55-Plus Community or Life Plan Community? What Montgomery County Families Should Know

If you search for 55 plus communities in Montgomery County, PA, you’ll find dozens of options between Lansdale, North Wales, and Blue Bell.

They can look alike in the listings. But they aren’t.

Many are active adult neighborhoods: homes for people 55 and older with a clubhouse and an HOA. Others, like Living Branches, are life plan communities, also called continuing care retirement communities.

Both welcome active, independent adults. The difference shows up later when health or finances change.

Living Branches serves older adults in Souderton, Lansdale, and Hatfield, and we hear this question every week. If you’re 55 or older and considering Residential Living at Dock Woods or Souderton Mennonite Homes, here’s how we compare and what life is like on our campuses. 

Is Living Branches a 55-Plus Community?

Residential Living at Dock Woods and Souderton Mennonite Homes is open to adults 55 and older, so if you’re searching for 55-plus communities in Montgomery County, you’re welcome here. The difference is that we’re not an age-restricted neighborhood.

We’re a Life Plan community, which means that Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care are available on our campuses if your needs ever change.

The Difference Between 55-Plus and Life Plan Communities

A 55+ community is a housing choice. A Life Plan community is a housing choice plus a plan for the rest of your life.

	Typical 55-Plus Community	Living Branches Life Plan Community
Residence Styles	Buy a house or condo in an age-restricted neighborhood	Villas, cottages, carriage homes, and apartments on a campus
Home Maintenance	Often the exterior only, through the HOA	Interior and exterior maintenance and repairs are provided free of charge
Dining	On your own	On-campus dining options. Souderton Mennonite Homes offers the Apple Orchard Cafe, and Dock Woods includes Hearthside Bistro and Christopher's.
Health Care	Not available	Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care within Living Branches
If Things Change	Move again or bring care into your home	Bring care into your home or simply move to the level of care you need, without leaving Living Branches
If Savings Run Out	Your plan alone	If savings are depleted through no fault of your own, our benevolent care ministry helps residents remain in the community
Cost	Purchase price, plus HOA fees	Entrance fee plus a monthly fee

Neither is right for everyone. If you’re healthy, love your independence, and want a smaller house, an active adult neighborhood may be all you need for now. If you want that same independence plus confidence about what comes next, a Life Plan community is built for you.

What Life Is Like in a Life Plan Community

Any resident, family member, or team member here could tell you about the full, active lives people lead. So we asked them!

You Make New Friends and Neighbors

Close friendships matter more as we age, especially when life changes can lead to isolation. At Living Branches connection is built into the day: a meal with neighbors, a birthday celebration, a game with friends down the hall. 

“What surprised me most was how naturally friendships bloom here,” says Nelda, a Souderton Mennonite Homes resident. “Our hallway is like a family. When someone isn’t feeling well, there are notes slipped under the door and meals brought by.” 

You Have More Time for Things You Love

No gutters to clean, no lawn to mow, no leaky faucet to fight. Freedom from home maintenance means more time for what you love, and room to try something new.

At Living Branches, that might be a morning on the walking trails or a swim in the indoor pool. For other residents, it might be a class through Living U, our lifelong learning program.

“Dock Woods is the kind of place where you can jump in and really be part of things,” says Ken, a resident at Dock Woods. “One of my favorite memories is helping create the croquet court. When I first arrived, it didn’t even exist.”  

Your Day-to-Day Life is Healthier

We don’t like to brag, but the food at Living Branches is nutritious and delicious. We source food locally and make as much in-house as we can.

Furthermore, residents have access to more fitness options, medical professionals, and mental and spiritual programs than at home. It’s no wonder many new residents tell us their health improves a few months after moving to Living Branches!

“I worked construction most of my life so I never needed a gym, but once that chapter ended, I wanted to stay strong,” says Reuben, a resident at Souderton Mennonite Homes. “Most mornings around 7:00 a.m., about five of us are in the gym together.” 

Your Family Enjoys Peace of Mind

We hear it constantly: moving to Living Branches is a blessing for residents and their families alike. When adult children don’t have to step into a caregiver role, they get to enjoy Mom as Mom and Dad as Dad. Visits become about time together, not to-do lists.

“Moving to Dock Woods lifted a huge weight off my children’s shoulders and gave me my own peace of mind,” says Dock Woods resident Gail. “My kids no longer worry about me sitting alone at night or needing to check in every day.”

What Happens If You Need More Help?

Our continuum of care lets residents stay independent as long as possible, then move smoothly to Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, or Health Care if needs change.

Fred Cole has called Living Branches home for nearly 23 years: first in the villas, now in Personal Care at Dock Woods. When we asked how his life changed after the move, his answer came quickly.

“It hasn’t changed much at all!” he says. “I left the villa and came to the apartment in Personal Care. I adjusted very quickly, and I’m still active. You just feel like you belong!”

What Happens If You Outlive Your Savings?

As a Mennonite-affiliated, faith-based organization, Living Branches makes one more promise. Benevolent care allows residents who outlive their financial resources, despite good financial stewardship, to stay in their community. 

In a typical year, about 100 residents receive benevolent or unreimbursed care, averaging more than $1 million a year. Learn about our Lifetime Commitment to Care.

Touring Retirement Communities in Montgomery County? Ask These 5 Questions

No matter what community you visit, these questions will tell you more than any brochure:

1. What levels of care are on site? If the answer is “just one,” you may be planning a second move.
2. What happens if I outlive my savings? Many communities don’t have an answer. 
3. What are the entrance fee options? Ask whether any part is refundable, and how that changes the price.
4. Can I eat lunch here? The dining room tells you how residents really feel about where they live.
5. What’s new? At Living Branches, Residential Living is growing! Two new neighborhoods include The Laurels at Dock Woods: 17 new spacious two-bedroom, two-bath apartments. Coming soon is Linden Grove at Souderton: 69 new carriage and single-family homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age to live at Living Branches? Is it a 55-plus community?

Residential Living at Dock Woods and Souderton Mennonite Homes is open to adults 55 and older. Unlike an age-restricted 55+ neighborhood, Living Branches is a Life Plan community, so the same campus also offers Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care if needs change.

Is home maintenance included in a Life Plan community?

In most Life Plan communities, yes. At Living Branches interior and exterior maintenance and repairs are handled for you, so there are no gutters, lawn, or leaky faucets to deal with.

What levels of care does a Life Plan community include?

A Life Plan community offers the full range of care in one community. Living Branches provides Residential Living, Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care.

Residential Living, Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care are available at Dock Woods and Souderton Mennonite Homes. The Willows of Living Branches offers Personal Care only; residents transition to another campus if a higher level of care is needed.

What is the “continuum of care?”

It’s the full range of support available in one community, from independent Residential Living through Personal Care, Serenata Memory Care, and Health Care (often called skilled nursing).

Residents can bring services into their residence or move to the level of care they need without leaving the community or the friends they’ve made.

What happens if you run out of money in a Life Plan community?

It depends on the community, so ask before you apply.  At Living Branches, residents are never asked to leave for outliving their resources through no fault of their own. Our benevolent care ministry, funded through careful financial planning and donations from local households and businesses, makes that possible. Learn more about our Lifetime Commitment to Care.