Care-free living: choosing an Indiana retirement community. (Retirement Planning).

Is it time to help find a retirement community for an aging parent?

"Shop around because there are many options, ranging from continuing-care retirement communities to stand-alone facilities," says Matthew Loyd, executive director at Meridian Oaks in Indianapolis. "I would highly recommend that someone take a good tour and gain a sense of who lives there. What are the residents like? What are they active in? Is your loved one going to be appropriate in that setting?"

Meridian Oaks is an assisted-living community consisting of 77 apartments. Included in the rent are three meals a day (seven days a week), all utilities, scheduled transportation, housekeeping and laundry services. There is also basic assistance in walking to the dining room, using the restroom, taking a shower and reminders for medication.

Prices at Meridian Oaks range from around $1,150 to $2,650 monthly, depending on the size and location of the apartment. There is no up-front endowment or entry fee.

Another consideration is the kind of services a facility offers in the event a resident declines in health. "We all handle medical needs in slightly different ways," Loyd observes. "You want it to be a good, stable move." In addition, services should be priced fairly. Loyd also encourages unannounced visits to a community. For example, "stop in after dinner and see what's going on or come in on the weekends," he says.

Potential residents should also visit places they believe they are not interested in. "You might find something that will surprise you. People sometimes are given the wrong information on a particular community," notes Dan Dwyer, marketing director at Robin Run Village in Indianapolis. The multi-level retirement community has approximately 570 residents living independently in apartments or garden homes. There is also an 84-bed skilled nursing facility. Staff helps the resident, family and doctor make a decision about changing care levels. "We can recommend that perhaps it is time for someone to consider the healthcare unit," Dwyer says.

Garden homes are resident-owned ($95,000 to $160,000), along with a $445 monthly service fee. For an apartment, entry fees range from $43,000 to $95,000, of which 75 percent is refunded upon vacating, no matter the reason. The monthly service fee ranges from $1,022 for a studio to $2,085 for a two-bedroom, two-bath. This fee covers utilities, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, one meal a day in the dining room, all maintenance, 24-hour security and an emergency response system in all the units. Health-care rates range from $4,000 to $5,000 a month.

The 86-acre Robin Run Village features a 1-1/2 mile nature trail, an old log cabin, five stocked fishing ponds, outdoor tennis and shuffleboard courts, and indoor shuffleboard. "Our residents take about 1,700 schoolchildren through the log cabin every school year," Dwyer says. "The residents teach the kids about Indiana history and dress from that era."

For children placing a parent, Dwyer recommends that the kids do the initial groundwork by visiting a number of communities, then let the parent select from the top two or three choices. "Older people simply don't have the energy to check out that many places," Dwyer says. He also notes that nearly all residents at Robin Run Village have at least one child living nearby. "It's difficult for children to travel a great distance for every little crisis in the family with mom or dad," Dwyer says. In any event, "Plan ahead. Five years is not unreasonable. The better units will probably have a waiting list."

According to Mark Kraner, marketing and hospitality director at Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington, it is important that family members recognize the need to move into an active adult community at an age when that person can still fully participate in activities. "Too many people wait too long," Kraner says. "Too many families are in denial about the end stages of life. The key is to get in at a young age." The youngest resident at Meadowood is 63 years old. "Consider your move by age 75," Kraner says.

The upscale community is home to about 340 people, with an emphasis on continuing education in the arts and humanity. "We have over 240 events a month," Kraner states. This includes traveling to operas, plays and symphonies. There are also five trips a year, such as a two-week cruise.

Costs are strictly rental (from $1,700 to $3,500, depending on the size of the unit). There are 96 garden homes (up to three bedrooms), about 90 apartments (also up to three bedrooms) and a 66-bed health pavilion. Amenities include one meal a day, housekeeping, transportation for medical appointments and shopping, and on-site security.

Visiting a complex more than once is advised. "You need to be aware of the residents and the employees," says Betty DeVoe, president of Westminster Village Muncie, which offers seven levels of care for about 230 residents. "Are the residents and employees interacting well with one another?"

DeVoe, recently honored with a meritorious-service award from the Indiana Association of Homes & Services for the Aging, encourages prospective residents and family members to eat in the dining room. "You shouldn't rely solely on what the marketing director says," she says. Staying overnight is also recommended. "You can get a feel by a short visit, but it's important to live the feel," DeVoe says.

An enclosed mall features a beauty shop, bank, party room, media room and a sundry shop. There are also five activity directors who coordinate such events as cheering in person for Ball State basketball. Full exercise and wellness programs, plus a large library, are part of the mix, too.

There is a $3,500 entry fee associated with a monthly lease at Westminster Village. "This way, no one has to put down a lot of up-front money,' DeVoe notes. "Then when there is a change in level of care, that person isn't concerned about having invested heavily into a particular unit."

At Summer Trace in Carmel, all 225 residents are housed in one five-story building, which makes it easy to transition from one care level to another. "Check the number of staff to residents, especially in skilled nursing," says Brenda Burke, director of marketing. "A good ratio for certified nursing assistants is one CNA for 10 residents. You don't want the CNAS overloaded."

"People need to look to a community where they feel comfortable in making that their home, and in many cases their last home," says Patrick Tolan of Bell Trace Senior Living Community in Bloomington.

The full continuum-of-care campus features independent cottage homes, apartment homes, assisted living and skilled nursing. The 225 residents at Bell Trace can participate in bridge, bingo, arts and crafts, and events at nearby Indiana University. There is also "Sit and Be Fit" aerobics. "I would recommend starting planning three to five years before you want to make a move," Tolan says. "Also, don't wait until you're too old to have fun."