The Freedom of Knowing You Have a Plan
Most of us do not spend much time thinking about the day when we might need more help. We are busy enjoying retirement. We travel. We exercise. We see friends, spend time with family and fill our calendars with the things we enjoy. If you are healthy and independent, it is easy to assume that senior living will continue much the same way.
Still, there’s something reassuring about knowing what your options are if life takes an unexpected turn.
That is one of the biggest benefits of a continuing care retirement community. You can choose where you want to live while you are active and independent, while also knowing that additional care is available if you ever need it.
At Vicar’s Landing, the premiere retirement community near Jacksonville, Florida, that idea is at the center of what’s known as the Life Choice Community.
Start With the Life You Want
Continuing care does not mean giving up your independence. It means planning ahead so you can hold on to it for as long as possible.
Life at Vicar’s Landing begins with independent senior living. Members have their own homes, their own routines and plenty of choices about how to spend their days.
Maybe that means starting the morning with a fitness class and meeting friends for lunch. Maybe it is a game of croquet, a walk around the lake, an afternoon at the pool or a trip to the beach. Some days may be full from morning to night. Others may be wonderfully quiet.
There is also less of the everyday work that comes with owning a home. Maintenance and housekeeping are handled, leaving more time for the things you actually want to do.
Wellness Is Part of Everyday Life
Planning for the future is important. So is making the most of today. Wellness at Vicar’s Landing is about much more than exercise. The new Thrive at Vicar’s Landing program recognizes eight dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, occupational and financial.
That may sound like a lot, but the idea is pretty simple. A good life is about the whole person.
Staying active matters. So does having close friends. Having a sense of purpose matters. So does learning something new, feeling connected to your community and being comfortable with your financial choices.
That is why a typical day at Vicar’s Landing might include a workout, a lecture, time with friends, a creative activity or simply enjoying the outdoors. There is no checklist you have to follow. Members choose what works for them.
What Happens If Your Needs Change?
This is where the value of continuing care becomes especially clear. Someone who is completely independent today may need a little help with daily activities later. Another person may need rehabilitation after an illness or surgery. Someone else may eventually need memory care.
Those changes can be difficult for families when there has been no plan. A continuing care community like ours means there are options.
At Vicar’s Landing, assisted living is part of the same community. Residents can receive help with things such as personal care, medication management and daily routines while continuing to live among familiar faces.
Laurel Oak at the Oak Bridge campus adds 43 assisted living apartments to the community. The campus also includes the Charlie & Yvonne Goldsmith Center, a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle Memory Care neighborhood.
Having these options nearby does not mean you will need them. It simply means they are there if your circumstances change. You are choosing a retirement community near Jacksonville, Florida, where you can live well now and have a plan for later.
Peace of Mind for the Whole Family
The decision to move to a continuing care community is usually about more than the person making the move. Adult children often wonder what will happen if Mom or Dad has a fall, needs help after a hospital stay or can no longer manage everything alone.
Without a plan, those situations can lead to rushed decisions. Families may suddenly have to search for care, find an available apartment and figure out what comes next, all while dealing with a health crisis. Planning ahead can make those moments less overwhelming.
At Vicar’s Landing, members already know their community, their neighbors and their care team. Families know there is a continuum of support available as needs change. That familiarity means a great deal during a stressful time.
Healthcare is another part of the picture. Vicar’s Landing is close to many of the respected and top-tier medical resources in the Jacksonville area. Residents also have access to on-site healthcare services, therapy and transportation to medical appointments.
For families, knowing that support is close by can provide an added sense of security.
A Community That Is Planning Ahead, Too
Vicar’s Landing is not standing still. Adding the Oak Bridge campus to complement our Sawgrass campus a few years ago represents a major expansion of the community, with independent living, assisted living, memory care and a wide range of amenities designed around resident life.
And the plans continue.
Vicar’s Landing at eTOWN is bringing the Life Choice Community model to Jacksonville’s Southside. The planned senior living community will include residences across independent living, assisted living and memory care, along with extensive dining, wellness, social and recreational spaces.
The reason for that growth is easy to understand. More people are looking for retirement communities that offer choices, amenities and a plan for changing needs without requiring another major move later.
Ready for Your Future
None of us can predict exactly what the next 10, 20 or 30 years will look like. You may remain independent for the rest of your life. You may need a little extra help for a short time. Your needs may change in ways you cannot imagine today.
You do not have to know the answer. You just have to know that you have options.
That is what makes continuing care so appealing to many people. It allows you to make an important decision while you are healthy and independent, rather than waiting until a change in health forces your hand.
You get to choose where you want to live. You get to become part of the community. You get to build friendships and establish routines. And if life changes, you already have a place that knows you. That is the real value of planning ahead.
At Vicar’s Landing, that is what a Life Choice Community is designed to provide: a place where you can live the life you want today, with the confidence that you have a plan for tomorrow.
