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| Name | Description |
| Area characteristics | How well do the area characteristics, like municipality, geography, threats, cultural mix, and noise/pollution, etc., meet your needs? |
| Municipal location | How well does the city or town location meet your needs? (Consider lifestyle, safety, education, recreation, etc.) |
| Geography | How desirable is the surrounding geography of the property? (Wooded, water front/view, mountains, high desert, etc.) |
| Threats | How susceptible is the property to natural disasters? (Flooding, avalanche, forest fires, tornados, hurricanes, etc.) |
| Cultural mix | How well does the cultural mix meet your preferences? |
| Noise/pollution levels | How do you rate the noise and pollution levels of the neighborhood (area)? |
| Locality considerations | How do you rate the overall locality considerations, such as crime rate, environment, state and local taxes, and available services? |
| Crime rate | What is the neighborhood (area) crime rate? |
| Environment | How well does the general environment of the neighborhood (area) meet your preferences? |
| State and local taxes | How well does the total State and local tax burden for the location of the retirement community fit your retirement reserves? (Consider income, sales, property, estate, and selective taxes, among others.) |
| Local services | How do you rate the overall availability of local services, such as emergency services, shopping, transportation, cultural and support services? |
| Emergency services | What is the proximity to emergency services? (Police, fire, rescue, hospital, etc.) |
| Shopping | What is the proximity to basic shopping needs? (Grocery, gas, pharmacy, dry cleaning, etc.) |
| Transportation | What is the access to public transportation? |
| Cultural opportunities | How do you rate the availability of nearby cultural activities? (Museums, concerts, art festivals, theatre, etc.) |
| Property characteristics | How do you rate the overall property characteristics of the retirement community? (Consider housing type, condition, controlled access, visitation, grounds care, parking, certification, etc.) |
| Type | How well does the housing type (home/cabin, apartment, suite, room, etc.) meet your needs? |
| Condition | How do you rate the overall condition of the retirement community? (Consider individual residences, multi-unit buildings, apartments/rooms, grounds, etc.) |
| Controlled access | How do you rate controlled access security for the community/building? (Guarded, gated, receptionist, etc.) |
| Community access control | How well does the type of community access control meet your needs? |
| Community access hours | How suitable are the controlled access hours, if any, for the property? |
| Pools/Spas | How well do the pool and/or spas facilities meet your needs? (Consider heated pools, spas, water aerobics areas, wading areas, etc.) |
| Communications services | How acceptable is the availability of basic communications services? (Phone, TV, Internet, etc.) |
| Visitation | How acceptable are the visitation hours and policies for the retirement community? |
| Grounds care | How acceptable is the overall grounds care? |
| Parking | How well does the property serve your parking needs? (Driveway, parking lot/deck, garage, carport, etc.) |
| Certification | Is the retirement facility certified by the state? (Compliance with quality and resident rights laws to qualify for Medicare and other coverage.) |
| Residence characteristics | How well do the overall residence characteristics meet your needs and preferences? (Consider access, mobility, rooms, square footage, baths, exterior features, furniture and fixtures, emergency capabilities, etc.) |
| Disability access | How adequate is handicap access to the residence? |
| Handicapped mobility | How do you rate handicapped mobility within the residence? |
| Exterior | How well do the overall exterior characteristics, like number of levels, move-in access, patios/courtyards, lawn care services, etc., meet your needs? |
| Levels | How well does the number of levels (1 story, 2 story, high-rise, etc.) meet your needs? |
| Move-in access | How do you rate the ease of access for moving into the residence? (Moving van parking, doorway and hall widths, staircases, elevators, etc.) |
| Exterior living area | How suitable is the private exterior living area, if any, of the residence? (Deck, patio, balcony, etc.) |
| Lawn care services | How suitable are lawn care services, if any? |
| Interior | How suitable are the overall interior characteristics of the residence to your needs? (Consider square footage, rooms, flooring, bedrooms, baths, etc.) |
| Windows | How well does the size of the window(s) in the residence meet your preferences? |
| Flooring | How do you rate the flooring used in the residence? |
| Furnishings | How adequate are the furnishings that come with the residence? |
| Floor plan | How suitable is the floor plan of the residence? |
| Square footage | How do you rate the size of the residence? |
| Room(s) | How do you rate the overall suitability of the rooms in the residence, considering, type, size, closets, baths, shared vs. private, etc.? |
| Closets | How suitable are the size and storage capacity of the closets in the residence? |
| Laundry | How suitable are the laundry facilities? |
| Living area | How adequate is the common living area of the residence? |
| Kitchen | How do you rate the size of the kitchen? |
| Kitchen features | How well do the basic features meet your daily needs? (Consider flooring type, cabinet space, counter space, counter top, pantry, etc.) |
| Kitchen appliances | How well do the kitchen appliances meet your daily needs? (Stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, disposal, etc.) |
| Kitchen appliance condition | What is the overall condition of the appliances, if any, that come with the residence? |
| Bedrooms | How well does the number of bedrooms suit your needs? |
| Bedroom size | How well does the size of the bedrooms suit your needs? |
| Fixtures and equipment | How do you rate the overall quality and condition of fixtures and equipment? (Consider HVAC, plumbing, utilities, etc.) |
| HVAC | How suitable is the type of heating and air conditioning used in the residence? |
| Utilities | How suitable do you find the available core utilities? (Electric, gas, water, sewer, etc.) |
| Fireplace | How acceptable is the fireplace type, if any? |
| Emergency considerations | How do you rate the overall emergency preparedness of the residence, including exits, alarms, etc.? |
| Emergency exits | How do you rate availability of emergency exits for the building/residence? |
| Alarms | How adequate are the fire and security alarm systems? |
| Care services | How well do the overall care services meet your needs? (Consider your needs assessment and the level of continuing, general living, medical, and acute care provided.) |
| Needs assessment | Do you have a complete and detailed needs assessment? (Consider ADL’s, household chores, mobility, medical, behavioral, financial issues.) |
| Continuing care | Does the facility provide progressive care services, if needed? |
| General living care | How well does the overall general living care, such as meals, housekeeping, laundry, ADL’s, hours of care, etc., meet your needs? |
| Custom meal packages | Are custom meal packages available? |
| Meal ticket program | How suitable is the optional meal ticket plan, if any? |
| Housekeeping | Are housekeeping services available, if needed? |
| Medical care | How do you rate the overall extent and quality of general medical care provided? (Consider diabetes, incontinence, medication management, dental, rehab, respite, and interim care.) |
| Activities and programs | How well do the variety of activities and programs, including social, hobby, instructional, recreational, cultural, volunteerism, etc., meet your needs? |
| Social programs | How suitable are the available social programs at the retirement community? (Reading groups, dances, choir, recitals, bingo, etc.) |
| Hobby/Instructional programs | How suitable are the available hobby and instructional programs at the retirement community? (Art, pottery, gardening, music, wellness, etc.) |
| Recreational programs | How suitable are the available recreational programs at the retirement community? (Fishing, tennis, golf, shuffleboard, badminton, nature walks, games, etc.) |
| Cultural programs | How suitable are the available cultural programs at the retirement community? (Historical trips, museum visits, theatre, concerts, opera, etc.) |
| Jobs | What is the general availability of jobs for retirees, if you choose to or have to work? |
| Volunteering | How good are retiree opportunities for volunteer work in or around the community? |
| Financial and contractual | How well do the overall financial and contractual options meet your financial capabilities? (Consider upfront and monthly fees, insurance coverage, total costs, service options, power of attorney, etc.) |
| Financial considerations | How well do the overall financial considerations meet your retirement budget? (Consider initial fees, monthly fees, annual costs, healthcare costs, insurance, net worth, etc.) |
| Deposit/Entrance fees | How affordable is the initial deposit/entrance fee for the retirement community? |
| Monthly fees | How affordable are the monthly fees for the retirement community? |
| Net worth | How do you rate the adequacy of your net worth to cover your retirement care needs? |
| Healthcare costs | How well do the overall healthcare costs for the retirement community compare to national averages? |
| Medicare supplemental insurance | How well does your Medicare supplemental insurance, if any, cover charges at the retirement community? (Medigap, Medicare Select, Medicare managed care plans, etc.) |
| Annual costs | How does the total annual costs compare to national norms? |
| Contractual considerations | How well do the overall contractual service options, such as coverage, continuing care, power of attorney, etc., meet your needs? |
| Service coverage | How adequate is the level and frequency of services covered in the monthly fee? (Meals, housekeeping, menu planning, general health care, activities, etc.) |
| Continuing care plans | How adequate are the continuing care plans available? (Progressive care from unassisted living to more advanced care.) |
| Power of attorney | Do you have a financial power of attorney in place with the facility, a family member, or trusted friend? |
This site is intended as an informational tool only and should be used in consultation with appropriate professional advisors.
Please be patient while we create a copy of the 'Choose an Independent Living Retirement Community' scenario for you...
