I don’t know about you, but it seems the world is changing at an accelerated pace. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the changes. You can embrace them and keep up with the times, or you can bury your head in the sand and put blinders on. Most of us probably do a little of both, depending on the subject matter and how relevant it feels to our lives in the moment.
If you drive or commute, you’ve likely noticed Quad Cities area gas prices hovering around $5 per gallon. If you grocery shop or cook, you’ve probably also seen food prices climbing. According to NPR, ongoing global conflicts could continue driving those costs even higher.
These economic pressures eventually trickle down, and we are beginning to see the impact on long-term care and nursing homes in Iowa. There have already been closures, along with a significant number of ownership and management changes in both retirement living communities and skilled nursing facilities. Many of us who have worked in the industry for decades are challenged to keep up with the names of the new facilities appearing throughout the Quad Cities area.
Accessing care when you need it most has long been a concern of mine. Unfortunately, it’s also something many people don’t think about until it becomes an immediate, and often urgent, need.
One of the benefits of proactively choosing a retirement community with an on-campus nursing facility is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that higher levels of care are available if needed. Whether someone requires long-term care or short-term rehabilitation following a hospitalization, having those services nearby can make an already stressful situation much easier to navigate.
With shorter hospital stays and an overwhelming number of post-acute care options, many of which are unfamiliar to families, more people are choosing retirement communities that offer a full continuum of care, including a health center on campus.
At retirement communities like Ridgecrest, where a health center is located under the same roof, residents gain the reassurance that help is always close by. They also know they likely “have a place” if they need rehabilitation following a hospitalization or need long term care in the future.
Patrick McDonald, President and CEO of Ridgecrest, shared:
“Recently, we received a call from a placement service trying to help residents who were displaced after another facility closed. We were happy to help. We feel good about the care we are providing here at Ridgecrest, and our residents don’t have to worry about where they would go if they needed additional support. More and more people are moving here because they want the security of knowing they have a plan in place for the future.”
In addition to evaluating the community itself, there is real value in proactively understanding the legal documents you have in place or may still need. It’s important to know what happens if you require assistance making health care decisions or managing your finances.
Understanding your insurance coverage is equally important. Do you have traditional Medicare or a managed-care Medicare plan? Do you have long-term care insurance? It is also essential to understand your assets. Your home, life insurance policies, bank accounts, and investments are all critically important considerations.
The more familiar you are with these aspects of your own situation, or that of a loved one, the better prepared you will be if urgent care in a facility is ever needed.
Finally, I encourage you to visit and tour a few facilities. A good rule of thumb is to tour at least three so you can make meaningful comparisons. Be sure to ask questions such as:
- What levels of care do you offer? Assisted Living? Memory Care Assisted Living?
- Do you have health care services on-site if needed?
- Do you offer skilled nursing and long-term nursing care?
- What happens if I run out of money while living here? What are my options then?
We are fortunate to live in a society where there are many choices. You owe it to yourself to understand what you have, what you need and what’s available should you need more help in the future.
Julie Arndt is a licensed social worker and Director of Marketing at Ridgecrest Village with over 35 years’ experience working in the field of geriatrics and senior advocacy. She can be reached at jarndt@ridgecrestvillage.org.