Frequently Asked Questions

People tell us Laurel Lake has key advantages that are important to them. Chief among these are a beautifully private 150-acre campus with lakes, forests and a wonderful diversity of wildlife; a highly desirable location in Hudson, Ohio; friendly people who share numerous interests; convenient access to the world-class medical and cultural centers of Cleveland and Akron; spacious, attractive homes with a flexible approach to customization; and most importantly, Type A Life Care, a secure form of prepaid long-term care coverage.

Life Plan Communities (formerly known as continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs) such as Laurel Lake provide the optimum plan to meet your top priorities for a successful lifestyle after the age of 62. Life Plan Communities (or LPCs) enable you to live in a comfortable apartment or villa, with the security of future personal health care services assured in return for a monthly fee and, in most cases, an entrance fee. They have on-site accommodations for assisted living and skilled nursing for residents whose health needs may change. Because most care needs can be met on campus, residents can stay close to spouses and friends.

This is one of the most misunderstood terms in senior housing today. Life Care means more than just allowing residents to continue living in a community even if they outlive their resources. It goes beyond providing a healthy, active environment that promotes longevity, even though this is an underlying principle of most CCRCs.

A true Life Care community offers a responsible approach to retirement planning that lets individuals secure a comfortable home and positive lifestyle, while at the same time safeguarding their assets through a plan designed to limit long-term healthcare costs.

Type A “Extensive” Life Care. Laurel Lake offers Type A “Extensive” Life Care, the most comprehensive residency plan available. With the payment of an initial entrance fee and monthly service fees, Laurel Lake residents with Type A plans need not worry about the potentially devastating effects of a long-term nursing home stay on their finances. Their contract assures them unlimited days in the community’s assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, at little extra cost.

Type B “Modified” Fee-for-Service Plan. Laurel Lake also offers a Type B “Modified” Fee-for-Service plan, with lower entrance and monthly fees. This option is often attractive to those who may already have long-term care insurance policies.

Pre-residency Life Care. An innovative option for adults age 55-70, Laurel Lake’s Pre-residency Life Care option offers members a comprehensive package of assisted living, rehabilitation and long-term care services at Laurel Lake, available whenever needed before moving to Laurel Lake, at discounted per-diem rates. Members are guaranteed Type A Life Care coverage if they move in before age 75. Their Pre-residency Life Care membership fee will be applied to their entrance fee upon move-in.

Laurel Lake was the dream of Cleveland businessman Richard Eastburn, who wanted to bring to Northeast Ohio the same quality of life his parents enjoyed in a Philadelphia Life Care community. A 150-acre site in Hudson, Ohio was selected as the ideal location for the community. Laurel Lake welcomed its first resident in 1989. Today, Laurel Lake has established a reputation as one of Ohio’s finest retirement living choices. Over 1000 people live, work, visit and volunteer on our campus daily.

Laurel Lake Retirement Community is an independent, not-for-profit Life Plan Community. Incorporated in 1985 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, Laurel Lake is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of distinguished Northeast Ohio professionals and Laurel Lake resident representatives. The Chief Executive Officer and Leadership Team are responsible for day-to-day management of the community. Together, the Laurel Lake Board and Leadership Team guide and direct the growth of our organization.

As a not-for-profit corporation, monies are directed back into the Laurel Lake community for campus improvements and service enhancements – or used to support vital community benefit programs in our region.

Laurel Lake strives to be the community of choice for adults who aspire to lead lives filled with meaning, purpose, and lifelong opportunities for growth and service.

Together, we commit to demonstrating these values:

Compassion – Our commitment to help others in a spirit of caring, kindness, and understanding.

Respect – Our commitment to accept all persons, treating each individual with dignity and consideration.

Excellence – Our ommitment to strive for the highest quality of service, maintaining integrity in the stewardship of our resources.

Service – Our commitment to work individually and collectively to meet the needs of others.

Yes. Laurel Lake is a mission-driven organization that devotes its resources toward innovative and quality care for residents. Not-for-profit retirement communities have a rich history of serving the nation’s older adults, often with innovative approaches to managing the care of the people they serve. As a not-for-profit organization, Laurel Lake is committed to operating with transparency and provides detailed information about our organization and finances to the public.

Laurel Lake embodies all that is good about retirement community living. For a complete list of Laurel Lake services and amenities, click here.

Laurel Lake offers the complementary services of a Renovation Coordinator who will guide you through the moving process and help prepare your new home. Laurel Lake can also recommend home organization and moving specialists who can be engaged at an hourly rate to handle anything from small organization projects to entire moves, relieving you of stress.

Absolutely. Cats are welcome in all residences, and dogs are permitted in first floor apartments and villas to allow easy access to the out-of-doors. Other small pets are also welcome.

Yes. In order to promote the wellbeing of all people living, visiting and working in our community, Laurel Lake is a “smoke free” campus.

For couples, or for friends or family who will share a residence, at least one person must be 62 to apply for residency. The minimum age to be covered by Life Care is 62. There is no maximum age to join the community, but if an individual is applying for the Pre-residency Life Care program (rather than the standard Wait List) they must be willing to move into their Laurel Lake residence by age 75.

Laurel Lake offers a satisfying diversity of active lifestyle programs and events for residents to enjoy, fulfilling their desire to remain intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually active. Through the Resident Programming Committee, new interest groups and activities continue to be added!

Laurel Lake buses provide transportation for regularly scheduled weekly/monthly courtesy trips and special events like the symphony, theater and regional attractions. For a fee, residents may also engage the services of a Laurel Lake driver using one of our fleet vehicles for personal trips.

Yes, our entire 150-acre campus is covered by a wireless digital urgent call system. Laurel Lake maintains round-the-clock security and nursing staffing.

One of Laurel Lake’s greatest advantages is the extent to which residents can get involved, both on and off campus. All residents are voting members of Laurel Lake’s Resident Association. The Association sponsors numerous committees influencing all aspects of life at Laurel Lake, from dining to health care to marketing and building/equipment. Its executive body, the Resident Council, is an active, integral part of the community and interacts with management on nearly every facet of campus life. Resident representatives are elected to serve as full voting members of the Laurel Lake Board of Directors; currently, they comprise 1/3 of the board membership. Volunteerism flourishes here, with a team of 250+ volunteers providing over 100 unique services at Laurel Lake, and in the greater community.

Your retirement counselor will review specific financial data with you prior to application, using practical Cost of Living Comparison and Financial Projection tools to provide a clear picture of your current and future financial eligibility.

Laurel Lake is a licensed Medicare provider. Our community does not participate in the Medicaid program.

Yes, Laurel Lake has a Wait List of depositors who are waiting for specific types of accommodation to become available. Depositors are called in order of their date of deposit as accommodations become available.

The monthly fee entitles Laurel Lake residents to an extensive array of services, programs and amenities, including a meal plan, bi-weekly housekeeping, flat linen service, cable TV & wireless internet, all utilities except telephone, life enrichment programs, 24-hour security and wireless urgent call system, courtesy transportation services, maintenance. For Plan A Life Care members, it also includes access to licensed assisted living in Greenwood and 24-hour skilled nursing care in The Crown Center.

Yes. For Life Care members, a portion of your entrance fee and monthly fee is recognized as a pre-paid health care expense and is deductible as a medical expense. Please consult with your tax or financial advisor on this matter.

All individuals are welcome to apply for Laurel Lake residency, without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law. We operate in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Applicants have three options from which to choose when making application:

1. 1. Unit Assignment. Accepting a unit that is currently available.
   2. Wait List.  Apply for the Wait List if planning to move within the next 1-5 years, or if you desire a Laurel Lake home style that is in high demand.
   3. Pre-residency Life Care. Join if between the ages of 55-70, and planning to move to Laurel Lake before age 75 (this age limit for move-in applies to Pre-residency Life Care members ONLY, not to regular Wait List members).

If you have not already done so, plan a visit soon. Tour our community, sample our cuisine, meet the residents and find out if Laurel Lake is the community to meet your personal lifestyle and retirement goals. Call 330-650-2100 today to arrange your visit!

Laurel Lake was designed to help residents achieve their wellness goals and meet a wide variety of healthcare needs right on campus. Our healthcare services meet the highest standards and are among some of the most extensive found in any senior living campus.

Wellness & Preventive Care Services. Exercise classes, strength and cardiovascular training; seminars on nutrition, exercise and other health-related issues; and routine primary and preventive care services.

Medical Services. On-site Wellness Center open 7 days a week during specified hours, offering medical, podiatric, audiology and counseling services by appointment; Dental Office open several days a month for routine dental care; Vision Center open several days a month providing optometry services; Therapy Center providing physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Residents are free to engage the services of physicians of their choice.

Urgent Call System. Laurel Lake’s entire 150 acre campus is covered by a state-of-the-art wireless digital urgent call system.

Assisted Living. Help with activities of daily living can be provided both by Assisting Hands personal in-home caregivers, and by staff in our Greenwood assisted living neighborhood.

Rehab & Skilled Nursing Services. Provided to residents on a 24-hour basis by qualified, licensed and certified professionals in Laurel Lake’s 75-bed skilled nursing and rehab pavilion, The Crown Center.

Laurel Lake offers multiple apartment and villa styles, with apartments ranging from 750 to over 1900 square feet, and villas ranging in size from 1600 to over 2900 square feet. Click here to learn more about Laurel Lake home styles and features.

Yes. Residents enjoy furnishing and decorating their apartments and villas to reflect individual tastes. Laurel Lake offers a beautiful selection of standard and optional upgrade finishes, including hardwood and tile floors, crown molding, custom cabinetry, granite and solid surface countertops, and more. Interior spaces can sometimes be modified and some homes can also be enlarged.

For Independent Living, Laurel Lake offers two residency plans: Plan A Life Care and Plan B Non-Life Care. Our three entrance fee refund choices include Standard Declining Balance, 50% Refundable and 75% Refundable options. Call 330-650-2100 to request the most current residency plan descriptions.

For direct admissions to our Greenwood Assisted Living or Crown Center Skilled Nursing neighborhoods, there is a monthly fee but no entrance fee is required.