Continuing Care Retirement Communities Definition
Innovations in the way services are provided to seniors, and the professional move towards facilitating "aging in place," means that there are now continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) that allow seniors a flexible choice of accommodations that are designed to meet their health and housing needs as these needs change over time. Residents will generally enter a self-contained, independent living unit within a community, while they are fit and healthy, safe in the knowledge that they may move to accommodation with higher levels of care, if they ever need to.
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Accommodation
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CCRCs, generally, offer three levels of accommodation: independent living; assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, all on one site. Independent seniors may live in an apartment, within the complex, and if they start to need assistance with the activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing or food preparation, they can transfer to an assisted living accommodation. If their health deteriorates further and they need skilled nursing care, they can make a further moved to the nursing facility within the same complex.
Business
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Senior accommodation is growing rapidly in the business sector, with many companies recognizing the lucrative advantages of catering to the needs of this fast growing population. Many communities are, however, operated by non-profit organizations that cater to affinity groups, such as religious organizations, fraternal orders, labor unions and ethnic groups. Accommodation within these communities is not cheap, and commonly ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per person per month, dependent upon the level of accommodation and services.
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Differences
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People often confuse CCRCs with assisted living facilities. Residents of CCRCs have entered into a contract in advance that guarantees a lifetime commitment from the provider to care for them, regardless of changes in their health and future needs. Residents of assisted living facilities have no such contract and agreement, and may be required to leave the facility if their health deteriorates and they need more help than is available.
Suitability
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Providing a senior has sufficient funds to pay for this type of accommodation, whether single or in a relationship, most seniors find CCRCs a suitable living option. Often with facilities similar to quality hotels, the stigma of living in a senior community is rapidly dissipating.
Research
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When considering a move to this type of community, it is important to do as much research as possible, prior to entering into any contractual agreement. Find out if the CCRC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. If not, be thorough in investigating its services, operations and finances. Word of mouth recommendations can also be very helpful in determining the suitability of specific establishments.
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References
Resources
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