It’s difficult to know what’s ahead when making housing choices for older adults, but Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer a spectrum of options meeting needs of seniors today and anticipating possible needs in the future.
A CCRC is typically divided into three sections:
* independent living
* assisted living
* skilled nursing home.
Residents enter a CCRC while living independently and then have housing in place for the rest of their lives no matter how their health status changes.
Some residents can live out their years independently in an environment that offers activities, meals and camaraderie. Others may need assistance for a short time and then return to independent living, or an injury or illness could require they remain in assisted living. The skilled nursing home portion is available for those with more critical medical needs. All these transitions take place within the same community offering a comfortable and familiar setting.
The Illinois Department on Aging suggests visiting all levels of care before making a decision and arranging an extended visit for several days or a weekend to get a better sense of any CCRC. Many facilities require that potential residents meet health standards for entering independent living as well as financial standards.
What to expect
While each CCRC can be different, all three tiers usually are on the same campus and sometimes in the same building. The independent living portion can be anything from apartments to cottages, and typically have one to three bedrooms.
At all three levels activities are offered. For those in independent living there is access to amenities such as a fitness center or hobby rooms and a variety of outings.
For those in independent and assisted living, transportation is often available to nearby locations. Those needing more care also have opportunities to participate in adapted fitness classes or to enjoy scheduled events. Depending on the location, meals usually are offered in community dining rooms.
Costs and contracts
Most facilities require potential residents to meet financial standards. AARP reports that CCRCs are “the most expensive of all long-term-care options” and often require a hefty entrance fee that can range from $100,000 to $1 million. Monthly charges can range from $3,000 to $5,000 but may change along with needs.
Many CCRCs base their costs on contracts that can vary. The most expensive life care or extended contract covers unlimited lifetime services often at a set rate. Modified contracts typically include set services that expire after an amount of time and can be renewed, but possibly at the higher rate. The fee for service contracts are a pay-as-you-go type program with costs depending on the amount of health and additional services used.
