- Why should I consider retirement at Pilgrim Place?
- Who can apply to Pilgrim Place?
- When can I apply?
- Is there an application fee?
- I will be ready to retire at the end of this year. Will there be a unit available for me then?
- I want to retire in several years. Can I place my name on the Housing List for a future year?
- What is the campus and surrounding area like?
- What kind of housing do you offer?
- Would I own my home/apartment or rent?
- In addition to rent, are there other monthly fees?
- Is there an entrance fee?
- May I have a pet at Pilgrim Place?
- Can I continue to work even after I have retired to Pilgrim Place?
- Are there things to do at Pilgrim Place?
- Tell me about the noon meal in the Dining Room.
- How do residents describe living at Pilgrim Place?
- How can I arrange a campus visit?
Q. Why should I consider retirement at Pilgrim Place?
A. Pilgrim Place is a licensed Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) for persons who have been called to careers in religious or charitable non-profit organizations. At Pilgrim Place, you will find an intellectually-stimulating and spiritually-fulfilling environment in which residents continue to learn, grow, and serve others. Pilgrim Place is the ideal place for persons who want to live in a richly diverse and actively involved retirement community.
Q. Who can apply to Pilgrim Place?
A. Before moving to Pilgrim Place, an applicant must have completed at least 15 years (or the equivalent) of full-time employment in religious or charitable non-profit organizations. Examples include commissioned or ordained missionaries, ministers, theological seminary faculty, college professors of religion, denominational executives, YMCA/YWCA staff, community organizers, and peace and justice advocates. In your application, you will be asked to describe how the organizations for which you worked were engaged in religious, charitable, or non-profit humanitarian work.
Spouses/partners of applicants who meet the eligibility requirements also submit an application for residency. A spouse/partner, even if now widowed or divorced, who shared a 15-year marriage/commitment during the service years of a qualified person is also eligible to apply. Primary Applicants are required to move to Pilgrim Place between their 62nd and 78th birthdays. Pilgrim Place is open to all such qualified persons regardless of gender, religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Q. When can I apply?
A. Persons may apply after completing 10 years in full-time (or the equivalent) employment in religious or charitable non-profit organizations. Prospective residents are encouraged to apply early in their professional career; even five or ten years prior to their desired year of entrance into Pilgrim Place.
Q. Is there an application fee?
A. Yes. The non-refundable application fee is $250 per person, $500 per couple.
Q. How do I apply to become a resident at Pilgrim Place?
A. Please see the Instructions and Policies page for detailed information about the application process and policies regarding residency.
Q. I will be ready to retire at the end of this year. Will there be a residence available for me?
A. Prospective residents must complete an application and be granted “Approved Applicant” status prior to being placed on the Housing List. Housing opportunities are offered on the basis of a priority point system using several criteria (years of service; age at desired year of entrance, applying early, etc). Housing is offered based on this priority point system. Persons wanting to be considered for immediate housing opportunities should contact the Admissions Office to begin the application process.
Q. I want to retire in several years. Can I place my name on the Housing List for a future year?A. Yes! On your application, you will designate your desired year of entrance to Pilgrim Place. Your name will be placed on that year’s Housing List according to the number of points you have accumulated. (See above) When housing becomes available, it is offered to persons in the order in which they are listed on that year’s Housing List.
Q. What is the campus and surrounding area like?
A. Pilgrim Place is a 32-acre, lushly landscaped campus located in the heart of Claremont, CA. The campus features individual homes and apartments on tree-lined streets. Residents enjoy a spacious dining room, library, reading room, a full-equipped arts studio, aquatic center, exercise room, meeting rooms, and guest rooms. The Pilgrim Place map illustrates the many residences and facilities on campus.
The Pilgrim Place campus is within walking distance of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont School of Theology, and the Claremont "Village",” a charming set of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and movie theaters. The city of Claremont is nestled at the base of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, within a comfortable driving distance of beaches, hiking trails, and desert areas. Located just 40 miles from Los Angeles, Pilgrim Place residents enjoy the cultural benefits of this thriving, international city.
In July 2007, Money Magazine named Claremont as the 5th Best Small City in America!
Q. What kind of housing do you offer?
A. Free-standing homes, duplexes, and apartments are available within the active community of Pilgrim Place. Each unit is unique in design and floor plan, giving Pilgrim Place the feel of a residential neighborhood. In addition, Pilgrim Place features forty-two assisted living apartments and a skilled nursing facility on campus.
Looking toward the future, Pilgrim Place is in the midst of a Campus Development Project which features eighteen new two-bedroom/two-bathroom independent living apartments on campus. The new buildings will be LEED-certified, and thereby held to the highest standards of energy-efficient, eco-friendly construction. The Project also includes a new pedestrian walkway with native plants, Exercise Center, enhanced Dining Room, and a newly renovated Resident Activity Center.
Q. Would I own my home/apartment or rent?
A. Pilgrim Place residents rent their living accommodations. Rent varies depending on the square footage and amenities. Currently, rent is calculated at approximately $1.39 per square foot. (Rates are for 2010. Prices are subject to change.)
Q. In addition to rent, are there other monthly fees?
A. Yes, residents pay a monthly Residential Fee of $330 per person and Dining Hall Services Fee of $280 per person. (Rates are for 2010. Prices are subject to change.)
Q. Is there an Entrance Fee?
A. Yes, new residents have two Entrance Fee options to choose from; a Non-Refundable Entrance Fee or a Deferred Repayment Entrance Fee. Both fees are based on the size and amenities of the selected home. (Rates are for 2010. Prices are subject to change.) For households without sufficient assets for an Entrance Fee, a third entrance option may be available. Each year, up to three households may be eligible to enter Pilgrim Place without an entrance fee but with a higher Monthly Fee. This option is limited to three households per year and applies to homes under 1,000 square feet.
Q. May I have a pet at Pilgrim Place ?
A. Yes, residents may have one cat or one dog under 20 pounds, according to the Pilgrim Place Pet Policy.
Q. Can I continue to work even after I have retired to Pilgrim Place?
A. Many residents continue working part-time in religious and charitable non-profit organizations in the immediate community and to some degree in service opportunities beyond the campus. Because Pilgrim place is an active community and the involvement of the residents is important, full-time employment and frequent absences for long periods are discouraged.
Q. Are there things to do at Pilgrim Place?
A. Yes! With over 70 organizations, study groups, and clubs, you are sure to find friends and activities that you enjoy! Residents participate in wide variety of formal and informal programs, such as reading circles, worship services, cycling groups, arts and craft guilds, movie nights, tutoring programs, musical ensembles, guest lectures, activist organizations, and off-campus tours.
Residents enjoy numerous exercise classes and outdoor activities. Throughout the week, residents may participate in resident-led worship services and activities that promote peace and justice.
Q. Tell me about the noon meal in Abernethy Dining Room.
A. All independent living residents participate in a noon meal in Abernethy Dining Room. This delicious and nutritional meal includes an organic salad bar, hot entree and side dishes, beverages, and dessert. Pilgrim Place was recently featured in Morrison Dining Services monthly publication. Residents are assigned seats in the dining room based on an innovative computer-generated random seating chart. Residents love the fact that they become familiar with everyone else in the community though regularly sharing a meal and conversation.
Q. How do residents describe living at Pilgrim Place?
A. Each resident has his or her own unique way of describing life at Pilgrim Place. Residents' brief biographies and reflections will give you a sense of this unique community where people don't come to retire, but to live life to the fullest! John Keester attempted to summarize the Pilgrim Place experience in his lovely essay "A Band of Pilgrims."
Q. How can I arrange a campus visit?
A. Contact the Admissions Office to schedule a campus visit and tour. Prospective applicants are encouraged to come during the week and stay several hours. Generally, a campus visit includes a personal meeting with the Director of Admission, a campus tour, and lunch in the Dining Hall with current residents.
Prospective applicants may also inquire about the availability of on-campus guest rooms. Staying overnight enables visitors to reside in the heart of the Pilgrim Place community, participate in activities, and engage in conversation with current residents. If desired, guests may choose to stay in one of the several local hotels. Please see the Accommodations page for information about local airports, ground transportation, and hotels.
The Admissions Office is open weekdays, 8:30-4:30. To schedule a campus visit, contact Janet Cromwell, Director of Admission, at 909-399-5504 or jcromwell@pilgrimplace.org, or by completing a Visit Form. While drop-in visits are welcome, persons are encouraged to arrange a campus visit at least one week in advance or more.
Thank you for your interest in Pilgrim Place!
(Rev 4/1/2010)
