What is a CCRC, and What Can It Offer Me?

Posted on: August 6, 2021
Two Otterbein St. Marys residents doing yoga.

You may have heard the term “retirement community” brought up in conversation before, but how about a CCRC? Are they the same thing? Well, yes and no.

Although both terms have similar meanings, not every retirement community is a CCRC, which stands for Continuing Care Retirement Community. According to seniorliving.org, the defining characteristic of a CCRC is that it offers a wide range of services, called a continuum of care. This often includes:

  • Independent living - living in your own home or apartment, with minimal outside assistance
  • Assisted living - living in your own apartment or suite, with daily support as needed
  • Skilled nursing - living in a suite or shared room, with round-the-clock medical care
  • Rehabilitation/post-acute care - temporarily living in a suite or room, receiving therapy and rehabilitative care after a surgery or illness.

So what else do you need to know about a CCRC, and why would you want to choose one? Let’s take a closer look at the answers to these questions.

What Does a CCRC Offer?

As mentioned above, a CCRC offers multiple levels of care, each with its distinct characteristics.

Depending on your age and your care needs, you can enter a CCRC at any level. For many, one of the major draws to choosing a CCRC is that once you are part of the community, you can stay in the same community indefinitely, even as your health and care needs change.

For example, you could move into an independent living apartment and live there for as long as you’re comfortable being on your own. Then, you might experience an unexpected injury or illness, prompting you to consider a move to assisted living. Moving from one level of care to another would involve some adjustments, but you would still be in the same community that you already know and love.

On the flip side, you may never need to advance to a different level of care, but you will have the peace of mind of knowing that if you need additional care, you will have a place to go ― no need to worry about the future.

Most CCRCs also offer a wide variety of amenities and opportunities for personal enrichment. This may include regularly-scheduled activities, outings, classes, seminars, and more. And home maintenance is a thing of the past at most CCRCs, as the community will take care of everything for you, from mowing the grass to changing a lightbulb. It’s a great way to spend more time doing the things you enjoy and less time doing chores and other obligations that come with homeownership.

What are Some Reasons to Choose a CCRC?

Our residents at Otterbein St. Marys have lots of reasons they decide to move to our community. Some of the more common reasons include:

  • Moving closer to their adult children or family
  • Tired of the hassles of home maintenance, yard upkeep, etc.
  • Desire for more social interaction
  • Wanting direct on-site access to dining, amenities, and activities

Of course, these are just a few examples. Many of our residents have shared their personal reasons for moving to Otterbein, and you can read them all on our Otterbein SeniorLife blog. Watch the video below to learn more about why Sally E., one of our residents, recently chose Otterbein St. Marys.

How Does Cost Work at a CCRC?

You may have heard others talk about a large, upfront cost associated with joining a CCRC, but at Otterbein St. Marys, we do not require a large entrance fee to join our community. There are several payment options available, such as paying only a monthly fee, and we help each resident find the right option for them.

Watch the video below to hear from our Otterbein St. Marys Marketing Director, Stacy Klosterman, about how Otterbein helps residents find the right financial choice for them.

Who is a CCRC a Good Fit for?

Namely, anyone in search of a simpler, maintenance-free life. People from all walks of life have chosen CCRCs, and it could be just what you’re looking for, too.

According to a recent article from U.S. News & World Report, most seniors “find it makes more sense and may be more beneficial to move in [to a CCRC] sooner rather than later.” A lot of our residents have said the same thing.

Simply put, the younger you are, the more you will be able to enjoy everything that a CCRC has to offer. If you would like to learn more about what life is like at a Continuing Care Retirement Community, our “Experience Life at a CCRC” webpage can answer a lot of your questions.

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