Frequently Asked Questions

Meadow Ridge is an award-winning senior living community comprised of more than 300 Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care apartment homes. Our on-campus health center, Ridge Crest at Meadow Ridge, offers 62 beds for sub-acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing care.

Residents can engage in physical activities such as Pilates, gardening, swimming in the heated indoor pool, walking their dogs on lush trails and playing croquet. The community also provides opportunities for intellectual enrichment through Meadow Ridge University, foreign language courses, painting and involvement in the resident-run country store, clubs and committees. There’s something for everyone to nourish their mind, body and spirit. The level of involvement is entirely up to each individual’s preference.

1. As a Type-A CCRC, residents pay an admission fee, which starts at $515,625 and offers three different refund options.
2. Residents also pay a monthly fee that ranges from $6,040 to $11,280 based on the type of apartment home selected.

The monthly fee provides residents with a comprehensive package of services, including housekeeping, dining, local transportation services*, 24-hour response system, apartment home maintenance and repairs, snow removal, property taxes, landscaping, all utilities (except telephone), assigned parking, security and a care plan for the future with Lifecare. It also includes the use of our many campus amenities, including the indoor pool, fitness center, three-story atrium, library and more. Also, residents have access to up to 75 weekly programs and activities, including lectures, functions, outings, classes and fitness programs.

*Meadow Ridge provides transportation to medical appointments, the nearby grocery store and local attractions as a part of our off-campus day trips.

Meadow Ridge is a pet-friendly community. We welcome four-legged family members and offer various perks for them, including social events like “Yappy Hour” and our Bark Ridge Dog Park. Recently, our dog show was a tail-wagging success. Pets are an important part of what makes Meadow Ridge the height of senior living.

Ridge Crest at Meadow Ridge offers top-rated sub-acute Rehabilitation and long-term Skilled Nursing care. Our five-star Medicare-rated community has been consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best nursing homes in the country, and we have been honored as a Center of Excellence in Wound Management by Wound Care Specialists. Ridge Crest services are available to both Meadow Ridge residents and local individuals, ensuring high-quality care and support for short-term Rehabilitation or long-term care needs.

Benchmark Senior Living, a leading provider of senior living services in the Northeast, is part owner and the operator of Meadow Ridge. Senior Care Development, LLC, the community’s original developer, retains a majority ownership.

A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offers senior housing and on-site amenities for seniors who want to remain in one place as they go through the aging process. At a CCRC, you could start in Independent Living and later receive expanded care or move into Assisted Living or Mind & Memory Care as the need arises. A CCRC provides services to residents for the full continuum of care.

CCRCs have many advantages for seniors, including carefree, maintenance-free living. No raking, no shoveling, no home repairs: It is taken care of. Residents at a CCRC are surrounded by like-minded people, so there is no shortage of stimulating social opportunities. There are wellness and fitness programs, amenities, dining and access to a full range of care services.

Potential tax benefits may also be available. As always, you should consult with your tax or financial advisor to guide you through the details of potential deductions. Several rulings by the United States Internal Revenue Service have established that a portion of your admission fee and monthly fees may be deductible as a prepaid medical expense, so you could take advantage of the tax benefits even if you live independently, requiring little or no healthcare.

All CCRCs offer residential housing and amenities, but the range and cost of on-site services vary widely. There are three types of CCRCs: Type A, Type B and Type C. Each have different financial implications and levels of service, so it is essential to know the differences. Meadow Ridge is a Type-A CCRC and offers Lifecare. Other plans may not offer the same comprehensive package, so understanding the differences in other options will help you make the right decision for you and your family.

What is a Type-A CCRC?

With a Type-A contract, you pay an admission fee partially refundable to you or your estate when you leave. At Meadow Ridge, that refund is up to 80% of your admission fee. There is also a monthly service fee that will remain predictable despite how your care needs change. Care is available at predictable rates throughout the continuum of care. In short, when you choose the Type-A option at Meadow Ridge, we promise to care for you for the rest of your life, under most circumstances, without significantly increasing monthly fees.

What is a Type-B CCRC?

Type-B CCRCs provide senior housing, services and amenities. Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing care are typically offered in one of two ways: with a limited number of free days of care as part of the admission fee with additional care billed at market rates per service, or an ongoing, minimally discounted rate for care services. Healthcare services may be available on or off site, and two monthly fees may be incurred if couples require different levels of care.

What is a Type-C CCRC?

A Type-C community is a fee-for-service community. Housing, services and amenities are provided under the resident agreement. Access to long-term healthcare, as needed, is typically guaranteed but charged at fee-for-service market rates. If care is required on a short-term basis, to maintain the Independent Living residence, the resident would be required to pay the monthly fee on that residence plus the costs of housing and healthcare received in the Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing residence.

Waiting until a health crisis strikes forces you to move, limits your choices in retirement living and will cause you to lose the benefits of living in a Lifecare community like Meadow Ridge. Why not enjoy your retirement knowing you have planned well and taken control of your future? With Lifecare, you can access a variety of healthy, active lifestyle choices and practically limitless social, spiritual and personal growth opportunities.

To be eligible for Lifecare, you must move to Meadow Ridge as an Independent Living resident. Residents must demonstrate adequate physical health to qualify for a Lifecare plan, so it is best to take advantage of Lifecare while you are still healthy and independent. Care coverage will begin as soon as you need it and continue for the rest of your life.

If you wait until you need healthcare, space may not be available and, if it is, you will be required to pay standard rates. You also will have missed out on the opportunity to enjoy all the advantages and amenities that Independent Living residents enjoy.

Long-term care insurance can be used to subsidize your cost in Independent Living or when you need additional services like Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing; while that depends upon your plan, we are happy to review it with you so you understand how you can leverage your plan to the maximum. So, while long-term care insurance isn’t necessary at Meadow Ridge, leveraging your long-term care policy could provide an extra layer of security and financial savings.