As you consider your options for right-sizing in retirement, you may wonder about the differences between a condominium and independent living offered as part of a senior living community, like Clark. Choosing a senior living community offers major advantages over condo ownership — from the amenities to having a built-in social network to the promise of lifetime housing, it’s no wonder so many older adults are choosing senior living communities for their next chapter.
A condo may offer a shared clubhouse, but at Clark, community is at the heart of all we do. Clark is a place where neighbors become family. Gathering spaces large and small are built-in throughout both of our campuses. You can catch up with neighbors in our cafe, try out water aerobics or a fun new group exercise class, sing in the choir or meet up with friends for a walk on our nature trails. Each day brings something new—activities, clubs, special events, experiences, and excursions, all designed and curated with you and your lifestyle in mind.
“Before Clark, my wife and I were living in our condo, which was very similar to what we have here. We could have stayed there forever, but Clark offers us so much more opportunity to be involved and enjoy the things we love.”
Independent living at Clark is exclusively for people ages 62+, another distinct feature of living at Clark. Our residents are people who, like you, are nearing or already enjoying retirement living. You and your neighbors are at similar stages of life, share common world views, and can experience the best of life alongside one another.
You’ve handled lawn care, leaky faucets, and cleaning gutters long enough. An attractive feature of a retirement community is maintenance-free living. Services like landscaping, outdoor maintenance, and snow removal are handled for you. And while many condos offer exterior maintenance, typically as the homeowner, interior maintenance and repair issues are your responsibility. At Clark, we help with many interior home maintenance issues, too. You can spend less time and money dealing with the plumber or electrician, and more time enjoying your life.
A condo is homeownership, which means a good portion of your assets are tied up in real estate. When you move, you and your loved ones will have to handle the sale and all this process entails. You are left at the mercy of the housing market and volatile pricing. With a retirement community like Clark, you avoid this risk and the burden of closing on a sold property. Your Clark home is yours as long as you need it, and you and your loved ones are not responsible for the resale when you are finished with it.
Clark is a Life Plan Community, and as such, we offer the promise of lifetime housing for our residents. This is a special distinction that you won’t find everywhere—especially not in a condo agreement. We are committed to providing residents a full continuum of care in one location. You can have the peace of mind and assurance that if your needs change as you age, you will receive the care you need at Clark. This promise remains true, even if your financial resources are depleted. This is our Clark Promise.
You hope it never happens, but an accident or health condition might someday leave you needing additional support. In a condo, you are on your own, depending on family, friends, or outside nursing support to care for you and make decisions about your home and living situation when you need to focus on your health.
At Clark, access to support services are available immediately and right on-site. We offer Enhanced Living, which allows you to choose certain services when you need them while maintaining your independence in your Clark home. Our a la carte services can include help with medication management, housekeeping or laundry services. If a higher level of care is needed following an illness or surgery, Clark offers Assisted Living and Nursing Care.
Senior living today is dramatically different than it was for previous generations. Today’s older adults—like you— are more active and independent. As the times have changed, so has Clark. Over the years, we’ve thoughtfully developed a range of living options to offer the space, autonomy, amenities, and sense of community older adults desire.
Keller Lake’s beautiful independent living community features 52 luxury apartment homes. The contemporary apartments offer spacious one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. The community features West Michigan’s first town-square model, forming a tight-knit 62-and-better Life Plan Community bustling with activity. World-class amenities include peaceful lakefront walking paths, a fully equipped wellness center, a piazza for gathering with friends, a bistro, restaurant, and so much more.
If you are ready to say farewell to the responsibilities of homeownership and hello to the flexibility and freedom of independent living, Clark Retirement has a variety of townhome and apartment options at both our Franklin and Keller Lake locations. Please contact one of our senior living advisors at 616-278-6520 or marketing@clarkretirement.org to learn more today.