Is a CCRC Right for You?Leaving home may be the biggest decision seniors make. Until, that is, they have to decide where they will live next. How do you make an informed decision?Seniors who are still independent, but no longer want the responsibility of caring for a home, have two primary choices when it comes to senior living communities: Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) or independent living communities.The difference is that a CCRC, or a lifecare community, offers a full continuum of care as a person ages, including independent living, assisted living and memory care.Seniors living in independent communities should plan for the time when they or their partners need more care.In a CCRC, they may be able to stay in their residence or move to a better equipped living situation on the same campus when the time comes. What distinguishes a CCRC is the ability to provide housing and services for a wide spectrum of care with the cost being included in the entrance and monthly fees.That same care and support in independent living communities is typically contracted through an outside home healthcare agency and comes with an additional cost.Before deciding on that next big move, here are some questions to ask about a CCRC you may interested in:What is the entrance fee? And, what are the monthly fees?Is any part of the entrance fee refundable to my family when I pass away?How do the monthly fees increase as you require more care services?What levels of care are offered (Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Nursing Care)?What services and amenities are available at each level?If I start in an Independent Living apartment, would I need to relocate for Assisted Living?If I am in an Assisted Living residence, would I need to relocate for Memory Care? Nursing Care?If my partner and I are living in an Independent Living or Assisted Living apartment and my partner needs more care, can my partner be moved to a different residence on campus to receive more care while I stay in the apartment I am in?Am I eligible for a medical tax deduction?Editors Note: This article was submitted Adam Manchester. Adam is the Campus Executive Director of New Pond Village and can be reached at (508) 660-1555 or by email at amanchester@benchmarkquality.com
