Help please - Navigating Senior Care Facility Options
 

Good Morning, - so I looked at the health-care, medical, senior care thread or forum and didn’t see any posts at all - so either I was doing it wrong or there was nothing helpful there other than a “Senior Care Advisor” phone which I did write down.

In short, my mother is 80 (In KS presently) and may need an independent, assisted or memory care type facility in the coming days. Is there a good source (person, website or other resource) to help navigate the various needs and options locally and generally speaking closer to Lake Sumter Landing??

I know there is Watercrest up on 466 that offers graduated levels of care - but I’d appreciate any general thoughts or resources, or specific recommendations based on quality of care/service, cost and locations that people are familiar with. Are we looking at $4,000-$6,000 for most assisted living facilities these days?

My hunch is right now that an assisted living facility would be the right general target but a memory care option may eventually be needed.

Apologies for the post in the general forum, just looks like where it might get the best response or looks.

Respectfully, DB

We used Mission Oaks on 301, just south of 466 for my wife's mother, care was very good, and she was in the dementia unit.

I would suggest that you visit Watercrest on Rt 466 and Sumter Senior Living on Rt 466A. I recently visited both places to look at their independent living. For a 2-bedroom unit, you will pay about $6,000+ per month and it is on a month-to-month basis, with no lease, and includes 3 meals per day. So, I assume that assisted living will cost more than that. The advantage to these places is that you can still use The Villages amenities as a Villages resident. Personally, I think $6,000 per month for independent living is outrageous, especially since you need to furnish the apartment and you have no guarantee that they won't throw you out in a month or raise the rent. Another option is Freedom Pointe, but they charge a huge entry fee, plus a monthly fee, all of which includes a lifetime care contract, similar to buying long-term care insurance.

Assisted living
 

Ladylake assisted living and memory care on 466, east of Rolling acres.

Greg Ainsworth Director

I will PM you with my thoughts and what I have gone through having my Mom at a facility here in the Villages.

I highly recommend that you reach out to Josephine from Your Key To Senior Living Options. She can help match you with facilities that would best meet your financial, social, medical needs. Her services are completely free. The company has helped over 1000's families in The Villages! Her direct number is 352-973-2729.

Could you please send me your thoughts on this as well please. I have elderly parents and have been looking. Thank you.

Assistance
 

The Caregiver Resource Center of Tri-County can help you find answers, solve problems and understand the available options as you care for your family member, partner or friend.

PHONE NUMBER: 352-775-2952

EMAIL: office@tccrc.net

This is an organization recommended to us for Parkinson & Dimension help.

Please send your thoughts on this, because I am looking for options as well. I am 75 years old, living in the villages independantly in my own home by myself, but that day will come.

Thanks so much for the all the replies & thoughts resources and information …. All very helpful and just what I needed… and will continue to take and be thankful for additional posts/information as well! Respectfully, DB

Freedom Pointe is not similar to buying long term health insurance at all. It does not just cover your care financially, you remain on property and move on thru the levels of care, as needed, with them providing the care. As the person asking can attest, that alone is a big chore for caregivers and the individual...moving thru the care options and finding the right fit at each level. Also, I'd check about that "entry fee" thing. I believe you own your unit and there are several options on the purchase, as to if and how you'd like it bequeathed, etc. It's not just an "entry fee".

Navigating Senior Care Facility Options
 

The Villages has a department to help you with this. Terri Snow is the person to contact. 352-753-6767
Terri.snow@thevillages.com

My husband and I have investigated many facilities including Freedom Point and Watercrest in The Villages.Serenades has memory care. Sumter Grand /Sumter Place has assisted. Nearby places include Trinity Springs and American House.
For assisted/memory care, Mission Oaks is great. Buffalo Ridge is good for assisted.Summerfield Suites is a little older and a lot less expensive, but had the most caring staff you can imagine (my aunt was very happy there). Good luck with your search!

It is west of Rolling acres.

My mother died in 2014 so I have no current info. At the time, she lived in Summerfield Suites which I found to be the best. I believe it has changed hands so I have no idea how it is now. I can tell you that wherever you put her, you need to be her advocate and watch them closely. I was very disappointed with the facilities here. My mother was originally in Sumter Grand (not sure of its correct name but on 466A). Very nice facility but lacking in many ways. Young techs not really good at dispensing meds. My mother's records were not correct and as a result of my complaining, she was sort of ousted and blacklisted. (long story). She was in Palm Gardens in Ocala and I could not get her out due to their lies. PLEASE, wherever you put her, keep an eye on everything. I saw a lot while caring for my mother here and most of it not good.

My father was in memory care at Watercrest and passed last year. I thought the place was gorgeous and they took great care of my Dad. They take memory care patients on outings in the bus, they have special live concerts weekly they go into the main center and attend as a group. They have crafts and the food is definitely gourmet level with a wine bar for independent and assisted living. They even have a swimming pool. Memory care last year was $6200.

My Mom was in Mission Oaks Memory Care for almost 3-years, and we were happy with her care. I first spoke with rehab, visiting nurses, etc. and this was the place they all recommended. She died in 2019.

Freedom Pointe, where I live, is in fact, basically an insurance contract. Under the contract, they take care of you until the end of your life—as you move through the various stages of independent living, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing—even if your finances are depleted. It is truly care for life. The buyers fee, which they call the entry fee, is in fact, the upfront money you are paying for that care for the rest of your life. While you “own” the unit on paper (which provides some nice tax deductions) once you pass away, the unit reverts back to freedom pointe. You cannot sell it or rent it or bequeath it to an heir. There are some different options on how you pay the initial entry fee, which will determine when you pass away whether or not your estate gets any money refunded from Freedom Point or not. But again, you do not own the unit to the extent that you have any control over it in terms of buying, selling, renting, bequeathing, etc. We have lived here at freedom pointe for six years now, and we absolutely love it. By the way, it is currently the only senior care living community in the villages that provides this life care concept. All other facilities are on a month-to-month rental basis only and there is no commitment on your part, or the facilities part, to provide any kind of continuing care. You or the facility can terminate your contract at any time.

There is a very good book that you can get from Amazon with the title "The Complete Guide to Assisted Living" by Janice Martin. I have read the book but I also met her a few years ago. She is an expert at all things Assisted Living. Get the book and read it and if you like what you read, you can contact her. All of her contact information is in the book as well.

At Freedom Pointe, you "own" your independent living unit, and have several optional "entrance deposits", the cheapest of which is "no refund". But, unlike typical ownership, you cannot sell the unit to anyone except Freedom Pointe, and you only get the refund if and when they find another buyer. Also, if you permanently move from independent living to assisted living or the nursing facility, you really have no choice but to give up ownership of your independent unit, and you have no ownership at the other facilities. The entrance deposit also entitles you to discounted rates in the assisted living and nursing facilities and a lifetime care guarantee. That is why I consider it similar to long term care insurance. I think the guarantees they make are underwritten by an insurance company. Also, they give you "priority" access to the assisted living and nursing facilities, but they don't guarantee that you will be able to remain at the Freedom Pointe property.

Senior Care Facilities in/near The Villages
 

One thing I suggest you do, once you narrow down your choices, is to consult with the Long Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman for the North Central Region in FL. Ask about quality measures, complaints, etc. They would know, since they investigate complaints. They do not do quality of care assessments, though. The nearest LTC Ombudsman office is in Ocala:

1515 E Silver Springs Blvd., #203
Ocala, FL 34470
352-620-3088
Fax: 352-732-1797
This website might help: https://agingresources.org
and Eldercare Locator

The state agency that oversees programs for the elderly is the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. The agency that does inspections and licensing is the Agency for Health Care Administration. Both are in Tallahassee, but have offices throughout the state.

You can also search through: AHCA: AHCA Docs


I hope this helps. It is a daunting task!

I worked in the diing room 10-15 hours a week at Harbor Chase Senior Living at Villages Crossing and my dad was at HC Wildwood, so I haave seen both sides of this issue. Based on what I knew when I left HC VC n 2021, I would not recommend HC Villages Crossing-at alll. That being said, we had a real jerk of an Executive Director (ED). When I left, the ED from HC Wldwood moved over to HC Villages Crossing and I really liked her as a family member at HC Wildwood. Watercrest is an up-scale facility VERY nice...they have 2 facilities in the Villages (466 and Spanish Springs), We also looked at Sumter County Assisted Living on 466A and my dog was a therapy dog there. Avoid it. They have changed management companies atleast 3 times in the 8 years we have lived here. There are a few suggestions of facilities for you to consider. Best wishes...it's called "the long goodbye" for a reason.

How much is the monthly fee, in addition to the buy in price at Freedom Point

I am sure many would love to hear your thoughts. Please consider posting to all

For the independent living, it depends on a few factors, such as the size of the unit, the refund option you select, and the meal plan that you select, but you can plan on spending about $4,000 to $5,000 per month for one person. The second person will cost about an extra $1,000.

A Place for Mom
 

Please go online and look up A Place for Mom. Call them and they can help you find somewhere for you mother. Many variables: changing states, her current health, her insurance, her financial state. They can help you navigate all of this for free.

I cannot help you with Florida options, but a few ideas to help make life easier whatever facility you use.
1. Waiting lists are long. Get her name in now - perhaps at several facilities. If it comes up before you’re ready, they can circulate you through again. However, if you need it and it’s not available, the waiting time can be horrible.
2. Take the first available space - even if it’s not exactly what you want. These places don’t tell you that current clients get first choice. My mom had moved from memory care into skilled nursing and dad needed assisted living. The opening came in memory care. We took it because he went to first on the list for assisted living. While that one month wasn’t fun, he did get the care he needed, and he only had to wait a month to get his apartment. The outside wait was 18 months.
3. Do not let her driver’s license expire. If it is getting close - before it expires - get her a state ID card. You will need this for medical appointments.
3. Call your local Counsel on Aging and see what services they offer. If there is a wait for I a facility, day care May be available.
Good luck!

You Tube Lanai Gossip. Watch the one about Nursing homes, assisted living in the Villages. It's a good start.

Excellent excellent advice. Have been through this multiple times. The BEST most caring staff you've even witnessed, can be gone, off to the next job or facility in the "wink" of a WEEK. You have to be there every minute, and you are so right, many, even most, actually resent it if you do not really "complain" but point out serious elements, soiled beds, meds not on time, or wrong dose all together, it's a nightmare for our community and our country. I personally think as a country we do not value the profession of care taker in such facilities. They are not highly paid, or highly respected on the list of professions. Not really thought of as any more educated, trained, or skilled than a clerk at the local convenience store, who is ALSO UNDER valued, but there is no pride or sense of accomplishment or respect to so many of the staff in these facilities... that is such a sad, sad shame.

Is this book written for particulars IN The Villages ? Thanks for the suggestion .

Sorry ... I thought my question would be connected to the same post.
Is the book ... The Complete Guide to Assisted Living by Janice Martin ... particular to The Villages ?
ALSO ... I am an LPN and over the years have helped people with suggestions as
well as I could with whatever experiences I'd had in different places and home care etc.
THIS post is so helpful with all the experiences of other people. I now have many notes to pass
to others when asked. THANKS and may the Lord bless all of you.

Sumter senior independent living
 

We’ve had my Mom at Sumter Senior Independent Living for a little over two years. Recently, we’ve experienced 2 rent increases in a 6 month period and a significant decline in services. Housekeeping is very understaffed and my Mom just does her own apartment and bedding (even though she pays for light housecleaning and a weekly bedding change). The quality of food has really gotten bad. Lots of pot pies and stroganoffs and other meat stretchers, usually served with mashed “potatoes” and canned green beans. Last night’s corn beef was so tough she couldn’t cut it with a steak knife. The new executive director appears to also run a real estate firm, an Air B&B service and some kind of women’s leadership motivation gig. One does have to question how she could possibly do all this AND oversee, independent, assisted and memory care facilities. I can’t recommend the Independent Living facility and wonder if anyone else is having a similar experience?