When people grow older, most of them would prefer to live in home-like surroundings in which their needs could be met as their need for care increases. Being able to stay in one place is called aging in place. One option that might allow your loved one to age in place is a continuing care retirement community. The professionals at Elder Care Direction can help you to determine whether a continuing care community might be the right choice for you or your loved one.
What continuing care retirement communities are
Continuing care retirement communities have a combination of independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care in the same community. As your loved one’s needs change, he or she can move between the levels of care while remaining in the same community. Residents of CCRCs have legal contracts that spell out what types of services will be provided to them. The ability to move to higher levels of care within the community will prevent residents from having to move out of the community when their needs increase.
CCRCs may offer a broad range of supportive and health care services to the residents, including social work, nursing care, physician care, dietician services and others. They may also offer wellness programs and help with insurance claims. Many CCRCs include laundry and housekeeping services along with a number of meals in the dining facility. Transportation may also be included in the base fees. Many facilities also offer many recreational activities and opportunities for socializing.
While accreditation is not federally required for CCRCs, many still seek accreditation through the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. AAHSA has a number of standards about the financial and corporate stability of the parent company of a CCRC.
Determining whether a CCRC is right for your loved one
If your loved one is beginning to show signs of mild physical decline such as with driving or preparing meals, it might be a good idea to talk to him or her about moving to a CCRC. As with any move, a move to a CCRC is a huge change that should be thoroughly discussed. It will involve a long-term commitment, financial resources, and legal contracts, making it important for you to take the time to conduct thorough research and planning. It might be a good idea to talk to a professional at Elder Care Direction about all of the different senior living options that might be available in addition to CCRCs.
Choosing a good CCRC
If your loved one decides that he or she wants to move into a CCRC, there are several things that you should consider before choosing one. You should think about the location of the CCRC and your loved one’s needs for geographical proximity to family members. You’ll also want to make certain that the CCRC will offer a broad range of amenities or your loved one. You will want to visit any CCRC that you are considering and meet some of the staff. Take time to talk to some of the residents so that you can get an idea of their satisfaction.
Cost considerations
CCRCs are among the costliest types of senior living choices. Long-term care insurance and Medicare will not pay for independent living costs in a CCRC for housing, non-skilled care or meals. Private insurance and Medicare may cover limited amounts of health care and skilled nursing care at a CCRC. Your loved one will instead need to pay for living in a CCRC out of his or her pocket. The costs may include an entry fee as well as ongoing monthly fees. The entry fees may range from $40,000 to $90,000 with monthly fees ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.
If you are trying to determine what type of senior living options might work best for your loved one, the professionals at Elder Care Direction might be able to provide you with some guidance. Call us today to schedule your consultation so that you can learn more.
