Continuing Care Retirement Communities

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KEY POINTS

• Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRC) offer independent living, assisted living, and nursing facility care.
• You will be expected to sign a contract before moving into a CCRC. It’s a good idea to have your lawyer go over the contract so that you know what you are buying.

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What is a continuing care retirement community?

Continuing-care retirement communities, or life-care communities, offer 3 levels of care:

• Independent living
• Assisted living
• Nursing facility care

Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRCs) are different from active adult or independent living communities. Active adult communities are designed for older adults who are active, healthy, and able to live without assistance. If you need more help than what is offered at an active adult community, you may choose to move to a facility with healthcare services, such as a CCRC.

Services and housing at a CCRC can change as your needs change. Often you may first live in an independent living unit. Then, if you need more help, you will move to an assisted living unit or to the nursing facility on the same grounds.

What types of CCRCs are there?

Housing options vary from one CCRC to another. There may be cottages, apartments, townhomes, and individual houses. Services offered may include shopping areas, activity centers, fitness centers, recreation areas, beauty shops, and media centers.

CCRCs may have short-stay rehab units for residents coming home from the hospital who do not need long-term care in a nursing facility. Many CCRCs have special living units for people with Alzheimer's disease.

How do I choose a CCRC?

Ask friends and relatives about their experiences with retirement housing. Other resources for information include:

• Your local Area Agency on Aging
• Senior centers
• Your local library
• The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• Your state insurance commission

When you are deciding which CCRC may be right for you, ask questions such as:

• What is the cost to enter the CCRC?
• Is some of the entrance fee refundable if I don’t stay? Are there any conditions that must be met to get the refund fee back if I don’t stay? (For example, there may be a prorated charge or the need to have the room rented or sold to someone else before you can be refunded.)
• Are there monthly fees? If so, what are they and what do they include?
• How often do the rates increase?
• Are copies of licensing reports, prior inspections, and verified complaints available for me to review?
• Are meals included or is there an extra fee?
• What health services are available? Is there an extra fee for this?
• What other services are offered? Beauty shop, laundry, drugstore, grocery store, transportation?
• Is there a resident council that takes recommendations and concerns to the management?
• Are pets allowed? If so, is there a limit to what kind or size pet I can have?
• Can I stay at the CCRC for a trial visit?

What kind of contract is needed to get into a CCRC?

You will be expected to sign a resident agreement before moving into a CCRC. The contract should state how much it costs to get into the CCRC. Check the contract for specific monthly fees and how the facility decides to set or raise fees. The contract must also state how many days of nursing facility care is provided and at what cost. Payment options, which vary with each CCRC, may be included in the contract. Most CCRCs require an entrance fee plus a monthly charge for rent and services to guarantee a place to live with nursing care for life. You may have 1 monthly bill for your rent and all services or you may have separate bills for your rent and each service you use.

Other items that may be spelled out in the contract are:

• If you are ill and cannot live in your apartment, how long the apartment will be held
• What items you will need to provide for your room (such as furniture, carpet, drapes, or a refrigerator)

It’s a good idea to have a lawyer go over the contract with you so that you understand it completely. You want to be sure you know what you are buying.

To find out about services for people over the age of 60 in any area of the country, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. You can get more information from:

• LeadingAge
  202-783-2242
  http://www.leadingage.org/