Choosing Peace of Mind

...This article is courtesy of Cascade Village  

Through managing their parents’ health over the years, Jim and Jan Irwin had experience with home care, increased levels of care by changing facilities and a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also known as a Life Plan Community. Since they were already big fans of CCRCs, they started looking for one about five years ago.

“We decided that the benefits of a CCRC were exactly what we wanted,” Jan said, noting that a CCRC allows you to experience independent living and plenty of amenities, along with guaranteed access to health care as your needs progress, all at a predictable rate.

Jim and Jan have settled on Cascade Village at Smokey Point, Snohomish County’s only true Life Plan Community, slated to open in 2026. Their monthly fee includes a full continuum of care and a Life Care benefit, which provides access to advanced care without the worry of increased costs.

Enjoy Northwest modern architecture at Cascade Village, anticipated to open in 2026 

"Our children and grandchildren would not need to be actively involved in our care," Jan added. "And they would have the comfort of knowing we were in the hands of professionals who would give us whatever care we needed and that we had chosen the care we would receive."

The Irwins had empty-nested to Mount Vernon in 2006, and they truly loved the natural beauty and active lifestyle that they had come to know in the Pacific Northwest. So, after hearing about a CCRC being built in Snohomish County and run by Josephine Caring Community, they signed up as soon as Cascade Village started accepting deposits.

Jim wanted to set the record straight about the value of a CCRC, because the issue of money always seems to arise. Does a Life Care contract really save you money? The short answer is yes. Because it allows you to avoid the high costs of market-rate skilled nursing, if you should need it in the future.

Cascade Village entrance fees start at $253,000 for a 1-bedroom apartment and monthly service fees start at $2,900. 

“The conversation normally goes something like, ‘You’re giving them $500,000 plus $6,000 a month, and you don’t own anything?’ That’s where they’re wrong,” Jim explained. “We have purchased the guarantee of food, housing and the full range of health care for the rest of our lives. It also ensures independence for our children. They don’t need to worry about what to do with us as our health declines.”

For the Irwins, the fact that Cascade Village and Josephine have nonprofit status is also important. “It indicates an emphasis on keeping costs under control both for the organization and its residents,” Jim added. “It’s just one more reason why we’re really looking forward to being residents there.”

Building a get-away-from-it-all retirement community

Modern senior living encourages indoor-outdoor living where pedestrian walkways connect to courtyards and shared amenity spaces. You can end your day by enjoying an evening with friends around the firepit. Cascade Village's Marysville location is convenient to shopping, restaurants and outdoor adventures. 

Beyond the peace of mind a CCRC can offer, perhaps you also want to escape the hassles and traffic of city living. You'll find everything on your retirement wish list at Cascade Village at Smokey Point. From shopping to medical care, our idyllic location has everything Seattle does — plus easy access to lakes, mountains and parks. Cascade Village combines an active, independent lifestyle with the security of care from Josephine Caring Community, a trusted nonprofit community for those 62 and better. Best of all, it's available at a cost much lower than Seattle-area senior communities. 

If you ask Terry Robertson, CEO of Josephine, the stars have truly aligned in creating Cascade Village, especially at such a reasonable move-in cost. “I love the concept of really enjoying life after retirement in this gated, secure community with a wealth of amenities,” he explained. “And the bonus of not having to worry about who will provide care in your later years with essentially a stable cost. No surprises, no worries.”

Cascade Village boasts a full list of amenities, including a pickleball court (pictured), club house, fitness room, arts & crafts room, theater room, indoor pool & hot tub, café & bar, gourmet dining and more. 

 

Now that’s something you can feel good about.

“While a CCRC may be a new concept for you, I’ve been working toward this my whole career,” Robertson added. “And I am very excited to introduce it to you with Cascade Village.”

Let’s hear another real story from real people who have decided the Cascade Village lifestyle is exactly what they need.

Saving with a continuum of care

Ann Boid and her husband put down a deposit for Cascade Village back in 2022. Having both worked in a hospital setting, they were very aware of the concept of “continuum of care.”

Ann Boid

 

“When we found out what the initial cost would be, our first reaction was, ‘This is way too expensive,’” Ann said.

But then they took a closer look. “We spent some time talking about it and doing the math and decided this was the way to go,” she added. “We didn’t have the benefit of family close-by to make decisions for us when the time came, or to take care of us themselves.”

Since the Boids had spent a lot of time in the Stanwood and Camano Island area, they already knew about Josephine’s stellar reputation. Cascade Village simply made sense (and cents!) for them.

Taking the next step 

If we’ve caught your interest, we invite you to attend one of our monthly events to learn more about our community and why it’s the best option for independent living in Snohomish County.

“So many folks have met with us, and when they learn about what we are offering, and for the price we’re offering it at, their initial reaction is, ‘This has to be too good to be true,’” said John Rivera, Director of Sales and Marketing for Cascade Village. “But it's true, we promise.”

Come join us for an event, hear what we’re all about, listen to questions others ask and experience it all for yourself. We look forward to seeing you soon!

MORE INFORMATION 

To learn more about Cascade Village, attend an event, call 360-926-7180 or visit CascadeVillageJosephine.com.