Senior Continuing Care

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Lately, many people have been discussing continuing care for seniors. Often times, this concept takes the form of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), and is a fairly recent concept in the retirement living industry.

As the concept of ‘aging in place' became the mantra for many seniors in the 90′s, many owners of retirement centers and nursing homes took notice. Especially throughout the southeastern part of the United States CCRC Retirement campuses sprung up. Independent, healthy and active retired individuals found housing in Senior Apartments or Condominiums with the option of aging in place.

Many CCRCs have options for seniors who vary from completely independent to completely dependent living, hence, the concept of a continuum of care, from housing for those with no additional needs, to those who are 100% dependent on others for their care. Housing options at the low-end of need include condos or apartments for active seniors, and towards the higher end of need you would find assisted living centers for those who need a little more help in the way of medication reminders, assistance ...
... with bathing or housekeeping and meal preparation.

When illness or injury strikes, seniors living within a continuing care community may receive short term rehabilitation or long term convalescent care in the community's Skilled Nursing Facility. Some campuses have home health components that provide in-home assistance for short spells of illness. Campuses often include wellness centers where the residents can have their blood pressure or blood sugar checked. Some communities include Adult Day Centers or Alzheimer's programs for seniors with failing memories.

There are many more communities that now include everything from independent senior apartments to skilled nursing care. This kind of campus also includes adult and child day programs and a senior behavioral health center with inpatient and outpatient services. One of the greatest advantages is that for the senior and for the family, that as the senior ages, there is no need to continuously move them from one facility to the next for ever-increasing care needs.

Another positive benefit of a Continuing Care Retirement Community is that the person gains stability and familiarity with their living situation and surroundings. Many losses and changes occur as a person ages or becomes frail, so being part of a community, making friends and developing relationships and then being able to stay in that community when life changes is a comfort to both the senior and those that love and care for them.

As always, a major consideration seniors must weigh is whether their quality of life preferences fit with their ability to pay for such services. Though the most common preference is to live in the home for as long as possible before checking into an assisted living facility, after looking at these options it often becomes apparent that a significant amount of personal savings and long-term care insurance will be needed if the senior wishes to avoid a nursing home. There are often financial incentives for joining a continuing care retirement community from the beginning, as some have lower rates for residents who have been with the campus for a while vs. those that are just entering. Make sure you ask this question from the beginning, to be able to anticipate greater care needs for a senior as they age.