Retirement is evolving. There are so many options for aging adults, and it’s not uncommon to see people making a change younger and younger. Today we’re going to cover the differences between two of the most common retirement options: CCRC vs assisted living.
What is a CCRC?
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are facilities that offer multiple levels of care within one community. This includes independent living, personal care, and skilled nursing care. Residents can transition between stages as their needs change. Also known as life plan communities, these all-in-one care options allow you to age in place and prepare for your future.
Woodcrest Villa is the independent living campus of our CCRC. We offer modern villas and apartments along with on-site amenities. Just down the road is Trillium Place, which provides five levels of aid, from minimal assistance to advanced memory care for those who need extra support.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living facilities fall between independent living and skilled nursing, and they typically offer just one level of care. This is ideal for folks who need help with daily activities like eating, bathing, and taking medication, but can still maintain some level of independence.
In addition, assisted living homes in Pennsylvania offer some skilled nursing services to supplement the personal help. This allows residents to age in place longer.
Assisted Living vs Personal Care
Regulations for retirement communities vary by state. In Pennsylvania, the terms “personal care” and “assisted living” are not interchangeable. Personal care (one of the levels offered by Tandem Living) provides housing, food, and aid with personal care tasks. This includes hygiene, shaving, laundry, and more.
Assisted living facilities do all this, plus they provide some skilled nursing services. This prevents folks from having to relocate as their needs change.
Main Differences Between CCRC vs Assisted Living
Now that you understand the basics of a CCRC vs assisted living facility, let’s outline the differences between the two so you can decide which is best for you.
Residents
CCRC: Continuing care retirement communities are ideal for people who are looking ahead and thinking proactively. If you’re worried about upcoming health changes and want a place that caters to various levels of care, then CCRCs are a great option. These are best for active, independent seniors who are interested in a community lifestyle.
Assisted living: People typically move into an assisted living facility when they need help with the activities of daily living but still want to keep some independence. It’s catered to retirees who need daily assistance, but are still socially active.
Scope of Care
CCRC: As a premium option, CCRCs provide a greater scope of care, ranging from independent living and personal care to skilled nursing and rehabilitation. This continuum of care gives residents more flexibility and customization as they age.
Assisted living: These facilities are mainly focused on the activities of daily living. They offer 24/7 help with bathing, dressing, eating, medication management, and more. In addition, they provide some skilled nursing services, allowing folks to age in place for longer.
Facility and Staff
CCRC: Life plan communities offer a wider range of staff and facilities to cover different levels of care. At Woodcrest, we have personal apartments or spacious villas for those interested in independent living, along with campus amenities like fitness centers, dining venues, and on-site medical help. At Trillium Place, we provide both short-term and longer-term care with our staff of nurses, therapists, and technicians.
Assisted living: Standalone assisted living facilities typically have a smaller medical staff of nurses and nursing assistants. However, the facilities are similar to a CCRC. In Pennsylvania, they are required to provide a private room with a lockable door, a private bathroom, and a kitchen.
Community and Socialization
CCRC: Continuing care retirement communities offer a wide variety of clubs, activities, and events for residents. This encourages a sense of community and offers many opportunities for socializing, meeting new people, and local engagement.
Assisted living: Assisted living facilities also prioritize social opportunities and resident engagement, but usually in a smaller and more intimate setting. However, their main focus is helping with activities of daily living.
Lifestyle Flexibility
CCRC: Many retirees start in independent living, which gives you the ultimate flexibility to pursue your passions. When you’re ready, you can move to the next level of care, while still having access to the campus you love and the friends you’ve made along the way.
Assisted living: When comparing CCRC vs assisted living, the latter is usually less flexible. Assisted living communities help you with basic tasks, so it is not fully independent living. However, you still have the freedom to take part in social activities and have control over your life.
Cost
CCRC: The cost structure for CCRCs varies depending on the level of care you need. However, some CCRCs have a “life plan” contract where you pay one standard monthly fee that covers everything. This is helpful so that as you age and move up care levels, there are no unexpected price increases.
Tandem Living is a fee-for-service community, meaning you pay for services as you need them. This keeps your monthly costs lower, so you can avoid paying for healthcare you never end up using.
Assisted living: Assisted living communities typically have a lower entrance and monthly fee since they are only providing one level of care. However, your costs will increase if you want to upgrade care later on.
Benefits of CCRCs
At the end of the day, there are many reasons to choose a CCRC vs assisted living community.
1. Less Moving
Moving is difficult, both emotionally and physically. For retirees, these transitions can be even harder. A benefit of CCRCs is that they avoid the stress of moving to a completely different community. Because of their all-inclusive nature, CCRCs allow folks to live life to the fullest at every age, no matter what changes the years bring.
2. Stay Connected
It’s hard to leave behind your community. At Woodcrest and any other CCRC, you don’t have to. When it’s time to move from Woodcrest to Trillium Place, you don’t have to say goodbye to the friends you’ve met or the campus you’ve gotten used to. You’ll only be moving down the road, so you can maintain your social and healthcare support system.
3. Peace of Mind
With the continuum of care provided in a CCRC, you can enjoy your freedom, knowing that you have a team ready to help when you need it. This takes the worry out of living, since you don’t have to stress about future healthcare needs.
4. Social Opportunities
CCRCs offer an abundance of social opportunities so you can get out, explore, and live life to the fullest. Growing old doesn’t mean slowing down, and CCRCs help you find fulfillment everywhere you go, even as you age.
5. Flexibility for Different Care Needs
Another benefit of CCRCs is the flexibility it provides for couples with different care needs. This allows partners to live close, even if one of you requires more help than the other. You will still be able to see each other every day and enjoy the same social circles.
6. Lightens the Load on Your Family
Moving to a CCRC reduces your family’s responsibility to be caretakers. Many folks like the idea of aging in place, but they may not have the resources to do it themselves. CCRCs help bridge that gap and provide a place where you can stay in one place as you age, without relying on your family for support.
Benefits of Assisted Living
While assisted living facilities aren’t all-encompassing, they do have several advantages.
1. Lower Cost
Assisted living communities are typically cheaper than CCRCs. However, when it’s time to move to a facility with greater care options, you will see the price increase as well. So while it’s less expensive upfront, you may have to pay more down the road.
2. Personalized Help While Retaining Independence
Assisted living offers folks personalized aid with daily tasks and on-site medical care. At the same time, residents can keep a high level of independence.
3. Maintenance-Free Lifestyle
Another benefit of assisted living is that it covers things like meals, laundry, cleaning, and transportation. This allows residents to enjoy retirement to the fullest without having to worry about these daily chores.
4. Social Opportunities
When comparing CCRCs vs assisted living, both prioritize building a social network. Assisted living communities plan events for residents and encourage interaction for a fun, active environment.
5. Lightens the Load on Your Family
Just like CCRCs, assisted living communities put less stress on your family. The trained staff and on-site medical care provide the help seniors need without relying on family to handle the work.
How to Pick the Best Option for You
In retirement, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best choice between a CCRC vs assisted living community depends on your care needs, financial situation, and the lifestyle you’re looking for.
If you’re leaning towards a CCRC, Woodcrest has everything you need. Making a big life change can be intimidating, but you won’t be losing anything when you join the Woodcrest community. In fact, you’ll be gaining so much more. Here are some of the reasons to choose a CCRC like Woodcrest Villa.
You can make the most of retirement by focusing on doing more of what you love. Maintain an active and social lifestyle, coming and going from campus as you please. And don’t forget to bring your family to join us for our community events. Enjoy the arts and culture scene of downtown Lancaster, just 15 minutes away, or travel a little farther to cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York City.
And when you’re ready to move to the next level of care, everything you need is just down the road.