What is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?

When you are approaching retirement or are retired, it’s natural to think about where you want to live – do you stay in your current home and continue to maintain it and the yard or is it time to consider other options by moving to a smaller home like a condominium, a 55+ community, in with a relative or a senior living community such as a CCRC.

There are many senior living communities, but all don’t offer the same services or level of care. Some may be geared toward independent living seniors, others may only provide assisted living care and others may provide specialized skilled nursing care that includes long-term and memory support care.

Continuing care retirement communities offer all levels of senior living care, including:

• Independent living
  An ideal level if you lead a healthy active lifestyle. You can expect to live in an apartment or house, free from the worries and labor of homeownership, while enjoying the services, amenities and activities the community offers and safety of onsite health care and security – knowing they are available when you need them. Like our community, other CCRC’s may allow you to choose custom options – from cabinetry to flooring – so you can truly make your living space your home.
• Assisted living
  Considered to be the next level of care from independent living. In assisted living you typically live in a suite-like home with access to the community’s services and activities but receive extra care with daily living tasks (e.g. bathing, dressing, medication management and more).
• Skilled nursing
  Typically skilled nursing care provides the highest level of needed care of the three levels. It’s generally provided in a community’s health care center and is staffed by a team of qualified health care professionals. Skilled nursing generally includes long-term care and, in some communities, memory support care.

Rehabilitation care may also be offered by a community in its health care center. As part of our Health Care Center, our award-winning rehabilitation services include physical, occupational and speech therapy and aquatic therapy.

Transitioning to a greater level of care is made easier when living in a CCRC because all levels of senior living care are provided in one community. You can remain in the community you call home without having to uproot yourself and your belongings to move to another community that provides the care you need.

Ease of access to quality health care is an important issue to consider when thinking about whether you remain in your current home or move elsewhere. You may be healthy and active now, but health care is the largest and most unpredictable expense you will likely face. Taking the long view and planning for provisions will help you maintain your independent lifestyle as long as possible.

Now that you are familiar with CCRC’s, learn about the types of contracts at CCRC’s at Types of CCRC contracts: Which is right for you?