Read the entire letter from Chuck Ladner
Why are CCRCs the better option?
CCRCs, like Dunwoody, provide a continuous living environment— from independent living through whatever care needs may arise as an individual ages. Because CCRCs operate on sound actuarial principles, they are able to offer lifetime care under a single and low-cost fee structure.
Some other retirement communities may be less costly at the outset, but their healthcare costs can be unpredictable and unaffordable—even devastating. So when advising friends, I typically dismiss the retirement communities that do not offer continuing care as being too risky, too insecure, and, ultimately, an imprudent choice.
Do you think for-profit or not-for-profit CCRCs are the better choice?
Ask yourself: Do you want a portion of your fees to be sent forward to some corporation and paid out as bonuses to employees and dividends to investors? Or would you prefer that the fees stay within the community to support the Residents’ services? I prefer the latter.
What is the “Dunwoody Difference?”
In a word? Excellence.
Within 15 miles of Dunwoody, there are seven not-for-profit CCRCs. All, including Dunwoody, offer superb living and dining services. You can take part in many social and cultural events. There is a range of recreational activities, and Residents have access to the full continuum of care.
However, Dunwoody’s commitment to excellence in all phases of its operations makes it the clear choice in my opinion. When evaluating CCRCs, I look at three critical factors which I think are the most important:
• Financial Stability—we have a lower level of long-term debt and a higher level of funds with which to invest in the facilities and prepare for the unexpected challenges of our economy.
• Quality of Healthcare—Dunwoody has better access to healthcare for Residents, with 50% more capacity in our Care Center than our peers.
• Comfort and Convenience—Dunwoody stands alone in anticipating and mitigating what I call “the disruptive inconveniences of everyday living.”
What do you mean?
As we get older, things like rain, snow, and sleet become more than inconveniences—they can become dangers. Dunwoody stands alone in providing heated and enclosed walkways connecting all living units to the common areas where dining, recreational, and social activities take place.
And these enclosed walkways are not just for the apartments—Residents in the Country Houses (cottages) are protected as well. All of our Residents are free from the hassle of ever having to go out in the rain, sleet, and snow.
We’ve also begun a substantial upgrade to our internal power grid and emergency power capabilities to prevent disruptions in the event of a power outage.
OK—you’ve got ten words. Convince me to choose Dunwoody!
Dunwoody is a little bit better at the things that really
matter. That’s twelve. See? We always go just a little bit further!
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