Choosing A Great Assisted Living Center

Is A Continuing Care A Good Option For You Or An Aging Family Member?

24 June 2021 by Amanda Palmer

Growing old is not a process that people look forward to, but unfortunately, it's not something anyone can avoid. And as a person ages, they typically require increasing levels of nursing care. Moving from one facility to another as needs change can be difficult and disruptive — leaving the comfort of familiar surroundings and leaving behind the friendships they've built. One solution is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Here's an overview of what these facilities provide.

What Are Continuing Care Facilities?

A CCRC is a campus or building that provides all levels of service, from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care. Independent housing units typically are apartments or condominiums, and often residents can get assisted living services while staying in the same home. However, when skilled nursing services become necessary, residents usually will have to relocate to a nursing home facility on the campus.

What Are the Benefits of a CCRC Facility?

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of a CCRC facility is that residents can age in place, meaning that a person doesn't have to relocate as needs change, although when the level of required nursing services is only available at a nursing home, the resident will need to relocate.

Other advantages of a CCRC include:

• It relieves residents of tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and home maintenance.
• It provides flexibility for spouses or partners who might need a different level of medical care.
• Residents are able to keep many of the same friendships throughout their stay.
• It increases social engagement by providing a wide range of activities and amenities, such as game rooms, exercise areas and classes, hair salons, swimming pools, and bus rides to events and doctor appointments.

Mostly, a CCRC provides peace of mind and security for the residents and their family members.

What Are the Payment Options?

CCRC facilities can be fairly expensive, and expenses usually increases with the level of care provided. But there are options that make payments easier and more affordable:

• Medicare and Medicaid. Although Medicare generally does not pay for long-term care, it does pay for some of the services a resident receives, such as doctor visits and hospitalizations. Because of the higher expense for CCRC, most residents are not eligible for Medicaid.
• Relinquished assets. A resident may sell their home or turn their assets over to the CCRC to pay for their stay.
• Entrance fee. With this model, a resident pays an entrance fee, which pays for their care for the length of their residency. When the resident passes, any remaining money will be returned to the resident's heirs.

If you are considering CCRC for yourself or a family member who will use senior living, it's important to spend time researching and visiting potential facilities. Make sure the location and layout are suitable. Meet with the staff and take a tour of the campus to ensure it's a good fit because you or your family member will be spending the remainder of their lives there.

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