Watercrest senior living

[ROCKETMAN]

Neighbor wishing to sell house and move to independent so I made an appointment to have a tour of Watercrest on 466 next to Sprouts market. I was impressed with the offerings they have, but of course not cheap. One bedroom $5000-$5300 a month with 2 sizes available. Also offer a studio for $4300 a month. Two bedrooms are available for $6500 a month. That is the one person price, add $800 for a 2nd person per month. Waiting lists range from 2-12 months on everything except studio of which there are only 6 available. There was actually one available the day we were there. There is a $3000 non refundable charge to get on the waiting list but it is returned if you decide to take your name off list. What you get is 3 meals a day off a menu which rotates every 6 weeks plus alternate menu if you don’t like those selections. Dining room open 7-7 daily with breakfast items available anytime 7 to 7. They have covered garage which you get one spot free. Any other vehicle, golf cart would be outside, can’t rent another because no room. Have a bar in lobby, movie theatre, nice pool and exercise room with on staff professional PT person. All utilities included, even cable which you can upgrade at your cost. Once a week cleaning and free transportation to shopping and dr. Appointments. Sorry about the length.

[Michael 61]

That’s good info for those of us who are “planners” to tuck away in our back pockets. If that stage ever comes where an independent living center becomes a viable necessity for meals and housekeeping, it’s good to know one can remain in The Villages close to friends and live in an active social atmosphere, rather than relocating back North or West.

[ROCKETMAN]

That’s good info for those of us who are “planners” to tuck away in our back pockets. If that stage ever comes where an independent living center becomes a viable necessity for meals and housekeeping, it’s good to know one can remain in The Villages close to friends and live in an active social atmosphere, rather than relocating back North or West.
Forgot they also get you a new ID card and pay your amenity fee which is around $185. You can do anything living there like you do now.

[retiredguy123]

I have checked it out. To me, $5K per month is too expensive with no lease available. That is 5 times what I pay to maintain a courtyard villa. The only thing extra is the food. I think Freedom Pointe is a better deal if you can afford the entrance fee.

[Finchs]

If that's 5 times what you pay in a CYV, I have to guess you have no mortgage. My CYV expenses are less than those at Watercrest (which I believe to be about about the going rate with others) but only about $1500 less. "Your results may vary"!



I have checked it out. To me, $5K per month is too expensive with no lease available. That is 5 times what I pay to maintain a courtyard villa. The only thing extra is the food. I think Freedom Pointe is a better deal if you can afford the entrance fee.

[retiredguy123]

If that's 5 times what you pay in a CYV, I have to guess you have no mortgage. My CYV expenses are less than those at Watercrest (which I believe to be about about the going rate with others) but only about $1500 less. "Your results may vary"!
Correct, no mortgage. But, $5K per month is excessive for a one bedroom apartment with no furniture or lease. The food better be extremely good.

[ROCKETMAN]

When we went for our visit they gave us a free lunch. Lunch menu had normal lunch stuff, burgers, tenders, club sandwich and all kinds of salads and fruit. Dinner menu had 6 oz fillet, salmon, chicken primavera. Of course you can live cheaper if you keep your own house, but many residents who have lived here for a while now need new roofs, furnace, and other upkeep stuff so they choose to sell their house and use proceeds to help pay for senior living.

[vintageogauge]

Correct, no mortgage. But, $5K per month is excessive for a one bedroom apartment with no furniture or lease. The food better be extremely good.

Keep the villa and use door dash and a cleaning person.

[retiredguy123]

Neighbor wishing to sell house and move to independent so I made an appointment to have a tour of Watercrest on 466 next to Sprouts market. I was impressed with the offerings they have, but of course not cheap. One bedroom $5000-$5300 a month with 2 sizes available. Also offer a studio for $4300 a month. Two bedrooms are available for $6500 a month. That is the one person price, add $800 for a 2nd person per month. Waiting lists range from 2-12 months on everything except studio of which there are only 6 available. There was actually one available the day we were there. There is a $3000 non refundable charge to get on the waiting list but it is returned if you decide to take your name off list. What you get is 3 meals a day off a menu which rotates every 6 weeks plus alternate menu if you don’t like those selections. Dining room open 7-7 daily with breakfast items available anytime 7 to 7. They have covered garage which you get one spot free. Any other vehicle, golf cart would be outside, can’t rent another because no room. Have a bar in lobby, movie theatre, nice pool and exercise room with on staff professional PT person. All utilities included, even cable which you can upgrade at your cost. Once a week cleaning and free transportation to shopping and dr. Appointments. Sorry about the length.
Have you also checked out Sumter Senior Living on Rt 466A? It is very similar to Watercrest. Besides the cost, my main issue with both places is that they will only provide a month-to-month lease for an unfurnished apartment. I think they should either allow a one year lease or provide a furnished apartment for a monthly rent. Both facilities are nice, but, I couldn't justify writing a check every month for $5,000 or $6,500. I can afford it, but it just seems overpriced. I would suggest checking out Freedom Pointe, where you pay an entrance deposit that can be up to 90 percent refundable whenever you leave, you own the unit, and the monthly payment is lower. Also, they will allow you a year to sell your Villages house before you need to pay the entrance deposit. And, I think the food is a higher quality and they have an indoor pool.

[manaboutown]

That seems to be the going rate for such accommodations. I have looked where I have family, in Maryland. An uncle and his wife and an aunt spent their last years at Charlestown, an Erickson community. It is large, has I believe five restaurants and a physician on staff. Erickson has communities in several states, including four in. Florida.

Attention Required! | Cloudflare (https://www.ericksonseniorliving.com/find-a-community?comm=florida)

Erickson went through bankruptcy a while back and was bought but seems to have gotten through all that seamlessly. Erickson Senior Living - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erickson_Senior_Living#:~:text=Erickson%20filed%20 for%20Chapter%2011,Erickson%20Senior%20Living%20in %202021).

[retiredguy123]

That seems to be the going rate for such accommodations. I have looked where I have family, in Maryland. An uncle and his wife and an aunt spent their last years at Charlestown, an Erickson community. It is large, has I believe five restaurants and a physician on staff. Erickson has communities in several states, including four in. Florida.

Attention Required! | Cloudflare (https://www.ericksonseniorliving.com/find-a-community?comm=florida)

Erickson went through bankruptcy a while back and was bought but seems to have gotten through all that seamlessly. Erickson Senior Living - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erickson_Senior_Living#:~:text=Erickson%20filed%20 for%20Chapter%2011,Erickson%20Senior%20Living%20in %202021).
The main difference between Erickson independent living and Watercrest is that Erickson includes ownership in a condo, with a refundable deposit. Watercrest is a month-to-month rental facility with no ownership. Neither independent living arrangement offers any medical treatment or assistance. Also, Erickson facilities offer a much more permanent living arrangement and a large campus with upscale facilities.

[manaboutown]

The main difference between Erickson independent living and Watercrest is that Erickson includes ownership in a condo, with a refundable deposit. Watercrest is a month-to-month rental facility with no ownership. Neither independent living arrangement offers any medical treatment or assistance. Also, Erickson facilities offer a much more permanent living arrangement and a large campus with upscale facilities.

Erickson requires an entrance fee which is refundable to some extent..

"90% Refundable Entrance Fee*
This one-time fee secures your independent living apartment home for as long as you live here. Should you leave the community, 90% will be returned to you or your beneficiaries."

I do not believe a resident purchases ownership in a "condo" with it.
What Is a Condominium? How Condos Work Compared to Apartments (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/condominium.asp#:~:text=A%20condo%2C%20short%20for %20condominium,amenities%2C%20and%20other%20shared %20resources).

Charlestown has a "medical center"

"Your medical center is located right on campus, so you'll receive prompt care from providers who specialize in senior health and wellness. Unlike most medical practices, we schedule 30 minutes for each appointment and offer easy access to all your medical information through our secure resident health portal."

and a physician is always "on call".

"There's always a doctor on call, plus an emergency medical response team with an average response time of three minutes or less."

The quotes are from their website.

[retiredguy123]

Erickson requires an entrance fee which is refundable to varying degrees depending on time and circumstance.

"90% Refundable Entrance Fee*
This one-time fee secures your independent living apartment home for as long as you live here. Should you leave the community, 90% will be returned to you or your beneficiaries."

I do not believe a resident purchases ownership in a "condo" with it.
What Is a Condominium? How Condos Work Compared to Apartments (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/condominium.asp#:~:text=A%20condo%2C%20short%20for %20condominium,amenities%2C%20and%20other%20shared %20resources).

Charlestown has a "medical center"

"Your medical center is located right on campus, so you'll receive prompt care from providers who specialize in senior health and wellness. Unlike most medical practices, we schedule 30 minutes for each appointment and offer easy access to all your medical information through our secure resident health portal."

and a physician is always "on call".

"There's always a doctor on call, plus an emergency medical response team with an average response time of three minutes or less."

The quotes are from their website.
Yes, it is condo ownership with conditions. You can only sell it back to Erickson. But, the unit is yours. Regarding medical treatment, the Erickson facilities I have visited in Virginia did not provide medical treatment to those who lived in independent living units. If they needed treatment, they either paid for it or used Medicare or insurance. If they were transferred to assisted living, they received some help and they could return to their independent living unit at some point in time.