FAQs

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) provide the answer for a growing number of older adults who are looking for the opportunity to enjoy a vibrant and enriching lifestyle with peace of mind for the future.

The Spires at Berry College offers beautifully designed apartment homes and cottages for Independent Living and an on-site Health Center in a lakeside setting amid the natural beauty of the Berry College campus. The Health Center offers Assisted Living (including a dedicated Memory Care area) and Skilled Nursing. Should the need for these services arise, care is provided at significantly discounted rates when compared to fees incurred by the general public for these services. Residents of The Spires will receive priority access to higher levels of care in our Health Center as well as access to the world-renowned medical centers of Rome, Georgia if required.

The primary difference between ownership communities and a CCRC is that ownership communities typically do not include coverage for Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing care or other healthcare services. In addition, ownership communities may not have a continuum of care conveniently available on the same campus as does a CCRC. Residents (owners) of those communities are also responsible for the resale of their home and for payment of a monthly fee until their home is resold (even after they have moved out).

Like ownership communities, rental communities typically do not include Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing care services or facilities. If a resident develops the need for these services, the cost and management of care is fully the resident’s responsibility. Also, since these additional services are not available on-site, residents requiring care may need to move away from the community at their greatest time of need.

As with most Continuing Care Retirement Communities, The Spires requires an upfront entrance fee and a monthly fee. Most future residents will choose to fund their entrance fee from the proceeds of the sale of their home. Monthly fees are based on the size of the apartment home or cottage selected and the number of occupants and, in most cases, will be comparable to the cost of living independently.

Our fees have been determined based on providing both the level of residential and medical excellence that you desire, and a financial model that is affordable and sustainable. To learn more about our fees and pricing, please schedule a one-on-one appointment with a senior living counselor at The Spires by calling 706-368-9955.

The monthly fee is generally equal to or less than the monthly cost of living residents formerly paid in their homes before moving to The Spires, especially when one considers the cost of all of the services, amenities and upkeep included. In addition to the comforts and convenience of living here, residence at The Spires means saying goodbye to the cost of homeowner’s insurance, utility bills, home maintenance, yardwork and all the headaches of home ownership.

In developing the exceptional style of living that The Spires offers, and to ensure the services that enable our residents to live comfortably, our goal is to create a financial arrangement that appeals to potential residents and provides the opportunity to meet the expenses of operating The Spires. The concept of our refundable entrance fee program allows The Spires and our residents that opportunity.

Many residents apply the proceeds from the sale of their home toward the entrance fee. This entrance fee model makes it possible for residents to enjoy the wonderful benefits of CCRC living (such as meals, housekeeping, upkeep, utilities, enrichment and entertainment programming) as well as the assurance of multiple levels of care in the future at predictable costs. Residents appreciate knowing that a portion of their entrance fee will be returned to them, their children or their estate in the future.

Tax laws are, of course, constantly evolving and always subject to interpretation, but recent legal precedents have been favorable for CCRC residents who have sought to deduct portions of their fees. Of course, you and your tax preparation professional should consult closely to determine the best strategy for your circumstances.

In most cases your long-term care policy will work hand-in-hand with your care at The Spires and pay earned benefits directly to you as the policyholder. These payments can help defray, and in some cases, completely cover, your monthly service fee at The Spires and help further preserve your assets. As with all insurance matters, you should consult with your carrier or agent for specific answers regarding your individual policy.

No detail has been overlooked in selecting the culinary options at The Spires. Residents are free to choose from a variety of on-site dining venues, each serving house-made menus that change daily, prepared under the supervision of an experienced executive chef. Of course, your apartment home includes a modern kitchen with all the trimmings for those times when home is where the heart is.

Dining Highlights

• Menus that will change daily and offer exceptional variety
• Flexible dining plan providing each resident with a monthly meal credit that may be used at any dining venue as desired throughout the month
• Daily diet options that will include selections lower in sodium, fat and sugar content
• A pastry chef who will offer tempting treats to sate your sweet tooth
• Catering services for special events, family gatherings or private dinner parties*

*Additional charges may apply; advance reservations are requested.

Common areas at The Spires will feature distinctive touches and appointments. You and your neighbors will interact comfortably and enjoy a full complement of lifestyle amenities, including:

• Gourmet dining
• Casual cafe dining
• Modern fitness center
• Full-service spa with salon and barbershop
• 40 miles of natural trails
• Hobby room
• Courtyard
• On-site banking services
• Business center
• Berry College
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Concert and theatrical performances
  • Sporting events
  • Rome Tennis Center
• Comprehensive Wellness Center
  • Indoor warm salt water pool
  • Wellness and physical fitness programs
  • Fitness classes
  • Water aerobics

When faced with a major life decision, most of us can think of many reasons to delay that decision indefinitely. The trouble is that by forestalling a choice like this, many of us will wait until a time when our choices can become limited or we have no choice at all.

For years, Berry College has received requests from alumni and local residents to create a senior living community near campus. This wish is becoming a reality.

The Spires will be closely connected to, yet comfortably removed from, the college around it. The community will offer access to a universe of cultural, educational and natural wonders associated with the world’s largest college campus (27,000 acres in all). Sit in on a class, attend a choral concert, a basketball game or a theater performance—all in your own backyard.

Ongoing operations of The Spires will be managed by Greenbrier Senior Living, offering a client-focused management solution with proven systems at the ready for any and all levels of care.