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Regardless of how independent and physically capable someone is, the task of caring for a family-sized home can become overwhelming for an older adult whose family has long since moved out. If you're looking to find a place where you or your loved ones can relax and enjoy life–without the hassles of everyday home maintenance –then consider the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) senior living option.
The continuing care retirement community is for active people who are always thinking ahead, says Dan Rexford. Rexford is the executive vice president of Erickson Retirement Communities, a development/management company based in Baltimore County, Maryland, which currently runs 18 CCRC campuses in the United States. "From an age perspective, residents at a continuing care retirement community tend to be in their early 70s," says Rexford, "And one of the most important things to them is to stay near their families. This makes them less interested in moving to the more stereotypical retirement areas, such as Florida."
Senior housing options in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) typically range from large and small apartments to cottages and cluster homes; due to the needs of the population, they are conveniently located throughout the country. In addition to being close to home, the continuing care retirement community offers its residents a vast array of amenities and resources.
At each continuing care retirement community managed by Erickson, for example, residents have access to a health club, swimming pool, hot tub, auditorium for movies and productions, large conference center, medical and dental suite with on-site physicians, dedicated worship center, bank, convenient store, beauty salon, and at least two restaurants. College classes are even available to those who wish to take them.
While most of continuing care retirement communities are geared toward the highest earning 10 percent of the population, Erickson Communities has worked hard to make the CCRC a more cost-effective senior living option.
"The costs vary depending on the area, but the main idea is that adults won't pay more to live here than they're already spending to live in their own homes," says Rexford. "The way it typically works is a resident sells his/her house and exchanges it for the entrance deposit. That money then comes back to residents in full if they decide to leave the community at any time, or else it goes to their heir(s)."
Monthly fees may also apply, but, says Rexford, such costs rarely exceed the budget of the average middle-class retiree.
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