Brenda Dixon, Marketing Director

The Summit Q & A: Brenda Dixon, Marketing Director

After myLifeSite founder Brad Breeding’s presentation on retirement living options, Marketing Director Brenda Dixon answered related questions to The Summit, a Life Plan Community.


What makes The Summit a unique option? 
Because The Summit is a Life Plan Community, we offer various levels of care on campus. Residents starting in Independent Living have peace of mind knowing they have quality healthcare options, including Assisted Living, Short-Term Rehab and Long-Term Care, if they need it.

What are the entrance fee options?
We offer two entrance fee options: a declining entrance fee or a 90 percent reimbursable fee. The reimbursable fee costs more, but 90 percent is guaranteed to come back to you or your estate. A declining entrance fee is the less expensive option, but the reimbursable amount declines two percent for every month at The Summit.

What types of contract is offered?
The Summit offers a fee for service contract. Here, you pay as you go. It gives you the ability to pay less in independent living with monthly fees increasing if you need higher levels of care, like Assisted Living or Health and Rehab services. With fee for service, you are only paying for services you use. It’s also a great option if you have long-term insurance.

“What so many people love about The Summit is the community here.”

How does life at a Life Plan Community curb social isolation?
What so many people love about The Summit is the community here. You still have your private home, but you have this extended social family. It allows people to stay connected, to build friendships and create a support system. There are statistics that point to healthier living in a retirement community because of the network of friendships supporting you.

How does The Summit manage caregiving support?
We are here to help people through various stages, including providing caregiving assistance. We offer support, even in our independent living where you can have staff come into your home for one-on-one care. We have quality nursing staff—many that have been here since we opened—that are here to provide care and support should you need it.

What’s the relationship between management and residents?
Being a Life Plan Community, we have a Resident Council that serves as a liaison between residents and management. We have elected council members from each floor and the garden homes that meet monthly, track actions, and help guide tasks and projects. It’s a really great situation.

What amenities does The Summit offer?
Each Independent Living residence offers a modern and fully-equipped kitchen. Our gorgeous dining room is the center of activity each evening. Meriwether Godsey, a leading culinary company, provides a rotational menu prepared exclusively by our chef. The beautiful campus is one of The Summit’s best features. A 1.2-mile trail around the lake allows residents to take full advantage of the natural surroundings with bird watching, hiking, fishing and boating.

What is the Advantage Club?
The Advantage Club gives you priority status to move to The Summit when a residence becomes available. Advantage Club members are part of The Summit family by enjoying meals in the dining room, using the common areas, participating in exclusive Advantage Club events and programs and receiving discounts for the Jamerson Family YMCA. The Advantage Club Program requires a refundable reservation fee of $1,000 that will be credited to your entrance fee when you become a Summit resident.

For more information, call Brenda Dixon at 434.582.1500 or email [email protected].