Time of Your Life WHERE SHOULD YOUR NEXT HOME BE? Edwin Malet
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AYBE YOU SKIPPED YOUR USUAL AFTERnoon walk because you were “too tired.” Maybe you dropped a plate, spilled some soup or forgot to take your medication ... again. Perhaps you’ll look around the Thanksgiving table and detect expressions of concern. After dinner, you notice, behind closed doors, your family members are talking. About you. It’s “time.” Maybe it’s past time. COMMUNITIES FOR THE INDEPENDENT Whether to move to a senior living community depends on many factors. You’ll need to do research, but as a first step, you should be aware that there several kinds of communities to choose from. One kind—a sort of introduction to senior life—is a 55+ community. Harrison Hill Apartments is one of many in our area. Based in West Chester, Harrison Hill offers a no-frills senior lifestyle. Another description would be that it’s a place to “make your own fun”—and economically. A second general type is called an independent living community. This is usually an apartment—but it may be a separate house, cottage or villa—that’s part of a “life plan” or “continuing care retirement community” (CCRC). But not always.
An independent living community offers a residence in a protected community, generally with convenient access to medical and other services—often meals, housekeeping and home maintenance. Many view an independent living community as a first step in a life plan/CCRC progression. An independent living resident generally doesn’t require full-time medical care, but the proximity to such care is considered an advantage. Medical care is available on short notice. The Mansion at Rosemont is one example of an independent living facility. Dunwoody Village, Kendal~Crosslands Communities, The Hickman and St. Martha Villa are others in our area.
An independent living resident in some communities can have access to many of the personal care services on an à la carte basis, for example, personal hygiene, housekeeping and transportation. Dunwoody, Kendal~Crosslands and the Mansion at Rosemont, for example, offer “home care”—a kind of hybrid of the two levels of care, with the intent of letting residents remain in independent living longer. Friends Home in Kennett offers “supportive” independent living for residents presently in need of no care. As the supportive units are in the personal care building (see below), when care is needed, no move is necessary. CountyLinesMagazine.com | November 2021 | County Lines
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