Senior Living Frequently Asked Questions

What does LifeCare give me?

LifeCare at Wyndemere gives you a home for life, as well as care for life. In addition to your independent living residence and access to every community service and amenity, you have priority access to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation, as long as you need it – for life.

There are also a number of financial LifeCare contract benefits that provide predictable care costs and estate protection.

What’s the upfront cost?

The up-front cost of senior living comes in the form of an entrance payment and is roughly comparable to area home costs. To have your entrance fee explained, it’s helpful to discuss this cost with a Sales Counselor early in your inquiry. Keep in mind that you’ll be refunded at least 75% of your original payment for our LifeCare option or 85% of your fee for service entrance payment.

At Wyndemere, independent living entrance fees begin at $315,000.

What’s the Monthly Service Fee?

One monthly service fee in senior living covers most of your living costs – from dining to maintenance to utilities. The floor plan you chose, however, determines what your monthly service fee will be. At Wyndemere, monthly fees begin at $3,397 for a one-bedroom independent living apartment home. If you’re a couple, there will be a second-person cost added monthly. Wyndemere offers several Return-of-CapitalTM plans tailored to your needs.

What if my spouse needs a higher level of care, but I don’t?

You stay in your independent living residence and your spouse moves into skilled nursing. You don’t pay for two residences, nor do you need to move with your spouse. You simply pay for two extra meals per day and any individual charges outside of your room and board. That’s why the true value of LifeCare is peace of mind. Your costs are predictable, can be planned and don’t increase significantly even if you or your spouse’s health needs change.

How does LifeCare protect my finances?

LifeCare gives you predictable monthly fees throughout all levels of care and allows you to control your future health care costs. Plus, at least 75% of your original payment for our LifeCare option or 85% of your fee for service entrance payment is refundable, offering you outstanding estate protection.

How is memory care different from Assisted Living?

The key difference between memory care versus assisted living is the level of support provided. Assisted living helps with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, meals, and medication management for people who are cognitively intact. Memory care provides specialized support for those with Alzheimer’s, and other dementias, or other memory-related conditions.

At Westbridge, we work with individuals, family members, and caregivers to find the right balance of respect and care. Our homelike design provides complete security around the clock, with special dementia care programs that enable pleasant and peaceful days for those with memory loss.

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Dementia refers to the loss of cognitive functions (thinking, reasoning, the ability to remember) that are severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. This group of symptoms is not a disease in itself, but may accompany certain diseases, conditions, and different types of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that is characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several brain areas, leading to loss of recent memories and new learning first, and eventually long-term memories, too.

What is subacute/short-term rehab care?

Subacute or short-term rehab for seniors is provided in a skilled nursing setting and typically serves to transition a patient from hospital to home by assisting with the recovery process.

On average, how long does a rehabilitation patient stay before returning home?

The length of a patient’s stay varies based on that person’s specific needs. Some patients stay a week or two; others may stay longer to achieve their recovery goals.

Wynscape has a physician who specializes in rehabilitation on site five days a week, as well as a doctorate-prepared nurse practitioner. They collaborate with our care team to ensure your loved one recovers quickly and returns home as soon as possible.

Who pays for the patient’s care?

Coverage for short-term rehabilitation varies depending on the type of insurance the patient has. You can contact the Admissions team at the skilled nursing center, and they’ll verify benefits and explain what’s covered.

How often does a physician see patients?

At Wynscape, our physiatrist (a physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine) strives to see patients within 24 hours or on the next working day, which far exceeds the industry standard of 30-60 days. Our nurse practitioner sees patients up to three days per week, depending on the patient’s medical condition. Most of our staff physicians conduct rounds weekly.

What do physical therapy and rehabilitation include?

We provide short-term rehab through physical, speech, occupational and orthopedic therapies at Wynscape. Residents can receive expert care from our Speech Pathologists and Therapists, who use the most advanced treatments and technologies.

Dr. Mahesh Ramachandran (Dr. Ram) is our on-site board-certified Physiatrist, working with our medical team to ensure immediacy and continuity of care for all residents.

Is occupational therapy the same as physical therapy?

It’s similar in that it helps restore strength and mobility. Occupational therapy helps people adapt to their social and physical environment through specialized therapies for getting dressed, memory training and coordination exercises.

What can I expect from speech therapy?

Our skilled speech and language pathologists address communication issues and swallowing dysfunction. They’ll design treatment plans to help with language ability, provide alternate communication strategies and give appropriate diet recommendations.