What is a Continuing Care Retirement Community?
A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is a senior living community that offers several levels of care, as well as amenities and activities, to residents. It's also known as an "aging in place" community. CCRCs are designed to give older adults the option of staying in their homes as they age by providing additional services over time that are tailored to their needs. These services may include assisted living, skilled nursing, home health care, hospice care and other medical care; they may also include social services including transportation and meals on wheels. The goal is to help seniors maintain their independence while also providing assistance with daily activities if needed. In some cases, CCRCs even provide respite care for family members who've been caring for loved ones at home for a long time.
How are continuing care retirement communities different from other retirement homes?
The biggest difference between a continuing care retirement community and other retirement communities is that in a continuing care community, you don't just move in, you move on. The main idea behind continuing care retirement communities is that they are designed to provide the kind of service and amenities that make it easy for people who are aging to stay in one place as long as possible. This means that the community has a wide variety of services available to residents—everything from assisting with medication management to providing transportation to medical appointments. Continuing care retirement communities also offer "life plan" options for residents who want even more support. A life plan might include training for caregivers or an activity program designed just for seniors who have trouble getting around on their own.
How much does it cost to stay in one of these retirement communities?
Continuing care retirement communities are designed to be affordable for seniors who want to live in them, but there's no single answer to the question of how much these communities cost. A continuing care retirement community can be any size, from a small group of homes or apartment buildings to a full-fledged town with everything you could want in your golden years. The biggest factor affecting price is the size of the community. If you're looking at a small community with just a few dozen homes and apartments, it will likely cost less than $100,000 per person. If you opt for a larger community with more housing options, expect to pay $150,000 or more per person.
