- Q. What will retirement living at The Canterbury offer?
- Q. What is a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)?
- Q. What levels of care does The Canterbury offer?
- Q. Are Assisted Living and the Care Center included in my entrance fee?
- Q. Is The Canterbury close to area hospitals and medical offices?
- Q. Who owns The Canterbury?
- Q. What is the advantage of a nonprofit community?
- Q. How do I reserve a home at The Canterbury?
- Q. What types of residences are being offered at The Canterbury?
- Q. Where will I park my car at The Canterbury?
- Q. What is covered in the Monthly Fee?
- Q. What kind of health and fitness activities do you offer?
- Q. What will the dining service be like?
- Q. Can extra meals be purchased if needed?
- Q. What kinds of activities will be available?
- Q. What kind of security measures have you taken at The Canterbury?
- Q. What are the qualifications for moving to The Canterbury?
- Q. Why should I decide now?
- Q. Are pets allowed?
- Q. Will I still need my health insurance?
- Q. May I retain my family physician?
Q. What will retirement living at The Canterbury offer?
A. You will enjoy an unregimented lifestyle, free from the burden of maintaining your own home, in one of most desirable locations in Los Angeles County. The Canterbury sits atop one of the highest points of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offering a spectacular view of the Los Angeles basin and the mountains beyond. We offer a wealth of services and activities to enrich your life socially, recreationally, educationally and spiritually, in the company of people who share common interests. If you should need continuing health care, we offer three levels so that you may remain in your own community, surrounded by friends.
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Q. What is a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)?
A. A continuing care retirement community provides the assurance that, in addition to independent residential living, continuing healthcare services such as care center nursing and assisted living are available should the need arise. When The Episcopal Home Communities signs a continuing care agreement with a resident, it makes a commitment to provide care and services to the resident under the terms of the contract for the remainder of the resident's life.
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Q. What levels of care does The Canterbury offer?
A. The Canterbury offers three levels of healthcare. An à la carte program will provide services in your own home for such circumstances as it becomes appropriate – for example, help with bathing or dressing. If you need more assistance with activities of daily living, Assisted Living offers studio, one and two bedroom accommodations.
If you need ongoing care and services, it is reassuring to know that you will receive nurturing care in the Care Center. The important thing is that you may remain in your own community with familiar surroundings and the companionship of close friends.
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Q. Are Assisted Living and the Care Center included in my entrance fee?
A. The continuing care agreement provides priority access to The Canterbury residents for services in Assisted Living and the Care Center, but there is an additional fee for the personal care and nursing services provided in these levels.
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Q. Is The Canterbury close to area hospitals and medical offices?
A. Two excellent hospitals, Torrance Hospital and Little Company of Mary Hospital, are close by. There are also several medical facilities conveniently located in the area.
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Q. Who owns The Canterbury?
A. The Canterbury is a nonprofit, nondenominational community owned and operated by The Episcopal Home Communities, an established provider of quality care for seniors since 1923.
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Q. What is the advantage of a nonprofit community?
A. As a nonprofit community, we are not charged with the task of returning a profit to the investors. In lieu of paying dividends to stockholders, we are able to reinvest the proceeds over and above the cost of operation into enhanced services for our residents. As a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, we are also exempt from paying most property taxes. Because of our favored tax status, we have a responsibility to provide services not only to the residents, but to return benefit to the communities in which we are located.
Gifts made to The Canterbury are fully tax-deductible. If you are interested in exploring the many options available for enhancing your own income while making a deferred gift, please let us know. Planned gifts can increase your current income significantly and simultaneously yield substantial tax deductions. Appreciated stock or real estate, for example, incur no capital gains when gifted to a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation; in addition, the total value at the time of the gift may be deducted. We can provide advice and counseling free of charge to you, if you would like to consider such a giving opportunity.
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Q. How do I reserve a home at The Canterbury?
A. Prospective residents meet with the Director of Marketing to discuss available accommodations and determine what will best suit their needs. The application process consists of an application for admission, a financial application, a physician's medical report and a non-refundable community fee of $1,750 -$2,250 depending on the size of the accommodation. If all conditions are met, and after all corresponding fees are paid, the resident arranges to move in as soon as the desired accommodation is available.
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Q. What types of residences are being offered at The Canterbury?
A. Independent Living residences include one and two bedroom accommodations. Assisted Living residences include studios as well as one and two bedroom accommodations.
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Q. Where will I park my car at The Canterbury?
A. The Canterbury, unlike most other retirement communities, offers individual garages for residents who have cars. The garages are located throughout the premises convenient to the accommodations.
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Q. What is covered in the Monthly Fee?
A. The monthly fee covers one meal per day in the dining room, all utilities except personal phone, trash pickup, basic cable television, 24-hour call system, weekly housekeeping, grounds keeping, repairs and maintenance. Scheduled transportation to local medical facilities and shopping areas also is included.
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Q. What kind of health and fitness activities do you offer?
A. We are committed to enhancing the well-being of our residents. Your monthly services fee includes preventative health services such as an annual health assessment, blood pressure monitoring, and minor first aid in our Clinic. In addition, we will schedule ongoing health education programs and you will have access to the fitness center, exercise classes, lap pool and water aerobics.
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Q. What will the dining service be like?
A. Your monthly fee includes one meal per day in our dining room, which serves both lunch and dinner. It's your choice. Like a fine restaurant, you'll choose from the standard daily fare or the chef's special meals for that day.
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Q. Can extra meals be purchased if needed?
A. Yes, of course. Extra charges will appear on your monthly statement and in addition to your normal monthly fee.
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Q. What kinds of activities will be available?
A. Residents enjoy a wide range of social, educational and cultural activities-from language, art and ceramics classes to book clubs, bridge and card games, movies, concerts, health forums, even cruises and trips abroad. You may choose to participate in water aerobics, weight training and cardiovascular exercises. Happy hours and wine tasting events are held weekly, and religious services are offered as well. Your social activities are limited only by your imagination. Our Activities Director schedules planned activities that reflect our residents' interests and your input is appreciated.
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Q. What kind of security measures have you taken at The Canterbury?
A. We've taken many precautions to promote your safety and security. Our 24-hour emergency response system is connected to a call box in each residence. Security personnel monitor the community's grounds. In addition, security cameras are installed at the entrances to the building, as well as telephones located in the elevators.
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Q. What are the qualifications for moving to The Canterbury?
A. You must be 60 years or older to join the community. You will fill out a Confidential Application (name, address, social security number, etc.), a Confidential Financial Application, and your physician will complete a Medical Report for each applicant. The completed applications are reviewed, and the evaluation is based on both financial and health factors within the parameters set by the state.
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Q. Why should I decide now?
A. Retirement living has changed - it is a much more active and independent lifestyle than it was even ten years ago. People are healthier and they are coming in at a younger age so that they have the time to enjoy a more carefree lifestyle while their health is good. Making the decision now relieves your children and their families of the possible burden of having to make these decisions under duress. This is an important decision. You've worked hard to be able to enjoy this kind of lifestyle - in that case, why would you want to wait?
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Q. Are pets allowed?
A. Yes, small pets are allowed - as long as they are well behaved and do not create a nuisance for the other residents. You are responsible for cleaning up after them. Please request a copy of the Pet Policy for more information.
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Q. Will I still need my health insurance?
A. Yes, and as a condition to our Care and Residence Agreement, you must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B, or a substitute that is accepted by The Canterbury.
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Q. May I retain my family physician?
A. Yes, we encourage you to retain your family physician. Our Director of Health Services will confer with your physician whenever possible, in case of an emergency.