One of the many benefits of moving to a senior living community is simplified finances.

In most communities, you pay a monthly, all-inclusive fee that covers a range of expenses from dining to housekeeping.

Though this fee will vary depending on where you choose to call home, the average median cost of independent living in the U.S. is $2,552, according to A Place for Mom. In New Hampshire, you can expect to pay a bit more — about $3,200 per month.

In this article, we discuss what’s included in the price of senior living. We also offer insight into other costs you may encounter when you transition to a Concord continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Havenwood Heritage Heights.

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Fee-for-Service vs. All-Inclusive Senior Living Communities

Senior living communities normally adopt one of two pricing structures: fee-for-service or all-inclusive.

With a fee-for-service model, a resident pays a base rate for their apartment home. Then, they’re charged extra for services.

Comparatively, all-inclusive communities charge a single fee. This fee may cover dining plans, utilities, and other expenses.

Havenwood Heritage Heights uses a hybrid of these two models. Since we’re a maintenance-free community, the monthly fee covers a host of convenient services and amenities. However, additional services are available for a nominal charge.

What Expenses Are Included in the Price of Senior Living?

Since all communities are different, exactly what’s included in your monthly charge will vary.

However, at most all-inclusive senior living communities, you can expect your recurring payment to cover:

Housing

The most obvious expense included in your monthly fee at a senior living community is housing. Typically, residents can select from a variety of floor plans, choosing a home that suits their needs.

At Havenwood Heritage Heights, residents have their choice of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom cottages. Some floor plans even offer garages and basements.

The more spacious floor plans are more expensive. A studio cottage, for instance, is $1,500 while a two-bedroom cottage is $3,375 to $4,115 per month.

Home Maintenance Services

In a maintenance-free community like Havenwood Heritage Heights, residents don’t have to worry about the responsibilities of homeownership.

That’s because, for no extra charge, the staff provides home maintenance services such as:

The staff also provides 24/7 security to ensure the safety of residents.

Scheduled Transportation

In many senior living communities, the cost of transportation services is included in the monthly charge. At Havenwood Heritage Heights, for example, we offer scheduled transportation between our two campuses and to:

Amenities and Social Activities

To help residents fill their days with meaningful experiences, senior living communities develop activity calendars full of enriching senior events and programs.

Most communities also provide luxurious amenities like:

Utilities

In some communities, all utilities are included in the monthly service fee. That means residents don’t have to worry about paying individual bills for:

But in other communities, residents are responsible for some or all of their utilities.

Dining

Different senior living communities offer different dining plans. Some communities offer plans that provide a certain number of meals per month. Other communities charge a set dollar amount per month that residents can apply toward meals, groceries, or get-togethers with friends and family.

Extra Costs of Senior Living

In addition to your monthly recurring charge, you may be expected to pay other fees when you move to a senior living community in Concord, NH.

These extra expenses may include:

Long-Term Care

CCRCs provide various levels of care, including:

Typically, your monthly costs will rise as you transition from independent living to higher levels of care.

At Havenwood Heritage Heights for example, independent living residents pay anywhere from $1,480 to $4,505, depending on whether they choose a studio apartment or a single-family home with a garage and basement. Similarly, assisted living ranges from $4,030 to $6,935. Memory care residents pay $325 per day for a semi-private room and $378 per day for a private room.

Special Activities

Normally, residents can participate in scheduled programs and events for free. But some special events may require an additional fee.

For instance, an art class that uses specific materials or that requires an instructor from outside the community may charge an extra fee to cover costs.

Extra Services

Most communities charge fees for additional, optional services such as:

What Is an Entrance Fee?

If you hope to put down roots at a CCRC in Concord, you’ll be expected to pay an entrance fee. An entrance fee is an up-front cost paid to a CCRC that secures your spot in the community. Entrance fees can cost between $100,000 and $1 million. Though, the average fee is about $300,000.

Just how much you can expect to pay will depend on the community you select as well as the type of long-term care plan you choose.

Are Entrance Fees Refundable?

Some communities refund all or some of the entrance fee to the resident or the resident’s estate when they move out or pass away. However, at some senior living communities, the entrance fee is non-refundable.

This is an important distinction to consider when you begin comparing different CCRCs.

Next Steps

At Havenwood Heritage Heights, most seniors say transitioning to a Concord CCRC was the best decision they’ve ever made. In fact, many wish they had moved sooner. But before you take the leap, it’s important that you fully understand the costs associated with senior living. You must also create a plan that’ll allow you to afford the retirement you deserve. Depending on your financial situation, this may involve selling your home, making use of government assistance, or relying on another payment method.

To learn more about Havenwood Heritage Heights and how we can help you navigate the costs of senior living, contact us today.