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Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Today we spent several hours at La Costa Glen. It is about 15 minutes from where we are staying at the Carlsbad Beach Resort (excellent timeshare location, BTW; it's a Diamond Resorts affiliate -- we were offered partial ocean view, but our Friday night lightening storm took out the elevator and I can't cope with a four flight climb from the garage so we happily took a ground floor unit). La Costa is beautiful. Two clubhouses, four dining rooms, rose garden, koi pond, indoor and outdoor pools, gyms, libraries, garden patches for growing your own veggies, campus basically like a high end resort. And I like the gated community and onsite emergency response. What it doesn't have is the ocean out the back door and restaurants and a cunning village and the Coaster to San Diego out the front door like at Carlsbad By The Sea.

In the next day or so we'll spend some time picking the brain of a resident at Carlsbad By The Sea (where we are already on the wait list) and then tour again with the marketing lady. I know I don't like the street side lower units there, because I feel there is access to bad guys from the patios. I think an interior courtyard facing unit will be safer.

I don't know if we'll end up filling out a wait list application for La Costa or not at this point. We'll see how far we get ourselves in trying to lay out a comparison between LCG with its higher buy in but fully covered assisted, nursing, and memory living spaces vs CBTS's lower buy in but all the additional care is paid for as it is needed. I think it would be money well spent to have our accountant (or someone she recommends) do this for us too. Of course La Costa's sister community rejected us because of our age difference, so we may not actually have two options in any case. And since I anticipate being alone for 18-20 years, I have to try to figure out where I'll be most comfortable.
 
Be sure to visit the (relatively) new library on Dove Street in La Costa, about 2 miles north of LCG. I used to work near Palomar Airport and would visit it regularly at lunch time, and we still drive down from Murrieta once in a while.

I haven't visited LCG. I think there's more stuff you can walk to at CBTS. And then there's the ocean.
 
clifffaith said:
I don't know if we'll end up filling out a wait list application for La Costa or not at this point. We'll see how far we get ourselves in trying to lay out a comparison between LCG with its higher buy in but fully covered assisted, nursing, and memory living spaces vs CBTS's lower buy in but all the additional care is paid for as it is needed. I think it would be money well spent to have our accountant (or someone she recommends) do this for us too. .
Click to expand...

You are doing the right thing. Keep looking, keep talking and keep comparing. I think I visited 7 or 8 different CCRCs before I settled on the one I moved into. There are many variables that go into making a choice. As far as the economics I found them to be all over the place....

George
 
I volunteered in the nursing section of a CCRC not so long ago. It is a lovely community. However, I watched as the care level, particularly on weekends and nights, slipped. Since most administrators had those days/times off, the staff was not as vigilant and this was when I saw the worst of the place. There was also a shortage of caregivers on those shifts. Just walking through with a marketing rep won't show you the real inner workings of a place. If you know a resident, visit and just sit and watch.
 
Spent a couple hours today reading the La Costa resident handbook and I found the deal breaker -- they are going to charge me $3.50 if I want my ice cream dessert as a sundae instead of just a scoop! Cracks me up -- they charge thousands of dollars a month, but if I ask them for chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry they're charging me. I'll have to get on the dining committee if we move there and make a change. I've already figured out that I'd be ok with free sundaes in the casual grill, but charged in the formal dining room -- a compromise I can live with. How silly!
 
clifffaith said:
And since I anticipate being alone for 18-20 years, I have to try to figure out where I'll be most comfortable.
Click to expand...

Maybe the "alone" plan for the 18-20 years can be spent living on a nice cruise ship until you really need help before moving to a CCRC/assisted living place. Living on a cruise ship for the relatively healthy seems alot more fun than in a CCRC. :)
 
clifffaith said:
Spent a couple hours today reading the La Costa resident handbook and I found the deal breaker -- they are going to charge me $3.50 if I want my ice cream dessert as a sundae instead of just a scoop! Cracks me up -- they charge thousands of dollars a month, but if I ask them for chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry they're charging me. I'll have to get on the dining committee if we move there and make a change. I've already figured out that I'd be ok with free sundaes in the casual grill, but charged in the formal dining room -- a compromise I can live with. How silly!
Click to expand...

Simple -- keep the syrup, whipped cream, and cherry in your apartment fridge, and bring them in a BIG, ORANGE bag to the dining room. Order the ice cream, and invite your friends to do the same, and have a big party. Or, slightly less flamboyantly -- depends on the image you want to cultivate -- get the ice cream to go, and fix it up at home.

This is an example of when accounting for a service costs more than providing the service, I'll bet.
 
isisdave said:
Simple -- keep the syrup, whipped cream, and cherry in your apartment fridge, and bring them in a BIG, ORANGE bag to the dining room. Order the ice cream, and invite your friends to do the same, and have a big party. Or, slightly less flamboyantly -- depends on the image you want to cultivate -- get the ice cream to go, and fix it up at home.

This is an example of when accounting for a service costs more than providing the service, I'll bet.
Click to expand...

LOL, CVS gave out reusable grocery bags that are Halloween orange when Los Angeles area stores stopped providing free bags a couple years ago, so we do have a couple orange bags. They allow BYOB wine, (otherwise you pay for wine and beer which I have no issue with) so I love the idea of bringing my own sundae fixins. We already ran up against the "no food may be removed from the dining room" rule when we asked for our dessert in the form of cookies to go. There was a lecture we wanted to attend on the premises, and did not have time for a seated dessert to conclude our complimentary lunch. (Turns out they served cookies at the lecture anyway). You can order a meal to go and pick it up, but no doggie bags after the fact.
 
clifffaith said:
Spent a couple hours today reading the La Costa resident handbook and I found the deal breaker -- they are going to charge me $3.50 if I want my ice cream dessert as a sundae instead of just a scoop! Cracks me up -- they charge thousands of dollars a month, but if I ask them for chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry they're charging me....How silly!
Click to expand...

As someone else essentially said "Improvise"...My CCRC has a couple of squirrely rules. Most of the time we figure a way to work around them and move on...

George
 
clifffaith said:
You can order a meal to go and pick it up, but no doggie bags after the fact.
Click to expand...

My CCRC does exactly this. I thought it was stupid until I saw things a small (and I mean small) percentage of our Residents do like fill their pockets with the free fruit and pastry we get in the lounge with our morning coffee or cookies at lunch time. Or how about walking away with 10 or 12 styrofoam coffee cups and packets of sweetner. Some will fill multiple coffee cups with the free soup we have available in the afternoons. Often these are people with a ton of money who just can't help themselves. Go figure..

George
 
I used to work for a greeting card company. You would not believe how many people go over to the cards and take all the envelopes
Silentg
 
VacationForever said:
@bogey21 I don't understand the nickel and dime rules of these CCRCs. You are paying for the food already so why can't you bring a banana or so back to your room for when you want a snack later?
Click to expand...

It is the old story. If people did it responsibly, there wouldn't be rules. The problem is that those who abuse things ruin it for the rest. You mention bananas. I actually saw a woman put six in her purse when she thought no one was looking! Don't get me wrong. 98-99% of the people at my CCRC don't abuse anything. It is the 1 or 2% who can't help themselves that are the reason rules are established. On the other hand our staff uses judgement and looks the other way if what is being taken is obviously within reason...

George
 
bogey21 said:
It is the old story. If people did it responsibly, there wouldn't be rules. The problem is that those who abuse things ruin it for the rest. You mention bananas. I actually saw a woman put six in her purse when she thought no one was looking! Don't get me wrong. 98-99% of the people at my CCRC don't abuse anything. It is the 1 or 2% who can't help themselves that are the reason rules are established. On the other hand our staff uses judgement and looks the other way if what is being taken is obviously within reason...

George
Click to expand...
I will stick to staying on a cruise ship instead of a CCRC for when I am still healthy and mobile. Cruise ships don't care how many bananas or cookies you bring back to your stateroom... On a cruise ship, food is always plentiful 24x7 and service is always great.
 
We've decided not to apply for the wait list at La Costa Glen. Living in Carlsbad Village this week has convinced us that we prefer being able to walk out the front door to the shops and restaurants or the back door to the beach. And WALK has become my top priority now. Because of the leg pain caused by my back issues I spend as much time sitting as I can. This morning we got up and walked for an hour carrying my cane. Of course I'm suffering now, but getting back to being mobile has got to be my top priority, even if I have to just push through the pain.

Yesterday our new friend Jean (bought an ornament from me on eBay, and I recognized her address as being the "old folks home") showed us around her beautiful one bedroom unit and introduced us to her cat Betty. We treated her to lunch to further pick her brain. One tip she gave us was that unlike at La Costa where no food is allowed to be removed from the dining room, if your five course lunch or dinner tends to be too much for you, ask them to pack up your soup, salad and dessert to go and you can have those later as another meal.

Today we visited with the marketing lady and added another floor plan (2 bed with den) to our list of desired living spaces. We did this to widen our choice of locations within the facility, not really for the extra room. Will be at least two more years before our name rises to the top of the list, so we'll have time to continue the decluttering and fixing things around the house. By the end of next year my goal is to have the house ready to put on the market at a moment's notice.

We do have an appointment in Santa Barbara to tour a CCRC there. We'll do that in two weeks when we are up at Workdmark Pismo. Don't think they'll be able to surpass Carlsbad, but we'll see. Then I think we'll have seen enough to be sure of our decision.
 
clifffaith said:
We've decided not to apply for the wait list at La Costa Glen. Living in Carlsbad Village this week has convinced us that we prefer being able to walk out the front door to the shops and restaurants or the back door to the beach. And WALK has become my top priority now. Because of the leg pain caused by my back issues I spend as much time sitting as I can. This morning we got up and walked for an hour carrying my cane. Of course I'm suffering now, but getting back to being mobile has got to be my top priority, even if I have to just push through the pain.

Yesterday our new friend Jean (bought an ornament from me on eBay, and I recognized her address as being the "old folks home") showed us around her beautiful one bedroom unit and introduced us to her cat Betty. We treated her to lunch to further pick her brain. One tip she gave us was that unlike at La Costa where no food is allowed to be removed from the dining room, if your five course lunch or dinner tends to be too much for you, ask them to pack up your soup, salad and dessert to go and you can have those later as another meal.

Today we visited with the marketing lady and added another floor plan (2 bed with den) to our list of desired living spaces. We did this to widen our choice of locations within the facility, not really for the extra room. Will be at least two more years before our name rises to the top of the list, so we'll have time to continue the decluttering and fixing things around the house. By the end of next year my goal is to have the house ready to put on the market at a moment's notice.

We do have an appointment in Santa Barbara to tour a CCRC there. We'll do that in two weeks when we are up at Workdmark Pismo. Don't think they'll be able to surpass Carlsbad, but we'll see. Then I think we'll have seen enough to be sure of our decision.
Click to expand...


Congrats on making your decision! You seem pretty definite on Carlsbad and ti sounds like it will work out for you long term. At least now you know where you are heading, which must be a relief.
 
We live near Sarasota, Florida. We know quite a few people who live at the Glenridge on Palmer Ranch. It’s a CCRC with an enormous lifestyle program. Everyone we know there loves it.
 
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clifffaith said:
.

We do have an appointment in Santa Barbara to tour a CCRC there...
Click to expand...

My advice is to keep checking out CCRCs until you sign a contract with one. You never know when a better alternative will appear. I think I checked out 6 or 7 before finally selecting the one where I currently live...

I made two great decisions when I retired. One was moving into a quality CCRC. The other was taking my Pension in monthly payments rather than as a lump sum. For 18 years and counting I have not only been getting my monthly Pension payments but also my 3% annual (compounding) COLA. Who knows how much of my lump sum would be left particularly since I would have received it before the 2008 stock market crash...

George
 
bogey21 said:
My advice is to keep checking out CCRCs until you sign a contract with one. You never know when a better alternative will appear. I think I checked out 6 or 7 before finally selecting the one where I currently live...

I made two great decisions when I retired. One was moving into a quality CCRC. The other was taking my Pension in monthly payments rather than as a lump sum. For 18 years and counting I have not only been getting my monthly Pension payments but also my 3% annual (compounding) COLA. Who knows how much of my lump sum would be left particularly since I would have received it before the 2008 stock market crash...

George
Click to expand...
We did the same with our pension, bigger raises than we got while working with cola
 
bogey21 said:
My advice is to keep checking out CCRCs until you sign a contract with one. You never know when a better alternative will appear. I think I checked out 6 or 7 before finally selecting the one where I currently live...

I made two great decisions when I retired. One was moving into a quality CCRC. The other was taking my Pension in monthly payments rather than as a lump sum. For 18 years and counting I have not only been getting my monthly Pension payments but also my 3% annual (compounding) COLA. Who knows how much of my lump sum would be left particularly since I would have received it before the 2008 stock market crash...

George
Click to expand...


Not all pensions have COLA and some, like my husbands'- which has been cut horribly- have a finite length of duration. In his case- 10 years or something like that.
 
bogey21 said:
My advice is to keep checking out CCRCs until you sign a contract with one. You never know when a better alternative will appear. I think I checked out 6 or 7 before finally selecting the one where I currently live...

I made two great decisions when I retired. One was moving into a quality CCRC. The other was taking my Pension in monthly payments rather than as a lump sum. For 18 years and counting I have not only been getting my monthly Pension payments but also my 3% annual (compounding) COLA. Who knows how much of my lump sum would be left particularly since I would have received it before the 2008 stock market crash...

George
Click to expand...


Not all pensions have COLA and some, like my husbands'- which has been cut horribly- have a finite length of duration. In his case- 10 years or something like that.
 
mpumilia said:
Not all pensions have COLA and some, like my husbands'- which has been cut horribly- have a finite length of duration. In his case- 10 years or something like that.
Click to expand...
My pension doesn’t have Cola so it is worth less each year that passes.
 
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