What Is a Continuing Care Retirement Community?

As we age, uncertainties about living situations begin to arise. There may come a time when everyday activities such as meal preparation and driving to appointments become difficult. The thought of managing a household in the midst of illness or limited mobility is worrisome.

A continuing care retirement community can help simplify things during retirement years.

What is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?

Also known as a life plan community, a CCRC is a living option for seniors who want to "age in place". It is a community where early retirees can live independently while enjoying an amenity-rich lifestyle among their peers, with access to onsite higher-level care should medical needs progress.

A CCRC lets older adults age with dignity on their own terms rather than being forced to uproot their lives as abilities change.

What services does a CCRC provide?

A wide range of services and amenities are offered by continuing care communities. Some of the most popular include:

Professional health services such as physician and nursing care, physical therapy, mental health and nutritional counseling, dental care, onsite pharmacy, memory care
Commercial services like barbers and beauty shops, banking, retail shops, transportation, postal services, cable television, internet, coffee shops
Community services such as a fitness center, library, swimming pools, tennis court, walking trails, golf course, game room, craft room, greenhouse, art studio

Continuing care retirement communities like Montgomery Place provide assistance with daily living activities like housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and security at various levels of continuing care.

The Levels of Care CCRCs Typically Offer

No matter the level of care needed by an individual resident, most CCRCs can accommodate.

Level 1: Independent Living

Independent living is often the first stage in a resident's life at a continuing-care retirement community. Active and healthy older adults enjoy CCRC facilities and maintenance-free benefits while living alone in their choice of residence.

Level 2: Assisted Living

When greater assistance is needed, residents can move into assisted living. Here, they receive round-the-clock medical and custodial care, including medication administration, bathing, and dressing, while still remaining as independent as possible. This may involve private or semi-private apartment-style accommodations.

Level 3: Memory Care

Memory loss due to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other cognitive impairments may warrant transition into the next level of retirement living. With on-campus memory care, residents are attended to by specially trained staff focused on their comfort, safety, and engagement.

Level 4: Skilled Nursing Care

In skilled nursing care, medical and custodial services are provided 24/7, in addition to rehabilitation services and short-term care. This could be in the form of physical or speech therapy after a stroke, post-surgery wound care, or intravenous medication administration requiring skilled nursing care.

How are CCRCs different from other retirement options?

Older adults are faced with several options in retirement. They can stay in their own homes with assistance from family members or an outside nursing service or leave their homes to live in a family member's home, a retirement home, a nursing facility, or a CCRC.

Unlike the other options for retirement living, CCRCs provide a way to remain independent as long as possible. With customizable services available to fit changing individual needs, residents always receive the best level of care.

Is a CCRC right for me?

If you or a loved one is faced with future care concerns, a continuing care retirement community may be the best answer. Montgomery Place Retirement Community in Chicago, Illinois, offers lakeside living at its finest.

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