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As a prospective or current resident of a senior living community, you
may be interested in the services provided to members of each residential community.
CCRCs offer distinct alternatives within the housing industry. This website will assist
you in selecting a CCRC that best meets your individual needs. You will be able to find
information about facilities, their locations and surrounding neighborhoods, current
disclosure statements and other useful information. There are links to California cities
and counties, to senior related sites, and to other care associations. Because you may
expend a significant portion of your savings and future income to purchase care in a CCRC
with the expectation of receiving that care for the rest of your life, it is important to
learn as much about a facility as possible before making any financial commitments. Each
provider must have disclosures available to prospective residents concerning the terms of
agreements made between the residents and the continuing care provider, and concerning the
operations of the individual CCRC.
Residents Choose to Live In CCRCs for Many
Reasons
CCRC residents frequently choose a facility to be near family, to
feel secure that their future needs will be met, and for many other reasons. Generally, continuing care providers seek to provide for the physical, mental, and
spiritual aspects of a resident's life.
Selecting a Continuing Care Retirement
Community
CCRC providers are authorized by the Department of Social Services, to contract
for the provision of care for more than one year. Generally, this includes three levels of
care: independent, personal care or assisted living services, and nursing care. Most CCRCs
require an entrance fee to be paid by the applicant upon admission.
Life care facilities,
a type of CCRC, provide all levels of care, including acute care and physicians' and
surgeon's services for the duration of the resident's life. Skilled nursing services must be provided
in a facility located on the CCRC premises and monthly care fees cannot be increased based on the
resident's level of care. Additionally, life care providers must subsidize residents who become
financially distressed.
All CCRCs are different and offer unique living environments. CCRC's claim that they provide
security, independence, access to health care, companionship of friends and
neighbors of similar age, access to community facilities, privacy, and the pursuit of
lifelong interests. Consider the community size when making your decision; do you prefer
a large community with many options and services, or something smaller and more
individualized? Would you prefer a more "formal" environment or are you a casual person at
heart? There are CCRCs of all types and sizes, both high rise and single family
dwellings. Some are in urban settings and others are in more rural settings. Another
factor to consider is the geographic location. California has a variety of climates,
from coastal to inland valleys, to deserts. There are CCRCs located in each climate–in all
parts of California. If you are interested in living at a CCRC, you should be able to find one
where you will feel most at home.
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