FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes Glacier Hills special?
Glacier Hills is the only independent, not-for-profit, non-sectarian Life·Care continuing care retirement community in southeastern Michigan. Glacier Hills has been on the forefront of older adult living and health care services for more than 35 years.
What does continuing care mean?
Continuing care communities are distinguished from other senior living environments because they offer a full continuum of services. The licensed programs of continuing care communities such as Glacier Hills are designed to meet the changing health and living needs of older adults. These programs offer increasing levels of assistance tailored to individual needs.
How will I benefit from Glacier Hills Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?
You benefit from health care and financial security. As a Life·Care CCRC, Glacier Hills provides a full continuum of care, which means that as your health care needs change, your living environment will accommodate your needs. Entering into a Life·Care agreement assures you that if your financial picture changes, you are always assured a home at Glacier Hills.
This is a big decision for me. How can I be assured that I am making the right choice?
Many seniors list quality of care, financial stability and personal security among their top concerns when considering a retirement community. Glacier Hills has been a stable, leading force in older adult living and care in the State of Michigan since 1973. During that time, Glacier Hills has earned a reputation for service excellence, caring staff and innovative programming to help older adults enjoy retirement living at their highest attainable level of independence.
What levels of care are provided at Glacier Hills?
Currently three levels of accommodations and services are offered: Independent Living; Assisted Living; and Skilled Nursing Care. Within the Care and Rehabilitation Center, long-term care, short-term or sub acute care, and memory loss care are offered. The current independent living program also offers a wide range of supportive services for help with daily living on an as-needed basis.
What is independent living?
Independent living at The Meadows has been designed to support full, comfortable lifestyles for those who are active and able to take care of themselves. The Meadows provides hospitality services catering to a lifestyle free from the burdens of household responsibilities, such as housekeeping, maintenance, and linen service. Independent living in The Manor provides much of the same type of lifestyle with the added availability of supportive services as part of the supportive and assisted living programs.
What is independent supportive living?
In The Manor, a full-time Resident Services Manager is on-site to help residents who need assistance once in a while with some of the activities of living. For example, the Resident Services Manager can help sort out bill paying problems, find the error in balancing a checkbook, or help make medical appointments.
What is assisted living?
Assisted living in The Manor is a program designed for those who need more help with activities of daily living, but do not need nursing care. The friendly, trained Assisted Living staff of nurses and care assistants are available 24 hours a day to help with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing and medication supervision.
What is Life·Care?
Life·Care is the agreement that Glacier Hills enters into with its residents to ensure that they are taken care of for the remainder of their lives.
Is Life·Care and continuing care expensive?
If stability and security are important to you, then your investment in the commitment Glacier Hills makes to you is extremely worthwhile. When you consider that Glacier Hills offers you the ability to enjoy a more active retirement than if you lived alone, and that your changing needs can be met through assisted living and nursing care on site (to be used when needed), Life·Care can be a prudent, cost-effective use of your income and assets. For more information, contact our Residential Living Specialist at (734) 913-0730.
What is a Life·Care Fee?
The Life·Care Fee is a one-time fee paid by a resident upon entry into The Manor or The Meadows. This fee ensures that housing and nursing care services will be provided to the resident for life. It guarantees that a bed in the Care and Rehabilitation Center is always available when needed.
Is the Life·Care Fee refundable?
Yes. Glacier Hills offers two types of Life·Care fee plans: a non-refundable fee for a lower cost and a 90% refundable fee.
Am I required to turn over my assets to Glacier Hills?
No. You only need to provide evidence of your financial ability to meet the obligations of living at Glacier Hills. Glacier Hills does not take over anyone's financial assets.
What does going on the Wait List provide me?
Glacier Hills is a popular and desirable retirement community. For this reason, you may have to wait for a living unit of your choice to become available before you can move into Glacier Hills. There are a number of advantages to joining the Wait List:
- You will receive priority placement and receive notification each time the floor plan of your choice becomes available.
- The deposit is fully refundable at any time with interest if you choose to go off the wait list.
- You will have the opportunity to refuse two units indicated as preference on your application.
- You may enjoy the benefits of being Nexus Club member, such as access to receptions and events, free membership to The Wellness Connection, monthly meals and massage certificates while you are waiting to join our community.
How do I go on the Wait List?
Complete and submit a Nexus Club application for approval; pay a $2500 Wait List fee (refundable with interest if you choose to go off the Wait List).
What does the Monthly Service Fee cover?
This fee covers a wide range of services and amenities provided to you as a resident of Glacier Hills. It pays for a prorated share of the community's actual operating expenses. It includes services such as housekeeping, maintenance, up to three meals per day, utilities and programming services.
Will the Monthly Service Fee go up?
Changes in the economy have a direct effect upon the cost of labor and services, and can cause an adjustment in the monthly fee. The Residence Agreement provides detailed information on the procedures for changing the monthly fee. It is Glacier Hills' intention to adjust the monthly fee once annually, only as needed.
Will Medicare pay for the nursing center costs?
In many cases, Medicare will pay for nursing care, but only for a short period of time, and only for an illness or condition that meets Medicare's requirements.
What is the minimum age for residency at Glacier Hills Retirement Center?
The minimum age is 62. In the case of a couple, only one person needs to be 62 years of age.
I'm just not ready yet to move. What should I do?
If you are interested at all, get your questions answered now. Remember, your good health is your best assurance of being able to live in The Manor or The Meadows at Glacier Hills. If you wait until you need significant assistance, it may be too late to qualify for these retirement neighborhoods. Besides, you want to be healthy enough to enjoy all that Glacier Hills has to offer!
How does not-for-profit benefit me?
A not-for-profit retirement community does not have to answer to shareholders for a growing amount of profit. If the operations of Glacier Hills are run efficiently and a profit remains at the end of the year, that money goes to two places only: to the residents in the form of increased quality services and programs and to the employees to ensure the delivery of quality services. Remaining profit only makes the Glacier Hills community stronger and a better place for you to live.
Why is Glacier Hills a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit?
From the beginning in 1973, Glacier Hills received the special 501(c)(3) not-for-profit government status because it was "organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes."
The major tenets of this status include:
- The ability to establish, operate, maintain and provide facilities and services to satisfy the needs of older adults in Michigan, including housing, health care, and financial security, for the exclusive charitable purpose of ministering to the needs and the relief of hardship or distress of aged persons.
- Provide non-profit housing, nursing care, and related facilities and services specially designed to meet the physical, social, educational and psychological needs of older adults and contribute to their health, security, happiness and usefulness in longer living.
- Engage in scientific research and educational activities.
- Plan, construct, operate, maintain and improve housing and related facilities for older families and persons.
- Receive and administer gifts for the advancement of the organization.
- Donors receive tax benefits to the extent of the law and their own financial situation for their gifts to Glacier Hills.
