Many clients have recently conferred with me as to the possible sale of their residences and entry into a life care center. This article shall deal with the various considerations that should be made prior to entering into a particular life care center.
People are frequently attracted to the prospect of entering a life care center because they offer the opportunity of living in a private apartment, without any of the regular maintenance generally required in a single residence, condominium, or co-operative apartment. They include maintenance all of the common areas (as in the case of condominium or co-operative apartment) in addition to the regular providing of meals and nursing services, if required.
Prior to entry, the life care facility requires an applicant to be evaluated by its medical director. The prospective entrant must pass a physical and be physically capable to ambulatory. This generally means that the person must be capable to residing in the apartment without the everyday need of skilled nursing care at the point of entry.
There are various apartment sizes available. These generally include the availability of a studio, one bedroom or two bedroom apartment unit. Most units are heated with electric and include general kitchen facilities, a living room and bathroom. The entrant can generally select certain carpeting and wall colors and bring his or her own furniture with them to occupy the physical size of the apartment. Each unit includes a refrigerator, range and oven. Some offer other options at additional cost, such as microwave ovens. The prospective entrant must also provide certain financial data which confirms the person?s ability to financially afford both the cost of entry, as well as the monthly maintenance costs which shall be later discussed.
Prior to entry, the applicant should review in great detail, the entry application provided by the life care center. These documents describe in great detail the general rules and regulations, services to be provided and, in some cases, the specific background of the provider of these services. Particular attention should be paid to a number of options and criteria which will effect the client?s cost of entry and effect their overall happiness while residing in one these life care centers. These criteria generally include variations as to the cost of entry, services provided as part of the regular maintenance fee, nursing care, and the background of the facility and its operation.