How to Find the Perfect Retirement Home

As you begin to think about retiring and what that next phase of your life will look like, you may start envisioning your future in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), or as we like to call Homestead Village, a Life Plan Community. Homestead Village, located in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, offers bountiful history and culture right outside your door. Positioned near several major cities in the Northeast, including New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., opportunities and adventures abound. Whether you are a local resident looking to explore these great cities, or you live outside Lancaster County and are looking for a weekend road trip to central Pennsylvania, Homestead Village has something to offer everyone.

When choosing a retirement community, however, there is more than the actual city or location to consider. While researching a community that fits with your lifestyle and future goals, there are several things to consider when deciding how you want to spend your golden years. Can the community meet your current/future health needs? Does the community offer the amenities you are looking for? Do the goals and mission of the community align with your personal goals and outlook? These are just a few things to consider beyond location when considering which Life Plan Community is right for you. 

Which Retirement Housing Option is Best for You?

When choosing which housing option is best for you, we encourage you to consider your long and short-term goals. For some, it may be downsizing from their family home to a smaller house or apartment that’s easier to maintain, attracted by the complete maintenance-free living a Life Plan Community offers. Others move to a life-plan community, surrounded by like-minded individuals who also enjoy an active and social lifestyle. Each person’s goals may be different in their retirement, and therefore, you should strive to find a living option that matches those goals. 

Some items to consider when looking for your next home in a Life Plan Community are:

• What services/amenities are included in your monthly fees?
• How will the community meet my needs as my health changes in the future? 
• Is there currently a waiting list for your community? Will something be available that matches the general timeframe in which I would like to move to your community?
• How many bedrooms and bathrooms will your home need to accommodate your lifestyle and guests?
• Are you more interested in an open floor plan or more traditional layout?
• How many square feet would you like your home to have?
• What is the community’s policy regarding pets, alcohol and overnight guests, etc.?

Making the Switch to a Life Plan Community

One of the biggest challenges individuals face when moving from their previous home into a Life Plan Community is the prospect of leaving their current home. For many they have lived in their residence for an extended period of time and quite possibly raised their family in that home. For others, it is their neighbors and neighborhood that they do not want to leave behind. For most of us, change in general is difficult, and finding the right Life Plan Community can help ease those worries.

Moving into a Life Plan Community provides numerous living options with differing amenities and levels of healthcare. It can also provide the active social environment many adults look for in their retirement. 

There are also steps that one can take when choosing a Life Plan Community to help you feel more confident in the decision you are making. You should always tour the community before making any kind of commitment, review the amenities that are available, and do walk-throughs of the homes within the community. Additionally, you can meet with staff to discuss medical care available on-site, and assess how your short-term and long-term medical needs will be met if you decide to reside within that particular community. Also, ask to speak with current residents and find out what they enjoy most about living in that community. 

Retirement Communities: What to Expect

Although many retirement communities vary, including the types of homes, amenities, locations, and contract types, a few aspects in each community remain constant. 

Within a retirement community, all of the community members will be within a certain retirement age group. At Homestead Village, all residents are 62 years of age and older.

Many retirement communities are often situated close to medical facilities with some level of transportation to those facilities available. Life Plan Communities also offer on-campus healthcare services as well. At Homestead Village, in addition to independent living, we offer tiered personal care options in our apartments, long-term memory care, and skilled nursing options.

The level of medical and healthcare options available on campus can be a major deciding factor for many residents. The best Life Plan Communities should have a THRIVE WHERE YOU ARE® mentality, which allows those within the community to live in their campus home as long as possible, provided they can do so safely and their needs can be met in that setting. So, how do you find the best retirement community in Lancaster for your needs? 

What to Consider when Choosing a Life Plan Community

After you identify your long and short-term goals, begin thinking about what’s most important to you. From there, begin your research of retirement communities in the area where you’re looking to retire.

Based on our interactions with touring individuals as well as current Homestead Village residents, we’ve discovered three factors individuals consistently consider while moving into a retirement community. 

Housing Options

Retirement looks different for everyone, and what you want or need is incredibly important. Therefore, finding a Life Plan Community that meets your housing needs will be vital. One of the most important things individuals desire is a reduction in maintenance. Whether that is snow removal, lawn and in-home maintenance. or housekeeping, be sure to do your research to find a place that will go above and beyond to make sure your needs are met. 

Amenities 

Next are amenities or services available within the community. This may include dining options, fitness center access, or transportation services. Additionally, it’s important to find a community that offers life enrichment opportunities for its community members that promote a sense of involvement and connectivity. By becoming intertwined within the community and groups within it, quality of life is enhanced and retirement becomes even more enjoyable. 

Medical Services 

Some retirement communities in Lancaster offer medical services within the community itself, while others are located within a close proximity to medical facilities, off-site. One commonality we’ve found with existing residents of Homestead Village is they are forward thinking regarding their medical needs. They’ve stressed how important it is for them to find a community that offers healthcare services that address their existing medical needs, as well as services that they may need as time goes on. 

Housing Options at Homestead Village

At Homestead Village, we create a community where individuals can thrive where they are. By offering a multitude of housing options, in a variety of different locations throughout our campus. Residents are proud to call our community their home, while also having peace of mind that services are available if and when they are needed. 

Homestead Village offers the following housing options: 

• Apartments: Complete with housekeeping and linen service, as well as gourmet and casual meals available at our on-premise dining facilities. Our apartment buildings are also licensed personal care residences, offering (for an additional fee) 24-hour-a-day staffing for residents who require additional care services.
• Cottages: Enjoy the comfort of your own individual home with a fully equipped kitchen, living-dining room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, sunroom, laundry room, and single car garage.
• Villa Court: Built as attached duplex and triplex homes, the 44 Villa Court residences are contemporary and bright, each offering large open areas, vaulted ceilings and 1,340 square feet of living space.
• The Mews: With three distinctive floor plans, the residences of the Mews are beautifully designed for comfort, style, and maintenance-free living. Residents of the Mews enjoy winding walkways, gazebos, and a decorative pond.
• The Farmstead: With an inviting village atmosphere, this serene community borders the historic Lime Spring Farm, just minutes from our main campus. You’ll find contemporary and classic features abound in each of our seven unique home designs. The Stauffer Spring House offers a venue for dining, fitness, and gathering within the walkable community. 

We pride ourselves in having a caring, authentic community feel; a community where people know your name.  If you are interested in learning more about Homestead Village, our beautiful homes, amenities available, and healthcare services on-site, schedule a campus visit with one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff today.

FAQs:

What should I consider when thinking about my retirement living options?
The most important thing to consider is both your long and short-term goals and needs for the following:

• Housing options
• Amenities available
• Healthcare services available 

What types of housing options are available at Homestead Village?
Homestead’s campus includes five unique and welcoming neighborhoods that feature diverse housing styles and sizes.

• Apartments
• Cottages
• Villa Court 
• The Mews
• The Farmstead