A Visit to Stonebridge

 

I have not had much to write about lately.  However, yesterday could be a day on which we will look back as being very important.  We met with Elise Hug, a sales coordinator at Stonebridge, a senior living community.  She has had email contact with Jim for a few years but we had not met her.  Rather than going to another group information meeting, Jim asked her to meet individually with us to answer our questions.

She began our time together by showing us two apartments, the Pennington and the Somerset.  Both were what we would request--two bedrooms plus a nook or den so that Jim could have a study.  We were very impressed with how spacious and bright the apartments looked.  Yes, there was a washer and a dryer.  Yes, the kitchen appliances were full sized.  There was good closet space and even a little screened-in porch. 

 We had questions about medical concerns.  There is a nurse on the premises and options for urgent care.  There is security if one falls or needs help quickly.  Some doctors come to appointments on site.

Plus the meal plan is enticing! A point system enables you to choose when you want to use their meals.  I don't understand the cafe option or the dining hall option but that we could figure out when and if we sign up. 

Elise explained a bit more about the options of traditional and refundable fees and also the difference for Lifecare options in which your rates for the next level of care do not increase.  Making these financial decisions is a challenge and a gamble because of course one cannot predict what the next years will bring.  She stressed that even as one goes on the wait list, there would be at least a two month process to get in.  And that not that many units come up as available. 

 We know that we have to be in good health and "independent" to be accepted as well as to meet financial criteria.  So far we think we would be OK in both accounts.  

So how do we know what we should do? We really like our lovely apartment here at Barclay Square.  We learned that New Jersey law says that one can break a lease to move into senior continued care housing.  That was news to us and good to know as we have just signed a lease until July 2025.  It was also good to learn that as expensive as buying into Stonebridge would be, there are tax benefits with deductions one can take. 

It is so much easier to stay right where we are and not face the stress of a move.  Fortunately we have downsized once five years ago.  Jim mentioned the challenge of getting to know another community which does not threaten me although I do wonder how you find dining partners night after night.  Jim did ask that if he moved to Stonebridge, would I join him and I heartily agreed.  So whatever we do, at this point we can do it together!