| Q. |
Are there age requirements for living at one of your independent senior living communities? |
| A. |
For most of our independent senior living communities, the head of household must be 55 years of age or older and other members of the household must be at least 50 years of age but each community has different criteria. For more details, feel free to contact the Community Manager of the independent senior living communities of your choice.
|
| Q. |
Do you require a lease? |
| A. |
Yes. There is a lease for the first 12 months. After that, the lease is on a month-to-month basis.
|
| Q. |
Is there an extra cost for a second person living in the same apartment? |
| A. |
No. Your rent is the same whether there is one person or two living in the apartment.
|
| Q. |
What is included in the rent? |
| A. |
Your rent includes cable or satellite television with expanded basic service, water, sewer, trash removal, scheduled activities and social events, scheduled bus service and 24-hour emergency on-call service.
|
| Q. |
Can we put pictures on the walls? |
| A. |
This is your home; please feel free to make it comfortable. Should you need assistance, we offer a handyperson service for a small fee.
|
| Q. |
Do you allow pets? |
| A. |
Yes. Dogs and cats are welcome but there are size restrictions. There is an extra security deposit and a copy of your pet’s current vaccination certificate is required. For more details, feel free to contact the Community Manager of the independent senior living communities of your choice.
|
| Q. |
Do you offer a meal program? |
| A. |
Our meal program is optional. You may purchase dinner any time you’d like, or you can fix your own meals in your kitchen. You get to choose what’s best for you by signing up at the front desk on a weekly basis.
|
| Q. |
Can “Meals on Wheels” still deliver to me? |
| A. |
Yes, but you may want to check out what our chef is cooking and compare it to what you receive from “Meals on Wheels.”
|
| Q. |
Do you have housekeeping services available? |
| A. |
Yes, for an additional fee. Our housekeeping staff can make an appointment with you to clean your apartment either weekly or bi-weekly or on any schedule you desire.
|
| Q. |
Can I continue to use my own housekeeper? |
| A. |
Yes, of course. If at any time your housekeeper is not available, you can hire our housekeeper.
|
| Q. |
What about laundry? |
| A. |
Each building has conveniently located coin-free laundry rooms available on each floor for resident’s use. We also offer full laundry service or “just your linens” for an additional fee.
|
| Q. |
Are there community activities planned? |
| A. |
Activities are scheduled throughout the day and evening. Residents are always welcome in the game room or other community rooms to join an existing program or to start a new activity. We have many different activities and we are sure you will find something that interests you.
|
| Q. |
Is there a fee to use the community’s bus for trips to the grocery store? |
| A. |
No. Bus trips to the grocery store are a free service to our residents. We only ask that you sign up at the front desk if you wish to participate in any of our scheduled outings, as space is limited. A fee may apply for special day or evening trips.
|
| Q. |
Do you have extra storage available? |
| A. |
Yes. We offer extra storage for your seasonal items for a low monthly fee.
|
| Q. |
What happens if I need assistance in the middle of the night? |
| A. |
Emergency call systems are installed in the main living area and in the bathroom of each apartment to allow residents to summon assistance if and when it is needed. You never have to feel alone and helpless.
|
| Q. |
What happens if I activate the emergency pull cord in the middle of the night? |
| A. |
We have set up a three-tier approach to addressing off-hours emergencies. First, the on-site person is alerted. After that, the backup staff member is called, followed by a call to 911.
|
| Q. |
Can I still stay in my apartment if I just need a little help with some of my personal care –like bathing? |
| A. |
Sure, there are a number of home health care agencies that we recommend that already provide support services to the other residents of our independent senior living communities. If you like, we can give you the names of these agencies; then, you can contract with the agency of your choice.
|
| Q. |
We still like to get away from the snow a few months each winter? Do you offer any special “snow bird” programs? |
| A. |
We do have some “snow bird” options and we also have “sun bird” options for those who still enjoy a few summer months at the beach house. For more details, feel free to contact the Community Manager of the independent senior living communities of your choice.
|
| Q. |
Are parking spaces assigned? |
| A. |
We have several parking spaces available on a first-come first-served basis. Garage and carport parking is also available at many of our communities for a modest monthly fee -- assuring you of a covered and convenient parking space.
|
| Q. |
My family lives out of town but I would like them to come visit me for a long weekend. Can you offer them overnight accommodations? |
| A. |
Each of our independent living communities has at least one guest suite that is furnished like a luxurious hotel room. You can reserve the suite through the office for a modest nightly fee.
|
| Q. |
Isn’t an independent senior apartment community expensive? |
| A. |
Our independent senior living communities have a variety of rate structures. Many of our communities have apartments that qualify for reduced rental fees based on income levels. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority offers certain subsidies.
If you are a veteran, or the spouse or dependent of a veteran, you may qualify for certain financial supports through the Veteran’s Administration.
Life Settlements offer a unique opportunity to supplement your resources through the sale of a life insurance policy that may no longer be needed.
|
| Q. |
I have heard about “continuum of care communities” but don’t know what they are. Can you tell me something about them? |
| A. |
A “continuum of care community” simply means that a variety of housing and services options exist in the same building, on the same campus, or nearby. Often times the continuum includes independent living cottages, congregate apartments (apartments with services such as meals, social activities, transportation and housekeeping available as a package or as optional “fee for service” amenities), assisted living, dementia or Alzheimer’s specialty care, and skilled nursing care – such as a nursing home.
Several of our independent senior living communities are near or share a campus with a state-licensed assisted living center. Residents of the independent senior living communities are given priority status on the waiting list in the “sister” assisted living center, meaning that when you need it – for either short- or long-term – we are there for you. Also, there is no deposit needed when you apply to a “sister” assisted living center and we waive your 30-day move-out notice when you choose to move in to one of our assisted living homes for more care.
|
| Q. |
I am not sure that I am prepared in the event of an emergency? What do you recommend I do to be sure I prepared? |
| A. |
On thing we suggest is that you have all of your vital information and a list of medications you take readily available to hand right to the medical responders.
We are quite proud that we offer the Vial of Life decals and forms for our residents at no charge. We feel that the Vial of Life is a most important program that protects seniors.
As for Medical Alert Systems, there are many good companies out there...the American Senior Safety Agency is the medical alert company that sponsors and provides free Vial of Life kits. They are nice people. |