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What is a Continuing Care Retirement Community?
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Your needs are unique, and choosing a continuing care retirement community is a major life event. We’re here to help you make an informed decision. Read on for in-depth information on questions to ask when assessing a CCRC, the costs involved, and how to decipher confusing contract options.
A continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a life plan community, delivers independent living and an amenity-rich lifestyle with access to onsite higher-level care should medical needs progress. This continuum of care ensures residents have the stability of remaining in the place they call home.
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to curate a list of the best options in your area.
Continuing care retirement communities offer a wide range of amenities and services. These are some popular options:
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The most important difference here is that CCRCs recognize that many seniors want to live as independently as they always have. For example, let’s say you're an older adult who lives alone. You can still live independently, but you spend more time alone than you’d like. To remedy this, you can move into the independent living component of a CCRC. There, you can maintain the same hobbies and interests you enjoyed previously while also living close to those who can help when there is a need. You’ll establish a community for yourself as you get to know the area, the people, and your neighbors.
As you get older, you may find that tasks like cutting the grass or mopping the floors are a bit too hard to do. This is when moving into or utilizing the assisted living components of the CCRC is a good option. Unlike in a traditional assisted living community, you’ll already know the community and the people; you’re not moving to a new community, just into a different area (in some cases) or getting a bit more help when you need it.
When you do have the need, you can move into the onsite nursing facility component. Again, you maintain the same quality of life and stay in familiar areas.
Usually, this type of location offers customizable services to fit the individual’s needs at that point in their life. This ensures the very best level of care is always available.
A CCRC delivers a multitude of benefits in one location. In addition to comparing contracts and weighing the pros and cons of a CCRC, ask yourself these questions:
Did You Know? While most CCRC residents are between the ages of 65 and 95, the average age has increased to 80 to 85 over the last ten years.1
Levels of care can vary greatly by CCRC. Below are the most common types of continuing care offered. As you assess each community, ask what care levels are included in your contract.
Our team of senior living advisors provide free guidance to help you find the right housing option for your needs and budget.
With around 1,900 CCRCs available across the United States, there are plenty of options to fit your current and long-term needs.2 Comparing CCRCs can be quite challenging, as no two are alike. As you research potential continuing care retirement communities, be sure to fully understand these 10 crucial questions:
Did You Know? In addition to taking a day tour, many CCRCs encourage potential residents to stay overnight to get the full experience. Explore the amenities, dining options, and long-term care settings, and also talk with residents.
According to CBRE Group, a U.S. commercial real estate firm, the average CCRC entrance fee is $402,000.2 Monthly charges can range from $3,000 to $5,000 but may increase as needs change.3
The entrance and monthly fees seniors pay in a CCRC guarantee housing and medical care. In comparison, older adults choosing to age in place in their current homes may face unexpected and exorbitant healthcare costs. CCRCs provide peace of mind that aging in place at home does not.
Moving into a CCRC is an investment in your future. The entrance fee is a contractual upfront cost (like a down payment on a home). An entrance fee guarantees housing and medical services throughout your lifetime.
Part of the CCRC’s entrance fee may be based on the location, size, and type of residence. For example, an oceanfront single-family cottage in an expensive ZIP code will be priced higher than a standard studio apartment in a town with a lower cost of living.
As entrance fees can be pricey, many residents sell their existing homes to finance the entrance and monthly fees associated with a CCRC.
Medicare does not cover “room and board” costs such as residential housing, meals, and nonmedical care within a CCRC. However, there are specific instances when Medicare may cover medically necessary skilled nursing home care. As you interview prospective CCRCs, discuss when and how your Medicare coverage will be utilized.
Pro Tip: Concerned about the costs of CCRCs? We came up with nine ways to lower your bill at an assisted living facility.
There are four main types of CCRC contracts. It’s important to understand the differences between them, what you’re signing up for, and which contract makes the most sense for your lifestyle and needs.
Type A Contract: Also known as an extensive or full life care contract, the Type A entrance and service fees are the costliest of the four CCRC contracts. Type A comes at a greater cost because all health-related services are prepaid, ensuring a full range of higher medical care is included. For example, the contract will cover your assisted living, medical treatment, and skilled nursing care with little or no additional cost.2
Type B Contract: Also known as a modified life care contract, the Type B entrance and service fees include partial prepayment of future medical care (not full care). The monthly service fee may increase when a higher level of care is necessary. For example, should a resident need to move from independent living to skilled nursing, a Type B modified contract covers only a portion of the care cost.
Type C Contract: Also called a fee-for-service contract, the Type C upfront entrance fee and monthly service fee tends to be the lowest. Instead of prepaying for all medical costs as in Contract A or a portion of medical costs as in Contract B, residents pay for medical expenses as needed. For example, if a senior requires assisted living or memory care, this will be an out-of-pocket expense.
Type D Contract: A Type D contract, also known as a rental agreement, is offered by some CCRCs, but not all. You can think of this contract as a pay-as-you-go option. There is no entrance fee, and you only pay for CCRC services as needed.
Oftentimes, people don’t realize there are CCRCs close to them. That’s a good thing because it means the location is doing a fantastic job creating a modern, residential area that looks and feels just like a traditional home. However, most communities do offer CCRCs. Because they can cost a bit more than other types of senior living care, they are often found in communities with a higher net worth or in areas with a larger population of older adults.
From the outside, CCRCs look like larger developments. Many offer a one-stop-shop type of living setup, which means you may notice single-family homes or townhomes alongside nursing facilities or assisted living areas. If you or a loved one are considering moving to a CCRC, search our database for senior care providers in your neighborhood.
It’s imperative to protect yourself and your finances. Contact your state’s Department of Community Affairs along with the Administration on Aging (AoA) long-term care Ombudsman program for information on what statutes and regulations are in place for CCRC consumer protection.
For more information on CCRCs and how they compare to other types of senior living, watch the video below with our editor-in-chief, Jeff Hoyt.
U.S. News. (2022). What’s the Best Age to Move Into a CCRC?
AARP. (2019). How Continuing Care Retirement Communities Work.
AARP. (2019). How Continuing Care Retirement Communities Work.
AARP. (2013). Guide to Caregiving.