There are many different, often confusing options when it comes to retiring.

Depending on your particular desires and needs, there are several options.  Generally, retirement communities are put into three categories: Active Adult or 55+ Communities; Rental Retirement Communities; and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC). The most important thing for you to do is start EDUCATING yourself on the options at least 2 years before moving into a retirement community.  Do not be crisis driven!

Why choose a Continuing Care Retirement Community?

Although you do pay a one-time entrance deposit, your monthly fees are lower for Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing. And, you will receive a State of Florida approved GUARANTEE which can provide Care For Life.  This is becoming all the more important at a time when there are continual changes and cuts in both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Continuing Care Retirement Communities remove the uncertainty of future care needs.

The number one MISCONCEPTION about Continuing Care Retirement communities is If I rent, I will not spend as much as if I were to buy a membership at Village On The Isle (CCRC).  WRONG! In reality you will end up spending more money out of pocket renting than you will in buying a one-time membership in most instances.

There are a number of TRUTHS when looking at a Continuing Care Retirement Community.

For starters, you are paying for a Membership at Village On The Isle. This means you have rights to the resources on campus for the rest of your life as long as those needs can be met by the community.  Let’s say for example you need to move into assisted living, you seamlessly move from Independent to Assisted and you maintain your social network while receiving the services you need.  This is very important. We hear about cases all the time where Independent Living residents at communities become ill and cannot receive the care they need. They may be put on a waiting list at an assisted living facility or worse they may be forced to move into an off-site community they would have never chosen if they were not crisis driven.

CCRC’s like Village On The Isle provide resident tax breaks for as long as you live on campus.  These tax breaks are not available in non-membership environments.

The Membership concept really takes the worry out of aging. Aging is a fact, preparing and educating yourself lets you age gracefully and free of unnecessary worry.

Village On The Isle is Venice’s only not-for-profit, faith based, CCRC.  We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing all on one campus.

Our residents can move between these levels of continuum care, without leaving the familiarities of  Village On The Isle.  Our residents and the lifestyle they live are so very important to us here.  We invite you to take a look at our website, our Facebook page, our Blog and our YouTube channel to see for yourself!  At Village, Your Time is NOW!

It’s mid November Thanksgiving is a week away (give or take), Christmas is around the corner and Village On The Isle prepares to end the year in style!

November kicks off our Staff Scholarship Program.  VOTI staff can fill out the scholarship application and turn this into Kathy Margraf our COO, along with their official transcripts. The residents here at Village On The Isle formed a committee years ago that collects money to award staff scholarships in May of every year.  There has been quite an interest already this year as there usually is each year. This past year the team RAISED $63,000 and AWARDED 18 employees of Village On The Isle a $3,500 scholarship for 2011!

Many of the staff continue their education because of this program and they are eligible to receive this award more than once.  Some of the staff also continue their employment at Village On The Isle even after they receive their degree (nursing LPN or RN). They enjoy their work here and stay on to climb the career ladder with us.

Our residents also started the Resident Gratuity Fund.  Throughout the year residents set aside a collection of monies for the staff since they are not permitted to receive tips.  Each December there is a BIG Gratuity party where the residents present to all staff (except salaried) an envelope with a portion of the money.  Last year the residents collected and distributed $90,000!!! The party is set this year for December 13th.

And last but never least we are getting ready for our staff Christmas party scheduled for December 8^th.  We will dance the night away with a DJ, enjoy fabulous food and tons of door prizes.  Nobody will go home empty handed!

So from our family to yours… WE WISH YOU A HEALTHY & HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!