Can You Afford Senior Living at Less than $59/Day?
F or those of you with aging parents, the holidays can be a bittersweet time. You enjoy returning home to spend time with your elderly loved ones yet leave with the realization they might be slowing down and could benefit from a more supportive environment, one with more people around that offers carefree living with meals, housekeeping and transport to doctors’ appointments. If the New Year has begun by exploring the idea of moving either yourself or someone you know into senior living, the most stressful part isn’t just finding the right home but also figuring out if you can pay for this safer, happier way of living. You may find the cost of senior living at Treemont is about the same or not much more than you’re already paying. Here are some things to consider. Getting Value for Your Money Many families new to senior living think that assisted living in Houston will be more expensive than staying in one’s own home. But what if you compared everything you are currently paying for monthly expenses and how that would compare to a one-bedroom all-inclusive apartment? These “stay at home” monthly costs can include a mortgage, real estate taxes, fire and flood insurance, utilities (electricity, heat, AC, and water), lawn and other maintenance services (carpet
cleaning), large home repairs (leaky roof, new boiler), car insurance and repairs, housekeeping and social activities. What are the tradeoffs? Treemont recognizes the concern that most seniors express about the affordability of senior care. Compare the Value: Senior Living vs Staying Home at www.Treemont.com/compare. Retirement communities offer a package of services with great value. Treemont’s rental pricing starts at $1,750/month including rent, utilities, housekeeping, 3 meals daily and activities/ entertainment, with no “buy-in” (often hundreds of thousands of dollars at other communities). This means the daily cost
is less than $59/day. Treemont Resident, Joanne, says, “I’ve found it’s cheaper to live here than it was to maintain my home. I had a townhouse. And by the time I paid my bills and expenses I was spending more money than I do here. And I get 3 meals a day and weekly housekeeping and I can’t imagine a better way to live at this age.” Maintenance-free Lifestyle Retirement communities can relieve seniors from the burden of daily chores, housekeeping, grocery shopping, and yard maintenance. When you look at the details of what senior living at Treemont offers, there’s a great package of services that may turn out to be less than you’re paying now in your current home. As Treemont Resident, Lois, says, “After my husband passed, the house was eating me alive. It took all my time and most of my money… I began thinking about a comfortable spot, where I could maintain a busy outside life, but have the necessary things taken care of.” Many retirement communities have all-inclusive monthly rates that includes meals, weekly housekeeping, transportation to doctors and shopping, activities, entertainment and more.
“You no sooner call the front desk and maintenance is there to change a light bulb or hang a painting,” says Lois. Stay Independent at Treemont As the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Houston with multiple living levels Treemont Retirement Community has long been a family-owned operation, retaining dedicated staff for decades. Featuring the beauty and quality service of a private estate, the campus provides the right balance of support to help seniors remain independent, active and supported during their later years. At Treemont, there are many different living options – from Independent Living apartments to Independence Plus with home care, to Assisted Living to short-term rehabilitation and nursing care. There’s no one-size-fits-all home, and Treemont’s Resident Counselors talk through each option and the respective benefits so seniors can make the most informed choice. With transport to doctors, the availability of housekeeping and meals, retirement communities can reset an adult child’s role from a caregiver relationship back to just spending quality time with family. Retirement communities also offer the peace of mind that seniors are safe by offering daily safety checks, emergency pull chords plus extra care services available when needed. Additionally, amenities are first-rate and a huge range of social activities are always being offered to ensure boredom is never an issue. Like the host of Great Day Houston Deborah Duncan said of Treemont, “It’s not a place where you go to die, it’s a place where you go to live again.” VA Benefit of $1,936 May be Used for Rent in a Senior Community The Veterans Administration is now more flexible in permitting the use of VA Aide & Attendance benefit by more independent seniors. Qualifying seniors may now use this benefit to pay for rent in a senior living community that offer a “protected living environment.” Treemont qualifies as a “protected environment” because it has support services that include 24 hours staffed emergency call, on site meal planning and preparation, housekeeping for a clean and healthy living environment and transportation to medical appointments. Located at 2501 Westerland Dr. in Houston’s Memorial area, Treemont is currently available for tours of independent living and virtual tours of their assisted living/nursing/rehab communities. Call 713.783.6820, visit www.Treemont.com to request a brochure or to learn more.