The Complete Guide to WellAhead: Aging with Intention at Home While Ensuring Future Care Costs Are Covered

If you’re committed to remaining independent at home, you’re in good company; recent data shows that 93% of adults 55 and older want to remain in their homes as they age. Although many share this goal, some may fail to consider all the factors at play. Healthy aging in your home requires planning and intentional steps to ensure your well-being now and in the future.

If you’re committed to aging in your home, you should work through concerns such as:

Home Modifications

Just 10% of homes in the U.S. are accessible for older adults with mobility limitations, according to the United States Census Bureau. Home features that served you well in the past may no longer fit your needs. If you plan to remain in your home, you may need to make some adjustments to continue to enjoy comfort and safety.

Property Maintenance

Maintaining property, especially if you own your home, can be a significant ongoing responsibility. For example, lawn care can become a burden without proper help. Inside your home, some chores may become increasingly difficult to perform on your own. Consider how you will manage these tasks, whether that includes help from family or professional assistance.

Social Interaction

You may enjoy the peace and solitude of your home, but too much time spent alone can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Well-being goes far beyond physical health; social interaction is vital to engage your mind and nourish your soul. So be intentional about spending time with loved ones and peers.

Future Care

Although you may be able to continue living in your home for the foreseeable future, your needs may evolve at some point. Your health could change, necessitating more extensive access to care. Or minor challenges in your home that you can work around now may gradually become significant challenges, prompting you to move to a senior living community. Planning to live your best life now should also involve planning for your future so you’re prepared for whatever might come your way.

Finances

It's no secret that healthcare costs can cut significantly into even the best-thought-out budgets. If your health needs change in the future, how will the costs of that care impact your financial reality? Careful planning can ease your mind about funding whatever the future might hold.

You're committed to remaining in your home as you age, but know you may eventually need assistance to remain independent in the place you love. WellAhead is uniquely positioned to support and enhance your well-being while helping you plan financially for any future health concerns.

As a continuing care at home membership program, WellAhead gives you access to services that can enhance your well-being and quality of life, helping you remain at home for as long as you’re able. For many, that will always remain the case. However, if your needs change in the future, your WellAhead membership will continue to deliver benefits. If you need additional at-home support or must move to a WesleyLife community, your WellAhead membership guarantees the access you need — without burdening you financially.

This program is revolutionary, and we’re excited to see how it can help older adults enjoy life on their terms while reducing worries about the future. Rest assured that your future needs will be met so you can continue to enjoy the highest quality of life, no matter where you find yourself.

What does supporting your well-being mean? We believe in a holistic approach that enriches physical, social, spiritual, mental, emotional, and financial health. All these factors affect your overall well-being, and WellAhead helps you address them in the ways that matter to you.

Let’s explore some of the perks offered through WellAhead to see how this program supports all aspects of your well-being — both now and in the future.

Well-Being Advocacy

WellAhead membership includes immediate and ongoing access to a well-being coach who will guide you through your wellness journey and help you leverage the right resources to live life to the fullest — whatever that means to you. 

Whether you need help developing a fitness and nutrition plan, have questions about navigating the healthcare system, or want to be more intentional about developing a thriving social life, your wellness coach is an invaluable resource. Look forward to regular check-ins with your coach as you set goals, track your progress, and build a meaningful relationship with someone who cares deeply about your well-being.

Physical Wellness  

Physical wellness is a key component of the WellAhead program, with a wide range of services available to help you take excellent care of your body. 

Choose from a variety of monthly a la carte options, such as:

• Personal fitness plans to help you make steady progress toward your goals without stretching yourself too far.
• Group wellness classes led by credentialed professionals that make exercise one of the highlights of your week.
• Personal training to direct you in stretching, strength training, and other exercises that address your particular needs.
• Massage therapy to address muscular problems and help you enjoy deep relaxation.
• As a member, you are also welcome to utilize WesleyLife fitness centers at a location most convenient for you.

Social and Educational Enrichment

Remember, well-being goes far beyond the physical. Interacting with others, having fun, and learning new things can brighten your days and help you make this the best chapter of your life. WellAhead is designed to help you enjoy that kind of enrichment.

For instance, you can enjoy the company of others and keep life fresh by joining WellAhead peers for fun group outings or connecting through our technology platform, Wellzesta Life at Home. This application facilitates communication between members and with wellness coaches.

You can even participate in programming at your local WesleyLife Community for Healthy Living. Take part in social events, attend book clubs, do some woodworking, visit farmers markets, and much more.

At-Home Support

Remaining in your home doesn’t mean going about your daily life with no assistance. Through WellAhead, you can count on trusted WesleyLife team members to help make staying in your home safe, comfortable, and convenient. Monthly a la carte examples include:

• Light housekeeping services to assist with chores like cleaning and laundry.
• Pet services, such as dog-walking, to ensure your pup stays healthy.

If you require more extensive support to remain in your home, we can help meet those needs too. For example, WesleyLife team members can assist with activities of daily living, such as dressing and grooming, and install home modifications, such as ramps, grab bars, or other accessibility aids. 

At-home support is tailored to your needs, so the services available can take many forms. We also understand your needs won’t always be the same, so the services you take advantage of can change year to year — or even month to month — so you always feel fully supported.

Financial Security

If you’re worried that future health needs might affect you financially, membership with WellAhead can provide you with peace of mind. As a member, if you require an enhanced level of care at some point, you can access it immediately from WesleyLife at no cost other than your membership and monthly fees. Distinct from typical senior financial planning options, WellAhead membership delivers benefits now and ensures your future care needs will be met at a locked-in rate.

As one member explains, "Anyone who questions the cost of a WellAhead membership most likely has not experienced the realities of the cost of healthcare. The program would pay for itself in five or six months in memory support or in a health center. It's not only a sound decision in terms of health and wellness, but financially, it is just a superior choice.”

Peace of Mind

Knowing you’re taking steps to promote your wellness at home now and putting a solid plan in place for your future can provide tremendous peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. You don’t need to worry about the “what ifs.” Even if your needs change, you’re guaranteed access to the care you need, whether it is provided in a WesleyLife community or through additional at-home services.

The benefits are clear, but you may wonder how WellAhead works — particularly regarding cost. Keeping with the program’s flexibility and customization, the cost is tailored to you and your needs. However, all WellAhead memberships operate with the same fee structure:

• One-time entry fee: First, you’ll pay a one-time entry fee (per individual or couple) to join the program. This one-time, tax-deductible payment grants you access to all the program benefits going forward.
• Monthly program fee: To remain in the program, you’ll simply pay a monthly fee that contributes to your future care costs. The fee also entitles you to valuable amenities, such as wellness centers on WesleyLife campuses and a menu of a la carte support services, to ensure you’re taking advantage of the support that means the most to you each month.

How is your cost determined? The upfront cost to join is based solely on a person’s age, whereas monthly fees are the same for all members. Both the entry fee and monthly program fee are determined through actuarial reports that ensure members’ future healthcare needs will be covered.

WellAhead offers financial security with a consistent, manageable monthly cost so you never face a sudden financial burden to meet your changing needs. You can avoid the potentially significant costs of more extensive care by making a savvy financial decision now that sets you up for your future, whatever it might hold.

If you require a change in lifestyle or living arrangements in the future, such as a move to assisted living or memory care, 100% of your costs will be covered through your WellAhead membership beginning on day one.

WellAhead’s primary goal is to keep you in your home, so you may never need to access the additional levels of care included in your membership. Even if you’re able to remain in your home long term, WellAhead is guaranteed to deliver ongoing benefits that make membership well worth the cost.

How Does WellAhead Differ from Long-Term Care Insurance?

You may wonder how WellAhead compares to a more traditional option for planning and managing future care costs: long-term care (LTC) insurance. Although the two share similarities, their philosophies and functionalities are fundamentally different.

Long-term care insurance assumes that people will become sick as they age and only delivers benefits in this scenario. WellAhead, on the other hand, operates under the premise that you can take steps now to improve your current well-being and future health outcomes while still making provisions for possible future care needs.  

To focus purely on dollars and cents, the entry fee for membership — which varies depending on age — might seem significant, but it’s a sensible amount when compared with the cost of care. Although long-term care costs can vary according to location and community, WellAhead’s entry fee can be equal to as little as six months of care. If it becomes necessary for you to receive care in a community, you’ll pay nothing more than you are already investing.

Here are some additional differences:

• WellAhead requires no waiting period before benefits kick in; long-term care insurance typically does require a waiting period.
• Long-term care insurance often places daily caps on healthcare coverage; WellAhead does not.
• Long-term care insurance does not guarantee access to healthcare; WellAhead does.
• WellAhead does not require medical approval at the time of healthcare activation; long-term care insurance often does.
• WellAhead notifies you of annual rate increases ahead of time so you can budget, contractually capping its maximum rate increase at a low percentage; long-term care insurance can surprise you with unannounced rate increases.
• WellAhead works to keep you healthy in your home, with services including home modifications if needed as you age; long-term care insurance does not.

WellAhead differs from LTC insurance in many key ways, making this program a major improvement on the traditional LTC insurance model. 

By 2030, every Baby Boomer will be older than 65. Due to our aging population, high-quality senior care will likely become more difficult to access. Even if you can access care, the cost can be a real obstacle for many families.

By joining WellAhead, you don’t need to worry about accessing or affording future care. You’ll become a member of the WesleyLife family, ensuring access to a full network of senior living services delivered in homes and WesleyLife communities. And, in the meantime, you can enjoy a variety of services to help you thrive. Now is the time to invest in your current well-being at home and enjoy the assurance that your future needs will be met, even if they change substantially.

As our inaugural WellAhead members shared, “Our advice to anyone considering it would actually be a question: What are you waiting for?"

Want to see if a WellAhead membership would be a good fit for you? Learn more about WellAhead from Wesley Life!