CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) combines three or more levels of care (independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care) in a single setting. CCRCs offer older adults long term contracts for a very high price. The contract guarantees older adults a place to live and access to specified personal and health care services.

COMMON FEATURES OF CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

• Each resident must enter into a contract often referred to as a residency agreement, with a continuing care provider in order to obtain residency.
• New residents are expected to move into the community when they are healthy and able to maintain an independent lifestyle.
• Residents may be asked to pay a sizable entry fee plus monthly maintenance fees, and may have the option of a month to month rental arrangement or may purchase and develop equity in the property.
• The entry fee does not entitle a resident to own or have equity in a living unit.
• The residency agreement guarantees that the continuing care provider will supply housing and access to health related services for the lifetime of the resident in exchange for an entrance fee and monthly fees.
• Continuing care, or life care, provides residents with priority access to various kinds of assistance with activities of daily living.
• CCRCs provide nursing home care when residents are no longer able to live independently.
• Health care services are typically provided within the community in an on-site health center. If the health center is not on site, communities will often have an agreement with a local health care facility to admit their residents on a priority basis.
• Health centers in CCRCs generally emphasize restorative care with the goal of returning residents to independent living.
• There is usually an age requirement for admission to CCRCs.
• Connecticut’s CCRCs are not licensed but they must adhere to certain statutory requirements. Various components of a CCRC, such as assisted living services, residential care, and nursing home care are licensed by the Department of Public Health.
• Each CCRC is mandated (but not required) to register with the Connecticut Department of Social Services by filing a current disclosure statement.

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SOURCE: Conn. Dept. of Social Services, Elderly Services Division: Continuing Care Retirement Communities 2002.
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2007