, offering residents a sense of stability and familiarity as their abilities or health conditions change. Once you pay the entrance fee, you are a resident for life. You won’t have to worry about the ever-increasing costs of skilled nursing care or how you would afford in-home help if you need assisted living.
The impact of Life Plan Communities on health and wellness
According to the Mather Institute Age Well Study – a five-year, U.S.-based study that started in 2018 and concluded in 2022 – the impact of living in a Life Plan Community on residents’ health and wellness shows favorable results when compared to older adults of similar demographics who live in the community at large. For example, the Age Well Study found that:
- In both Years 1 and 5 of the study, Life Plan Community residents tended to have greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and vocational wellness than their community-dwelling counterparts. Overall wellness was the focus of Year 1 of the study, with changes in overall wellness being surveyed again in Year 5.
- In Year 1, Life Plan Community residents self-reported significantly more healthy behaviors than community-at-large older adults.
- In Year 1, 69% of residents reported that moving to a Life Plan Community “somewhat or greatly improved” their social wellness.
- In Year 3, happiness and life satisfaction scores were near the top of the range for Life Plan Community residents.
Russ and Judith are like many older adults who are active and independent and want to keep it that way for as long as possible. They knew that moving to a Life Plan Community would give them the opportunity to enjoy the community and amenities, while ensuring they can stay in their community even if one or both needs additional support such as assisted living, skilled nursing or even memory care.
The benefits of a Life Plan Community are many but here are a few top benefits that many people point to when deciding where to spend their retirement years.
A few of the many benefits of a Life Plan Community
Enjoying retirement with maintenance-free living
Living in your family home can be costly and time consuming. It’s not just the monetary cost of upkeep and maintenance but also the time it takes to manage all of the day-to-day chores, projects and paperwork.
“We were at the point where we didn’t want to shovel the walk or do yard work,” Judith said. “There is often something going wrong. We don’t want to look for someone to fix things.”
You’ve worked hard to retire, and now it’s time to enjoy all of the benefits of it. At Holly Creek, we aim to take the stress and worries of daily life off your shoulders, giving you more time to enjoy what you love to do. Holly Creek manages everything from home and grounds maintenance to housekeeping and linen service, a Grand Care Wireless communication network, 24-hour security monitoring, and an emergency call system through which you can request assistance using your personal identification pendant.
Living in a community with opportunities for social engagement
Social connection and engagement
is one of the key elements for healthy living for all people, but older adults are more prone to isolation and loneliness. A Life Plan Community gives you countless opportunities to make new friends and meet people who share your interests. You can join a yoga class, play pickleball, paint a landscape or learn how to capture one with your camera in an art class, attend an educational seminar, or head to the pub to watch the big game with fellow fans.
According to the Age Well Study, Year 5 showed that “changes in social and intellectual wellness were generally more favorable for residents in Life Plan Communities including increases in social contact and engagement in intellectual activities.”
Maintaining independence while ensuring future health needs
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care in their remaining years.
At Holly Creek, the Life Plan Agreement guarantees you’ll have access to senior living options, including assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing care, at a reduced rate — if or when the need arises, and even if you outlive your savings. The best part? You can stay right here in the same community you already know and love, ensuring easy access to everything that matters most to you.
There is flexibility for partners or spouses who may have differing medical and care needs. When a couple moves in together but has different needs, a Life Plan Community can meet their needs without forcing them to live apart. Even if one partner moves into a higher-care neighborhood within the community, they’re still close enough to be able to see each other every day and enjoy many of the same social benefits of the community together.
“I hope I’m never in assisted living, but there is peace of mind in knowing that if we need it, we have it and the kids don’t have to deal with it. They never kick us out of here.” Judith said.
Having access to in-community rehabilitation
Should a resident or their partner need rehabilitation following an injury or illness, a Life Plan Community can provide access to quality rehabilitation care, right within the community they know and love. For example, Holly Creek’s short-term rehabilitation neighborhood offers around-the-clock nursing care and therapeutic care from a multidisciplinary team of occupational, speech, and physical therapists, many of whom residents may already know. While recovering, rehab guests can enjoy the suite of dining options, amenities, and social events they are accustomed to within their community and without the need to travel for care.
Spending time doing the things you love
Most Life Plan Communities offer a full schedule of enrichment events and activities from indoor/outdoor swimming pool to fitness, theaters and other activities and interests. This may be the best part of retirement for many older adults – having the time and access to enjoy activities and people. Holly Creek offers something for everyone with resort-style amenities and attentive services such as:
35-seat, large-screen Cortez Theatre- Our own radio station, HCRK
- Silverton Art Gallery
- Clear Creek Spa/beauty salon
- Three restaurants, ranging from fine dining to a coffee bistro
- Technology center
- Finch Haven library
- Mollie’s Mercantile Gift Shop
35-seat, large-screen Cortez Theatre“We will have time to do so much more,” Judith says. “They have a theater with movies every day. I plan to get involved with helping to select the movies.”
Finding financial peace of mind
The knowledge that all of your needs will be taken care of for the rest of your life by caring and qualified staff could be considered the definition of peace of mind. This is exactly what you get at Holly Creek. While the investment may not fit every budget, the benefits of a life plan agreement go far beyond a residential investment to encompass your entire lifestyle including health, food, entertainment, social engagement and more. After you pay your entrance fee, no matter what the future holds, your needs will be taken care of and even if your income level changes while you are living at Holly Creek, you are guaranteed a home for life.
Life Plan Communities have many benefits and could be the right choice for people who want an all-inclusive and amenity-rich lifestyle in their retirement years. Moving to a place where you literally have no worries, like a Life Plan Community, could be the one move that is actually fun and exciting.
For more information on how to make a move that can benefit all aspects of life, contact Holly Creek today.
