A Continuing Care Retirement Community

CCRCs provide a combination of living arrangements and services, typically all on one campus and can include: Independent living cottages or apartments; Supported
or assisted living apartments; In-home support services; Specialized dementia care; Rehabilitative and/or long-term nursing care; Hospice care.

Because CCRCs offer many services within the same campus, a resident can receive the level of support he or she needs while remaining in a familiar community and near friends and loved ones. Typically, the resident moves to the CCRC while still fairly independent, and the expectation is that he or she will transition to other levels of care when additional support services are needed.

Most CCRCs require payment of a one- time fee at the time of move-in; typically called an entrance fee. Entrance fees are often partially or fully refundable. Additionally, CCRCs may charge a monthly fee for services, such as maintenance and grounds keeping, transportation, and wellness, recreational and social activities.

Primary Contract Types: 
Type A (Extensive) Agreement: Includes housing, residential services, amenities and unlimited, specific health-related services with little or no substantial increase in monthly payments, except to cover normal operating costs and inflation adjustments.

Type B (Modified) Agreement: Includes housing, residential services,
and amenities and a specific amount of healthcare with no substantial increase in monthly payments, except to cover normal operating costs and inflation adjustments. After the specified amount of healthcare is used, persons served pay either a discounted rate or the full daily rates for required healthcare services.

Type C (Fee-for-Service) Agreement: Includes housing, residential services, and amenities for the fees stated in the resident agreement. Access to healthcare services
is guaranteed, but it may be required at established fee-for-service rates.

Accreditation by the CARF-CCAC (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Continuing Care Accreditation Commission) assures that a CCRC meets or exceeds certain standards of operational excellence. The CCAC is the only accrediting body for continuing care retirement facilities. Participation
in the accreditation process is voluntary, although facilities in 38 states are also subject to certain state and federal health care regulations.

For more information about CCRCs, please see the “Consumer Guide to Understanding Financial Performance and Reporting in Continuing Care Retirement Communities,” or the brochure, “How to Choose Services for You and Your Loved Ones.” Both are available in the Resources section of www.carf.org.

Article provided by
Whitney Olsen,
Mennonite Village
(541) 704-4247