Some of the good things about living at a CCRC.
Guaranteed place to live
CCRCs allow you to age in place. Living in a CCRC lessens worry about how you will be able to maintain your quality of life as you age and how you will be taken care of as your health fails. It also removes the burden of deciding these things from your loved ones, especially during stressful conditions.
CCRCs guarantee a life-long place to live. Stand-alone assisted living and skilled nursing facilities make no such guarantees. They may ask you to leave if they believe they cannot provide the care you require or you cannot pay.
However, no CCRC can guarantee a resident entry into the assisted living, skilled nursing, or memory care facility that is a part of the CCRC since there may be no beds available. When this occurs, most CCRCs will place the resident in a local facility with which they have a receptive agreement.
Enclosed facilities
Most CCRCs are enclosed in an interconnected facility. If you live in an apartment or condominium, this means you can access all the residences and amenities without ever going outside. Those in separate cottages, townhomes, villas. and houses may have to walk outside or drive an automobile or cart to the main facility.
Services and amenities
CCRCs vary in size, accommodations, services, and amenities provided. Some offer only basic services and amenities, while others offer services and amenities that rival that you find at a resort or fine hotel or on a cruise ship. Some of the services amenities may not appeal to younger residents now, but in time they will grow to appreciate them.
Many CCRCs offer an array of concierge, or on-demand, retirement living options that provide on-campus convenience and comfort for residents. They have concierge service desks staffed with personnel who provide:
- General resident support.
- Fax & copy service.
- Mail service, package service & stamp sales.
- Certified return receipt mail service.
- Voting forms/ballots.
- Provides residential phone listings.
- Receive monthly statement payments.
- Dry cleaning service.
- Issuing gift certificates.
- Trip sign-up and reservations.
- A full-service pharmacy that carries prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- A bank branch that provides comprehensive services, including checking and savings accounts, trusts, and safe deposit boxes.
- A hair care salon that offers hair care for both men and women that include beauty services, such as dying, shampooing, styling, and manicures.
- Various stores that sell fresh vegetables, food, toiletries, and other necessities and fulfill orders for special requests and home deliveries. Also, there is usually a gift shop and a thrift store.
Grow old together
In a CCRC, married residents may grow old together without being separated due to health care needs. If you or your spouse requires a higher level of care, you can still live independently so that the two of you can stay in close contact. You would be living in the same complex and able to see each other readily. This is much easier than to go to a separate assisted living or skilled nursing facility for regular visits.
Helps prevent isolation
CCRCs may be beneficial for widows and widowers who often start to isolate themselves while grieving the loss of a spouse. The social network in a CCRC helps keep these people functioning and motivated.
CCRCs provide access to surrounding areas so you do not feel isolated. When you cannot drive, transportation is provided to medical appointments and community-sponsored theaters, events, parks, etc. Transportation for personal trips is available for a fee. Since most CCRCs are gated and provide lakes, walking paths, outdoor games, etc., residents may get outside without worrying about their safety.
Fitness
CCRCs have health and wellness centers that stress movement, healthy eating, group activities, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. For some residents., this is just a continuation of their normal lifestyles, while for others it may be the first time they have performed any regular exercise-related activities in many years.
Geriatric care
You generally have access to the best in geriatric care when you are at a CCRC. Doctors who specialize in geriatrics are in short supply in many communities. Areas with CCRCs are likely to have geriatric specialists nearby or associated with the facility itself.
Socialize with peers
As people get older, they say that they still feel young. They seem to think this means that younger people will consider them as younger, but this is not the case. No matter how young you feel, younger people will always consider you as old and they do not want to hang around with old people who are not family. In a CCRC, it is easy to find residents of your age who also feel young and want to do the things you do and want to talk about the things you like to talk about.
Research has shown that those who live in CCRCs are more likely to have college degrees than those who live in freestanding independent living communities so there are always lots of stimulating conversations. Additionally, if you never went to college and want to take classes, many CCRCs offer distance learning or on-site classes or classes at nearby colleges or universities for free or a discounted rate.
No more mundane tasks
While living at home, elderly people reach the point where they are unable to mow, clean, cook, clean and change linens, and maintain their homes and must pay others to do these things for them. At a CCRC, all these things are taken care of for you.
Daily welfare monitoring
What if you have fallen and can't get up? Since CCRC staff deal with residents daily in one way or another, they are usually the first to notice something out of the ordinary, such as personality changes, changes in daily routine, health changes, etc. Then they notify the appropriate personnel so the situation may be checked out and dealt with promptly. Most CCRCs have a system of daily welfare monitoring; some charge an extra fee.
Lower costs
You only need renter’s insurance so your insurance costs will be less. You don't have to maintain your residence. No gym, pool, or fitness memberships. No driving unless you want to.
Décor to your taste
As part of the move-in process, most CCRCs will remodel the unit to suit the wants and needs of the resident. There is a limit to how much they will pay, and the resident must pay for excess costs.
Tax deductions
A portion of the entrance fee and monthly maintenance fees are tax-deductible as prepaid medical expenses. The CCRC will provide the residents with an annual document that shows their calculated percentage that is deductible.
There is no property tax on your housing unit unless it is one you purchase. Of course, you will still have to pay property taxes on other things, such as vehicles and boats.
Check the state you will be moving into to see how it will affect your state income taxes. For example, North Carolina excludes your military retirement pension if you served at least five years before 1989.
Pets allowed
Most CCRCs accept pets though some have restrictions and may require pet damage deposits.
Transition to a higher level of care
CCRC staff assist in evaluating the health of residents and help residents transition into other levels of care as needed, which gives residents some peace of mind knowing they are cared for at a time when they may be unable to make decisions for themselves.
Run out of money, no problem
To be accepted as a resident, CCRCs verify that the person has the financial assets to cover the cost of a long-term stay at the CCRC. However, once a person is accepted as a resident, most CCRCs have a foundation or endowment they say will cover the costs if a resident runs out of money.
However, the question is "For how long and in what circumstances will they pay?" The details of what happens when you run out of funds should be delineated in the contract. Also, check recent annual reports for details on the benevolent fund. Given the growing needs of an aging community, these funds can run dry.
In addition, review the contract for provisions governing discharge from the facility. Facilities may attempt to discharge residents if they run out of money or develop above-average care needs. Check for specific circumstances that might justify the facility forcing out a resident, such as involuntary discharges being allowed for "good cause."
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