Hawthorne Press Tribune
The Weekly Newspaper of Hawthorne
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 63, No. 31 - August 5, 2021
City of Hawthorne’s National Night Out
Thinking About Senior Living? 3 Reasons To Consider A CCRC
YOUR AD
HERE
CLASSIFIED ADS – ONLY $40
for twenty words or less.
Email class@heraldpublications.com
or call 310-322-1831 for more information.
(BPT) - A person’s golden years may be
some of the best years of their life, living
each day to the fullest by doing what they
love, from pursuing hobbies to spending time
with their families and beyond. Thinking
about senior living may seem like a distant
concern, but it’s an important conversation to
have now so you and your family are ready
for the future.
Your may not feel ready to make the move,
especially if you’re still physically and mentally
healthy. However, setting yourself up for quality
care in the future is important, especially as
health care costs continue to skyrocket. According
to a CNBC report, health care costs
for retirees are expected to increase more
than 5% every year through 2026.
In these instances, a Continuing Care Retirement
Community (CCRC) can be beneficial
for both your personal and financial health.
What is a CCRC?
A CCRC, otherwise known as a life plan
community, is a smart long-term option for
seniors. CCRCs have different housing levels
where seniors initially live independently and
can transition to an assisted living or skilled
nursing facility if needed, all at significantly
reduced costs compared to the market.
What Are the Benefits
of Living in a Ccrc?
Here are a few important ones:
A Sense of Community
Many seniors thrive on social connections,
but in some cases they may live far away from
friends or loved ones, be recently divorced
or widowed, or have physical limitations that
can lead to isolation. Meeting new friends
at a CCRC is easy, as they provide many
social activities, including mixers, clubs
and, in some cases, organized travel. These
activities can help seniors get out and meet
others while still having a private home space
to themselves.
All-Inclusive Benefits
Like a full-package resort, seniors who
join CCRCs can get a full swath of benefits.
This can allow them to age with ease
and joy, especially if they don’t have loved
ones nearby. Housing, health care, dining,
fitness, and other amenities are all part of
the CCRC package.
While CCRCs can be costly, many offer
ways for seniors and their families to reduce
those costs, such as Life Care contracts. While
they’re expensive upfront, life care contracts
can make a world of difference. If you end
up needing assisted living or another level
of care, a Life Care contract prevents your
health care costs from increasing with that
transition, which can save thousands of dollars
over the years.
“Many people don’t realize that receiving
higher levels of care in a CCRC usually means
increasing monthly costs to some degree,”
says Mary Clements, chief financial officer
of Searstone Retirement Community. “With
a Life Care contract, you lock in a monthly
fee that never changes, no matter what care
you need and how long you need it.”
Life care contracts can also help seniors
qualify for tax deduction fees since Life Care
is recognized as a charge for prepayment for
future health services.
Peace of Mind for
Seniors and Families
According to the AARP, one in five Americans
provide unpaid care for elderly loved ones,
which can result in severe burnout for caregivers.
CCRCs provide families with peace of mind
for the future, knowing their loved ones will
be taken care of no matter how their health
changes over the years. CCRCs bridge the gap
between independence and around-the-clock
care by allowing for a smoother transition
with the proper care on-hand.
Finding the
Right Balance
Planning for senior living can be daunting,
especially when you consider the cost. But
having social, emotional and medical support
doesn’t have to be out of reach. Check out
searstone.com/life-care/ to learn more about
Life Care and how it may benefit you - now
and in the future. •
Seniors
Was Fun for the Entire Family
National Night Out is a community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships. At Memorial Park there was food, games, live music and even dancing. Thank you Holly Park Neighborhood Association, Ramona Neighborhood Association and Parkside
Village Social Committee for helping to create a safer Hawthorne. Photo courtesy City of Hawthorne.