New Hampshire Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Continuing Care Retirement Communities in New Hampshire

As a senior adult, it is only normal to be interested in living your golden years in peace. However, as time goes by, you will notice that a lot of your energy goes into house chores, gardening, and errands. Have you considered moving into a place that covers all of your needs? A continuing care retirement community offers housing, healthcare and assistance, all in the same location.

Continuing care retirement communities in New Hampshire welcome senior adults who are over 62, or in some cases 55. They request that the prospective resident presents an acceptable state of health, as well as a comfortable level of financial independence. Most of the CCRCs require a substantial entrance fee, followed by equally high monthly fees. If there is no equity buy-in requested, you can expect the monthly fees to be higher.

In New Hampshire, there are about 49 communities of this kind. According to the law, a retirement community that demands an entrance fee must also offer life care contracts and thus be registered as a CCRC. These communities are found in: Grafton County, Concord-Manchester Region, Cheshire County, and Rockingham County. Specific locations include: Keene, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, Peterborough, Concord, Franklin, Hanover, Exeter, and Portsmouth.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities in New Hampshire - financing and costs

The decision to move into a CCRC is mainly influenced by your financial possibilities. Considering their future, many retirees have retirement funds to lean back on. They might also use various assets and savings, and sometimes they will decide to sell their property. The funds obtained from the sale can be used to cover the entrance fee, while the pension fund can be useful for the monthly fees.

If you are planning on choosing one of the New Hampshire CCRCs, you should know that the entrance fee varies between $80,000 and $750,000. You should also take into account the fact that New Hampshire is one of the more affordable states in terms of monthly fees, as these vary between $1,500 and $2,500. The national average is of $2,500 per month, so you can see why affordability might be an advantage to consider.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities in New Hampshire - care levels and services

A continuing care retirement community allows residents to begin with one care level, usually independent living, and transition to a new one, in accordance to their needs. While living on their own, senior adults can receive little or no assistance, benefitting from the on-site services and amenities. With assisted living, on the other hand, assistance is offered with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, or eating. Someone who is in this care level might also receive additional healthcare, such as the administration of medication.

Skilled nursing is a complex level of care, in which the resident in question benefits not only from added personal assistance but also from medical treatments performed by a licensed nurse or therapist. The list of therapies can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, intravenous therapy. Some residents require daily injections and the monitoring of vital signs.

Senior adults who have been diagnosed with various forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, might be transitioned to the memory care level. Here, they are constantly monitored and supervised. Medication is administered by the staff, and personal assistance is offered round the clock.

As CCRCs offer a continuum of care, when the time comes, residents can transition to a level of care that is better suited to their needs. For instance, a senior adult who has suffered a stroke and is no longer independent, might need the rehabilitation included in the skilled nursing level. Complex medical assessments are performed to establish the need for a temporary or permanent transition, and the ability of handling daily living activities will also be considered.

Retirement communities make it their goal to offer a lifestyle that is both relaxing and engaging. By providing a wide range of services, they want to ensure residents are fully satisfied with their choice. Some of the services you might find in a New Hampshire CCRC include: housekeeping, laundry and linen service, Internet, telephone, cable, emergency call system, general maintenance, and security. Additional services can be offered, such as: guest accommodations, care management, and centralized admissions.

CCRC in New Hampshire - amenities and options

Residents can choose between various types of living units, in accordance with their needs and personal preferences. Some senior adults prefer a simple but tastefully decorated apartment, while others are more drawn to garden homes. Both townhouses and cottages are spacious and equipped with everything necessary.

Couples are allowed to live together, but you may want to remember the expected monthly fees will be higher in this situation. Most CCRCs nowadays are pet-friendly, which is a big advantage for prospective residents; while walking with their pets, they engage in pleasant physical activity and socialize with other animal lovers at the same time. Once again, you might want to check which kinds of pets are allowed on the premises. It should all be mentioned in the contract.

The amenities you will find on the campus of a CCRC will impress you, no doubt. They are meant to help you pursue your old hobbies and discover new interests at the same time, including: billiard room, computer room, fine dining restaurant, cafes, hair salon, swimming pool, tennis court, golf course, hiking and biking clubs, weekly worship services, movie theatres, library, therapeutic recreation, landscaped gardens, etc.

What are some positives and negatives of moving into a CCRC in New Hampshire?

A thorough research will bring you closer to an informed decision. To help you out, we have gathered a few pros and cons for moving into a New Hampshire CCRC.

Pros of moving to a CCRC in NH

New Hampshire is one of the more affordable states whereas the monthly fees are concerned

You can start with independent living and transition to a higher level of care when your needs become different

Opportunity to live together with your spouse or pet

Can remain on the same campus even when your health needs change (or the ones of your spouse for that matter)

Numerous amenities and services guarantee a relaxing and engaging lifestyle

Cons of moving to a CCRC in NH

High entrance fee

Might be rejected if you suffer from chronic health conditions, such as Parkinson's disease

Age diversity can be an issue, particularly if you are used to being around people of different ages

The routine might cause you to feel depressed

Certain restrictions might apply, causing you to miss your old lifestyle