A recent independent study comparing wellness outcomes of older adults shows that those living in Life Plan senior living communities are healthier and more independent than the older adult population in general. The Age Well study, conducted by Northwestern University’s Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, examined the impact Life Plan communities have on the health and wellness of their residents compared with older adults in the community-at-large in order to draw conclusions for its year one report.
“Life Plan” (also known as continuing care retirement community, or CCRC) is the commonly accepted term to describe a community that offers a full continuum of health care services to seniors as they age, allowing them to stay in place and have ongoing access to programs, amenities and other outlets that nurture their spiritual, social, emotional, physical, intellectual and vocational wellness.
Friendship Village (FriendshipVillageSTL.com), with communities in Chesterfield and Sunset Hills, is the only senior living provider in the St. Louis metro area to offer an even more comprehensive form of this Life Plan model, known as “Life Care”. Life Care adds predictability and affordability of cost to the equation. In addition to all the benefits of a Life Plan community, Life Care residents at Friendship Village are guaranteed access to higher levels of care when needed, all accessible on one campus, all at a predictable cost for life.
“We had visited four, five different places before we decided to come here. The main thing that attracted us was Life Care. A nursing home can cost you eight, nine thousand dollars a month. And with Friendship Village, if one of us has to have care, the other one can stay in the apartment, and there’s no additional cost. So, it’s just an amazing thing,” says Friendship Village resident Carol Tate.
Life Care is more than a guarantee that residents will receive the care they need, when they need it—it’s an insurance policy that ensures full peace of mind for their future by removing the financial and logistical burden.
“The predominant reason our residents choose Friendship Village over other communities is Life Care. They know that no matter how much care they may need in the future, they’ll be seeing virtually no increase in cost as they progress from independent living into assisted living and skilled nursing care,” says Terry Walsh, President and CEO. “Friendship Village strives to make senior living as simple as possible by being a “one-stop-shop” for everything seniors need in order to age well.”
According to the Mather LifeWays study, “The wide array of resources, programs, and amenities available in Life Plan Communities may offer a ‘just right’ environmental fit for residents. Such resources span the six dimensions (of wellness), the availability of which provides residents with a level of support in initiating and sustaining healthy behaviors that may be greater than that experienced by their community-at-large-dwelling counterparts.”
While there are many communities that offer a full continuum of care and a wide array of resources, it is crucial that seniors and their families understand the differences between the various financial and healthcare structures of these communities. In the St. Louis area, only Friendship Village offers a true Life Care model that encourages beneficial outcomes like those observed in the study while making healthcare and financial planning manageable.
To learn more about Friendship Village, please call 314.312.0864 or check out the website at FriendshipVillageSTL.com.
For more information on Life Care, or to receive a copy of the the Mather LifeWays Institute Age Well report, please contact Friendship Village.
*“The Age Well Study: Comparing Wellness Outcomes in Life Plan Communities vs. the Community-at-Large.” Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, Northwestern University, Year 1 Report
**“MyLifeSite Resources – CCRC Information, Videos, Book & Research.” MyLifeSite, www.mylifesite.net/resources/.
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Friendship Village Senior Services is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization devoted to providing a full range of senior living options. As the only provider of the Life Care program in the St. Louis metro area, Friendship Village guarantees residents access to all levels of health care—all on one campus—at a predictable cost for life. Friendship Village continually invests in wellness programs and technology to keep residents living well and independent, longer. From independent living, to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and in-home care, Friendship Village continues to build the future of senior living.
Friendship Village at Home brings the extensive experience and quality care of Friendship Village services to the homes of area seniors and includes Medicare home health and private duty care. Our mission-driven board of directors and highly experienced staff encourage a culture of friendship and loving care through the highest quality services and a focus on residents’ spiritual, emotional, physical and social wellbeing. For more information about Friendship Village Senior Services please visit www.FriendshipVillageSTL.com.