ASK AMY KOCH
A monthly column from the Executive Director of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony
Assisted Living: Cost versus Value – A Very Personal Decision in Living Well!
We asked Amy Koch, executive director of the Charles Ford Retirement Community, to describe what cost versus value means when seniors consider moving into an assisted living facility, and she told us, “It equals a very personal consideration, as do most decisions that deal with your money and your peace of mind.”
“Like all other planning that deals with the future,” Amy said, “timing can be everything! Perhaps, the first and most difficult step would be to consider the support you might need if a debilitating healthcare condition would develop, or if current medical needs would escalate. In general, people want to believe this need for assistance will never happen to them, but taking this possibility into account is important when planning for maximum independence in the future.”
So what’s involved in the planning process: Amy suggests you begin simply by looking at the expenses that would no longer be an obligation: Among those might be mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance, home maintenance, such as, inconvenient plumbing, carpentry and electrical repairs, and for many home owners, looming roof and window replacements. Then, don’t forget, the cost of landscaping, including mowing, storm cleanup, and snow removal. The list can go on and on.
Contrast that with the security of living at the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony, where all the above mentioned amenities are provided, plus, the assurance of emergency management, including backup generator power, emergency evacuation and sprinkler and alarmed fire systems; not to mention, three healthy meals daily, with in-between snacks and beverages, weekly housekeeping service, utilities (except private telephone), a secure environment, secure parking, scheduled transportation, cable television, Wireless Internet, emergency call service, 24-hour nursing staff, wellness checks and a Life Enrichment program.
And what does this peace of mind cost? According to Amy, most Charles Ford members pay between three and four thousand dollars per month, as a base fee, with some optional services at an additional fee.
“We encourage people to compare our services and fees to area competitors,” Amy explains. “Our lower cost to optimal service ratio is only possible through the generosity of the Charles Ford Endowment. And unlike some continuing care senior living communities, at the Charles Ford Retirement Communities, there is no move-in investment. We require only a security deposit equal to one month’s rent, and the lease agreement is month to month. Likewise, there is no long term obligation.”
If you would like more information, contact Amy Koch at 812-682-4675. She will be happy to arrange a tour of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities and she’ll invite you to stay for lunch.
