Join Our Priority Club: Membership Has its Benefits

Each month, individuals and couples choose to make us a part of their retirement planning — even before they are ready to retire. And it’s a good idea to start planning early if you wish to age well and live fully in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) such as VMRC. We’re looking at you, Generation X.

Why so soon?

CCRCs typically carry high occupancy rates — upwards of 88% at any given time. The earlier you get on the wait list of your preferred retirement community, the better your chances of moving into the type of home that meets your needs and tastes. Waiting too long could mean the home you want isn’t available at the time of your retirement transition.

Also, the time to make a move to a CCRC is not when you experience a health crisis, but when you are healthy and able to take full advantage of all the amenities an independent living retirement neighborhood offers. As your needs and health change, you move through the care continuum — receiving the support you need each step of the way.

Here’s how VMRC’s independent living application and waitlist process works:

Future residents are assessed for their ability to meet the costs of living in a CCRC. We offer a financial sheet that requires prospective residents to list their assets, retirement accounts, debts, monthly income and whether they carry long-term care insurance. Once qualified, applicants pay a non-refundable application fee of $125 for one person or $175 for a couple. The application asks for demographic information, unique identifiers, living preferences and neighborhood preferences. Our neighborhoods include:

• Park Place

• Park Gables

• Park Village

Applicants then join our waitlist by providing a deposit of $1000, which is fully refundable at any time and is deducted from the residency fee should the prospective resident move forward. At this point, an applicant is considered a member of our Priority Club (our name for our waitlist).

Priority Club members receive a welcome packet that contains health criteria for independent living. Independent living residents manage all of their life needs while having access to VMRC services such as housekeeping and transportation.

When a desired home becomes available, a Priority Club member will be informed in the order of when they joined our list.

When a sales team member offers a residence to a Priority Club member and they accept the offer, their financial information is run through a software program, Examiner Pro, which provides an actuary or core level of “risk” based on age, assets, longevity and other statistics. The information gleaned will determine which Park program is best for the soon-to-be resident.

Becoming a Priority Club member provides peace of mind and enables members to take charge of their future.

Priority Club members also receive regular email communications to stay informed about what’s happening in their future community. In addition, our sales team hosts exclusive events and open houses for members.

We at VMRC want you to have success in your retirement transition. If you are ready to make a bold move for your future, congratulations on your decision.

Kirsten Payne, director of community sales and Misty Rhodes, sales counselor, are waiting to hear from you.