The Advantages of Choosing a Life Plan Community
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Have you considered how best to embrace your life well-lived, while finding ways to simplify necessary tasks? If you’re looking for a community that can take care of everything, including future changes in your healthcare, we may have the perfect answer.
Life Plan Communities, also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities, are uniquely positioned to support your active lifestyle and offer the peace of mind in knowing that if you ever need Assisted Living or more health services down the road, you’re covered. As all of the services are offered in the same community, you won’t have to endure the emotional and time consuming undertaking of searching and moving ever again.
The advantage of Life Plan communities
These communities not only offer a stress-reduced life and numerous programs and amenities but there are documented health benefits as well.
The Age Well Study, conducted by the Mather Institute and partner Northwestern University, found that Life Plan residents when compared with older adults at large, had greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual and vocational wellness. They found positive connections when examining the residents’ specific characteristics as it related to these areas:
Physical activity: associated with psychological well-being, reduced risk of chronic disease and functional independence
Healthy diets: a known way to reduce the risk of chronic disease and death among older adults
Social activity: can offer protection against dementia and reduced risk of mortality
Meditation: associated with decreased anxiety and depression
Previous research has suggested that traits such as optimism and resilience can be learned or strengthened. Living in a community can increase engagement in healthy behaviors if residents are encouraged or motivated to take advantage of programs. Older adults with a negative perception of aging might assume they are supposed to be sedentary. But the right educational program paired with an exercise class could change that expectation and improve their physical activity levels.
How a Life Plan community can relieve stress and worry
The typical Life Plan community includes Independent Living, Assisted Living and Long Term Nursing Care. If your health care needs change in the future, instead of searching and coordinating a new move, you and your family can rest assured that you’ll still be at home in your familiar community. The organization, as well as the amenities and activities, remain the same. And you no longer have to worry about where to find the right care because you’ll know you already have a plan in place.
Questions to ask when visiting a Life Plan community
The following are some of the general elements you may wish to consider when researching the services a community offers and the philosophy they promote:
Location
- Are there opportunities to leave the community for short day trips, shopping or areas of interest?
- Will you be continuing with your medical team or does the community offer medical care on-site?
- Are services, cultural and entertainment destinations close by, such as banks, dining and theaters?
Housing
- Are there choices in floor plans or finishes for your new home?
- Will your home have a patio, deck or windows that allow in plenty of natural light?
- Does the community have pleasant and inviting outdoor areas?
- Are there safety features installed in both the homes and common spaces?
Healthcare services
- What level of services are included with each type of residential care?
- Are there on-site medical services and a pharmacy?
- Is medication management an offered service?
Personal services
- Are light housekeeping, laundry and linen services available?
- Is assistance with daily activities available if you live in Independent Living?
- Is there a hair salon on site?
- What transportation services are available?
Social calendar, programs and amenities
- Is there a wide variety of programs offered in order to reach several types of interest?
- Are there opportunities to attend scheduled events outside of the community?
- Are there on-site exercise classes, religious services and other amenities of interest available?
Dining
- Are there choices in dining style, such as formal and casual?
- Do the menus offer a wide variety of healthy and delicious food choices?
- Can visitors join in for a meal?
Staff
- What type of training does the staff receive?
- Do they encourage feedback from both the residents and their families?
- Does the staff seem to enjoy the interactions they have with the residents?
Ingleside’s Westminster at Lake Ridge Life Plan community
As a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, our mission is to provide the highest quality services to our residents. You’ll find your new home, located in a forested Northern Virginia neighborhood, offers you a rich and active lifestyle, free from worrying about any future health care needs.
Our wellness programs, lifelong learning opportunities and excellent amenities have all been planned to support you in continuing to live an engaging life. We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long Term Nursing care, all located in our warm and inviting community, yet with easy access to neighboring Occoquan and the shopping and entertainment possibilities of nearby Washington DC.
Our philosophy encourages what the Age Well study also found – that residents who form strong bonds within their community tend to engage in healthier behaviors as well as experience better overall health. Here are a few of the opportunities that you’ll find at Westminster at Lake Ridge:
Our Services and Amenities include:
- Community center hosting classes, clubs and lectures
- Choice of dining
- Fully equipped fitness center
- Heated indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi
- Library
- Computer room
- Billiard room
- Art studio
- Woodworking shop
- 2 fishing ponds
- Indoor greenhouse
- Community garden
- Massage services
- Card/game room
- Pickleball court
- 62 wooded acres with walking trails to beautiful riverside vistas
Call (703) 794-4631 if you have any questions or visit our events page to sign up for one of our virtual events!