JS Cascada

When making decisions about how and where to retire, everyone has different ideas about what they consider to be most important. Is a retirement community right for you? If so, what type of housing options are you interested in? What services and amenities match your needs? What are your current health care needs, future concerns, and plans to provide for long-term care? Long-term care itself has a number of options. The option that Friendsview offers is called a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

Why Friendsview?

As a not-for-profit Type-A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Oregon, Friendsview has many features that are probably just right for you:

• A range of housing options to match your lifestyle
• Dining services
• Social programs, activities, and events
• Educational opportunities. Our neighbor, George Fox University, provides many social and educational programs open to Friendsview residents.
• Age in place. Enjoy your active lifestyle with peace of mind in knowing that residential and nursing care are available right here on campus.
• Continuing care for your lifetime with stable rates, regardless of the level of care needed
• Up to 15 complementary days in the Charles Beals Health Center per occurrence (except meals)
• Faith-based. "The Mission of Friendsview Retirement Community is to provide active residential living and quality continuing care to seniors in a Christ-centered community."
• Independent and not-for-profit. We are here to serve the residents. Our volunteer board of directors provides oversight on behalf of those who live here.
• Assistance Fund. Through an existing endowment and on-going development efforts, Friendsview has funds in place to assist those residents who need it.

What is the concept behind a CCRC?

A CCRC offers three basic levels of care: independent living, residential care, and intermediate nursing care.

If your health care needs change, you can be confident that you have access to higher levels of care, right here on campus. For couples it provides the security of knowing that as their needs change they can age in place, together. For families it offers the peace of mind of knowing that their loved ones are being cared for in a familiar environment with higher levels of care available, if needed.

But there is more to Friendsview than just being a CCRC. We also offer a number of other services and amenities: transportation, meals, housekeeping, maintenance, a wide range of social programs, educational opportunities, fellowship, personal care, and emergency assistance, if needed. We take care of the details so that you can enjoy your retirement to the fullest.

How does the fee structure work?

Friendsview Retirement Community, like most CCRC’s, requires an entrance fee to move in to our independent residences. The amount of the entrance fee will vary, depending on the type of housing you initially choose. In addition to the entrance fee, there are also monthly fees for occupancy, meals, and other amenities and services. These fees also vary depending on type of housing and choice of meal plan.

The fees work together to the advantage of the resident. The entrance fee makes it possible for Friendsview to offer monthly fees that are lower than other supportive living options in the region. Additionally, residents know that they have access to higher levels of care right here on campus, if needed.

How is Friendsview different?

Friendsview is a “Type-A” CCRC. This means that once you pay your entrance fee and move in, the monthly rates for services remain stable during your lifetime, regardless of the level of care that you require. One example would be in our health center, which is licensed as an immediate care facility (ICF).

Friendsview residents pay approximately 30 percent of what other facilities charge per month for a private room, so you can see the real advantage of the Friendsview program. Our Type-A model is quite unique in Oregon and provides residents and families with an additional level of peace of mind, knowing how to budget and plan for future needs.

What is so important about a not-for-profit community?

Not-for-profit retirement communities, including Friendsview, have a mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care to the residents who live there. Friendsview is run for the benefit of our residents, not for the bottom line of a for-profit corporation, Wall Street, or shareholders looking for a quarterly dividend. You can feel the difference.

As the long-term care industry is under much scrutiny, not-for-profit providers are showing that there is a difference when it comes to quality. By consistently providing more hands-on care and developing new and more creative ways of meeting resident needs, not-for-profits are setting the standard in the industry.

Compare the costs

Before deciding on what is right for you in retirement, comparing costs is important. What are the real costs to staying at home? Moving to a retirement home? Choosing a CCRC?

Look at everything that is included in your current and future monthly costs. You might be surprised to find out what you are actually paying to stay at home right now.

Most of the residents at Friendsview say that if they had known how great their retirement community lifestyle would be, they would have chosen it sooner. No more property taxes or homeowner's insurance… dishes… yard work… painting… maintenance… or other household chores. This is certainly something for everyone to think about as they look at their own retirement plans.

Tax Benefits

There are also some possible tax benefits associated with living in a CCRC.

A significant portion of your entrance fee and monthly fees may be tax-deductible. A member of our marketing staff is available to discuss specific details with you. You should talk with your tax consultant to find out what the tax implications are for you personally.