Q: I’m in good health and comfortable in my home. Why should I consider a senior living community now?
A: Many residents say that they “wished they had moved here sooner” and realize that the burden of maintaining a home is quickly replaced by the freedom to discover new hobbies and make new friends. More importantly, the peace of mind and security that comes from knowing they will be well-taken care for the remainder of their life has brought great comfort to residents and their families.
As the only continuing care retirement community of its kind in the area, Kendal also provides residents with individually focused, coordinated health services on site. The fees are predictable and cover all maintenance, property and school taxes, one meal per day, and many on-site amenities. Additionally, it’s worth noting, a large portion of fees are tax deductible medical expenses.
Q: I/we are very interested in joining the Kendal community. How do I know if we can afford to live there? Can you help me figure this out?
A: We appreciate the fact that you are considering Kendal at Ithaca in your future plans! One of the first things we recommend is a very quick and simple financial tool found on our website.
If you find that you qualify for a desirable size residence, then you can browse floor plans and continue exploring the website and research all that Kendal has to offer. You are also welcome to contact our Marketing and Admissions department at kaimarketing@kai.kendal.org or call 607-266-5300. We are happy to answer questions and provide additional information.
Q: How do I know I will not out live my funds and be forced to leave Kendal?
A: Admissions staff do a very careful analysis, using your financial data. We ask you to tell us how much money you need to support your present lifestyle, and we run a 25-year projection. We approve you for admission to Kendal if we believe that your funds will sustain you for the duration of your stay. These projections also include estimated fee changes Kendal may implement during that time period. Once you are financially approved, you can be sure we are quite comfortable with your ability to fulfill the financial obligations of a lifecare contract.
Q: What are the types of contracts you offer?
A: We have 3 types of contracts, however, the LifeCare contract is the one that the majority of residents have chosen. The descriptions can be found here: Contract Types
Q: Does Kendal increase monthly fees every year?
A: We evaluate many factors during our annual budget season. We cannot guarantee monthly fees will stay the same, however they also may not increase. Our goal is to provide the resident community with outstanding care and services. Since we are a not-for-profit organization, we work to keep expenses in check and minimize any fee adjustments while also working to keep the high-quality service that Kendal residents expect.
Q: Do I have to take a health assessment before I move in?
A: As part of the application process, prospective residents need to be both financially and medically approved. This process includes a health assessment. We are primarily looking at the ability for the incoming resident to live safely and independently upon entry to Kendal.
Q: I am used to my privacy. How can I be sure I can live among a large group of people in a community such as this?
A: Residents and staff respect the need for privacy here at Kendal. Early on people established the practice of calling ahead and not dropping in on one another, believing that there needed to be a place in everyone’s lives where they could be alone. Having dinner with fellow residents every evening can be wonderful, but there are times when people want to be alone. We currently have two locations where residents can dine in or take-out.