As the marketing director at Plantation Village, part of my job is to help people understand the value of living here. This involves providing information about our weekly housekeeping services, chef-prepared meals and wellness programs, as well as giving guided tours of our beautiful, 56-acre campus.

People always have questions about our partnership with The Davis Community, one of the Wilmington area’s leading health care providers. The short answer is that residents of Plantation Village have priority access to The Davis Community, which includes physical therapy and rehabilitation, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. Living at Plantation Village means that our residents receive up to 30 free days of temporary stay each year at The Davis Community.

One of the main objections I hear from prospective residents is that it is simply too expensive to live at Plantation Village. The simple fact is that once you add up all of the financial requirements and maintenance costs associated with home ownership, it’s clear that life plan communities are a cost-effective option for seniors.

Property taxes and insurance never go away. If a major system in the home breaks, the homeowner is left with the responsibility of paying for it. The replacement of a roof or HVAC system may only be a one-time cost, but the impact that it can have on an individual’s finances should not be ignored.

Unlike taxes and insurance, time is something that does go away. All of the time that it takes to clean the house, maintain the yard and pay the bills never comes back. Time is the most precious commodity of all, and the necessity of maintaining a home can distract us from what’s important, namely, our relationships with friends and family. 

This is not even considering the tremendous expense of paying for in-home care, should the need arise, or the hassle and costs associated with transforming a home into a wheelchair-friendly environment. Adding to the appeal of Plantation Village is the fact that we have a 24-hour resident care center on site that is staffed by a registered nurse. This is especially important for those who choose to have home care. Knowing that these services have not been outsourced to a different company and that our employees have been vetted by our team delivers exceptional peace of mind.

The monthly fee here encompasses the payment of rent, property taxes, utilities, housekeeping, meals and security services. A host of activities and amenities are also included, as well as maintenance and numerous wellness and lifelong learning opportunities. 

After comparing the drudgery of home ownership to the increased levels of personal freedom and leisure time that could be enjoyed by living here at Plantation Village, I have to ask, “Why would anyone choose to remain in their home?”

Many of our potential residents have a misconception about our entrance fee. The entrance fee allows us to provide our residents with a place to call home for the rest of their lives. Our status as a nonprofit allows for residents to use their entrance fee to pay for the monthly fees if they are suddenly faced with a financial hardship. With two options to choose from, a 90 percent Return-of-Capital Plan, and a 50 percent Return-of-Capital Plan, residents have the option to withdraw their funds and relocate if necessary, or pass on the remainder to their descendants.     

Crunch the numbers and what it all amounts to is a significant value for anyone who chooses to become a resident. Please stop by our Spring Tour on April 5 to learn more. It’s a very popular event complete with entertainment, food and guided tours. For further information, call 910.319.1416, or visit www.PlantationVillageRC.com. 

Lisa Polanski is the director of marketing at Plantation Village. Plantation Village is a nonprofit life plan community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, just minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas. Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s third-largest elder care management company. For more information, visit plantationvillagerc.com.