Independent Living

Simply put, a Life Plan Community (also known as a continuing care retirement community or CCRC) is a community for older adults that offers independent living residences and access to higher levels of care all on one campus.

Independent residences are typically outfitted with the latest in home fits and finishes and offer the freedom of maintenance-free living. For a set monthly fee, so much is included: fresh dining, housekeeping, engaging amenities, and a myriad of cultural, social, educational, fitness and wellness programs.

Should a time come when extra support would be beneficial or required, a plan is in place. Specialized care, such as personal care, memory support and skilled nursing, right on campus provides just what’s needed when it’s needed in welcoming environments.

Choosing to move to a Life Plan Community is about more than a maintenance-free lifestyle and having a plan in place for future care needs. If you are a proactive person, it’s about setting yourself up to ensure you are living life to the fullest. By having more time to do what you want to do — not what you have to do. By expanding your opportunities to be socially connected, By living in an environment designed to support total wellness. And ultimately, by having security and peace of mind for you and those who love you.

A 55+ community offers independent living homes that usually include a maintenance-free lifestyle and a campus with common spaces and amenities. A Life Plan Community such as Rydal Park & Waters does the same, and, in addition, it offers various care options on campus. This means that if the health of you or your spouse ever changes, a plan will be in place. You won't need to move or be separated.

Rydal Park & Waters offers independent living apartments in a wide range of sizes and floor plans. In addition, we have a cottage home neighborhood. All homes feature modern fits and finishes, and many have patios and balconies. And, of course, all residents have access to a wealth of amenities across our 55-acre campus.

Yes, pets are welcome! Some breed and weight restrictions may apply, so please talk to a sales counselor about your specific situation.

Absolutely not. Independent living at Rydal Park & Waters is just that: independent. You decide how to live your life, structure your day and pursue what’s most important to you. And your residence is your private space. 

We believe strongly in the benefits of living in a community setting with easy access to new friends, neighbors, interest groups and social events. But there is never any pressure to participate. You can partake in community life to whatever extent you desire.

Our beautiful 55-acre campus has plenty of amenities. Two fully equipped fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, pickleball courts and walking paths make it easy to stay active. Club rooms, a wood shop and creative art studio help you to pursue your hobbies. In addition, we have a library, bistro cafe and state-of-the-art performance theater for meetings, movies, lectures, concerts and special events. See all amenities here.

Eating well is a cornerstone of our wellness approach. This means healthy food prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible. We feature a balanced offering of gourmet cuisine and classic comfort foods across our dining venues.

Flexible dining points can be used in any of our dining venues: two seated dining rooms, our clubroom pub, a casual cafe and the cocktail lounge in our clubhouse. 

Rydal Park & Waters residents are very active with a wealth of interests! Between the work of our LIfe Enrichment team to create programs and excursions and more than 40 resident-led clubs, interest groups and committees, there is something for everyone.

Some examples include:

• Group excursions to theaters, museums, hiking trails and more
• Lectures, book clubs and educational programming
• Live musical performances
• Numerous clubs and interest groups, including bridge, mahjong and more
• Volunteer opportunities
• A rotating schedule of fitness classes, including aqua aerobics, aqua Pilates, yoga, tai chi, walking clubs, stretch and tone programs and more
• Various resident-led committees that shape community life
• Spiritual and a variety of religious services

As an independent living resident with a Life Plan contract, you will pay a monthly fee and a one-time entrance fee. Both types of fees vary depending on the size of the home and the contract type that you choose.  

Contracts are either fee-for-service or Life Care contracts. The latter offers special contract rates if a higher level of care is needed. There is also medical tax deduction eligibility for a portion of Life Care contract entrance fees and monthly fees.

In addition, we offer rebatable and nonrebatable entrance fee contracts. With a rebatable contract, a percentage of your entrance fee is returned to you or your estate when you leave the community and  your home has been reoccupied.

Please contact our sales counselors to learn more about available floor plans, fees and details of our contract.

If you would like to understand what type of home you could afford at Rydal Park & Waters, take this simple quiz.

An essential tenet of a Life Plan contract is to offer our residents security for life — physically, emotionally and financially. We operate a nonprofit foundation that provides financial support to those who outlive their resources through no fault of their own. For more information on the Rydal Park & Waters Life Plan contract, please contact one of our sales counselors.

We have experience with several local downsizing and move management companies and can refer you to them. These companies can provide you tremendous help throughout the process with sorting, organizing, disposing of unwanted items, packing for the move, space planning for your new home and even unpacking all of your belongings!

The benefit of a Life Plan Community such as Rydal Park & Waters is that you have a plan in place for possible future care needs. On our campus, we offer not only independent living residences but also care options such as personal care (similar to assisted living), memory support and a skilled nursing center that can help with short-term recovery from a health event or a long-term care need. We can also assist you with adding home health services while living independently. As needs change, we work with you to determine what options are best and to add support only as needed to preserve autonomy and independence.

No, Rydal Park & Waters is not a traditional nursing home. It is a Life Plan Community, where the majority of residents live independently. We offer independent living residences and a continuum of care options — personal care (similar to assisted living), memory support and skilled nursing care — should they be needed on one campus. Our care options include short-stay rehabilitation nursing for people who have been discharged from a hospital stay but are not yet strong enough to return to their homes.

In our independent living homes (sometimes also called “residential living”), no caregiver assistance for help with activities of daily living is included as part of the standard monthly fee. No one is precluded from our independent living homes based on any protected category. We welcome everyone. Each independent living resident has the ability to make separate arrangements for caregiver services either by hiring private in-home caregivers or contracting for additional services through their HumnaGood community (if such services are offered).

It's normal to wonder if you’re ready to move. Understanding what being ready really means will help you make a decision that feels right for you. At times, people feel like they are waiting for a sign, a special birthday or circumstance. But the truth is, once you understand what a Life Plan Community is — and, just as importantly, what it’s not — the decision will become less fraught. Don’t forget to ask other people who have made the move about how they came to their decision — no doubt what you will hear is that they wish they had done it sooner.