When it comes to planning your retirement future, remember that the continuing care offered in a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) offers tremendous value compared to other types of senior living communities.
It’s why so many older adults choose a CCRC, not only for continuing care, but also for a strong focus on wellness, healthy aging, and an exceptional quality of life.
What is a CCRC?
A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) offers a continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, and if necessary, memory care and intensive nursing services. Inspired by the aging-in-place movement, these communities allow seniors to remain in the same community even as their needs change—an important consideration when considering increasing costs of senior living.
A Life Care CCRC (such as St. Mark Village) offers a continuum of care that begins with independent residences, and includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. As a resident’s needs change, they may transition to the next level of care needed without having to leave the community.
Download our free guide: Financial Planning Guide to Retirement Living at a Life Plan Community
As a resident of a CCRC, you receive value in several ways:
Emotionally
Knowing you have created a plan for your future gives you and your family great peace of mind. Just knowing someone is there to care for you when needed along your journey offers tremendous reassurance.
In addition, by choosing a CCRC, you or your loved one will develop lasting friendships with other residents, and also with staff members, who will become familiar with you and who can identify a potential issue or sudden change in your health. This can go a long way towards early prevention and maintaining independence.
Convenience
Everyone ages in different ways, and for a couple, that can present some challenges if one person’s care needs change quickly while their spouse is still able to live independently. Living in a CCRC allows one spouse to visit their wife or husband safely and conveniently, on the premises, without having to drive elsewhere.
Psychologically
Settling into a CCRC feels like coming home: you’ve chosen a welcoming and warm neighborhood of folks who share your interests and goals for longevity. Socializing is easy and convenient, with a wide range of activities, events, programs, outings, classes and more to choose from.
If you are more of an introvert, you’ll find a CCRC offers countless ways to relax, recharge, and enjoy your privacy as you choose, secure that someone is always close by if needed.
Financially
Living in a CCRC gives you the reassurance that you won’t suddenly be hit with rising health care costs, should your care needs change. Instead, because you have planned ahead, you can remain where you are and receive the care and support you need, without the hassle or expense of moving to another community.
Tax advantages may also apply. Your buy-in (admission) fee money can help to offset the more expensive care costs and is considered a prepaid medical expense by the IRS, so tax deductions may be available. In addition, you may also have the option for up to 90 percent of your buy-in fee to be returned to your estate or designated beneficiary.
Intellectually
As a resident of a CCRC, you have extraordinary access to opportunities for mental stimulation, including classes, book clubs, lectures, cultural celebrations, special outings to museums and sites of interest, a library, arts and entertainment and so much more.
Just interacting with others on a daily basis is good for your brain. In fact, research has shown that learning can help reduce cognitive decline due to aging and help improve memory functioning over time.
A CCRC gives you control of your future
With the peace of mind of continuing care, you can relax and enjoy life with new freedom. You don’t have to worry about what will happen if you should require additional care, and your family is relieved of the burden of making hard decisions at a later time.
With Life Care at St. Mark Village, your care is guaranteed for life—even if your financial situation changes. That’s our promise to you. Choosing Life Care means financial security, value, and peace of mind. And with the guarantee of continuing care, you can smoothly transition to a higher level of support without the worry of deciding where you would need to move. Having seamless access to future care options is priceless.
The care you need, for as long as you need it. Download our free guide, Financial Planning Guide to Retirement Living at a Life Plan Community, or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
