How to Find Your “Best” CCRC

In order to find your “best” CCRC you will need to establish your own, and your family’s, priorities in regard to Price, Long-Term-Care, and Asset Preservation.

CCRC Data has set up this Internet web-site which can help in your decision making process. If you are interested in comparing the financial aspects of CCRCs go to the Set Financial Priorities Page.You can select CCRCs in the state where you wish to live, and have them sorted by Entrance Fee (Price), ALU/LTC/FFS, (Long-Term-Care), or Refund/Discount (Asset Preservation), or Fee-For-Service health care.

If you are interested in comparing CCRCs with various Organizational arrangements, such as Church-Faith Based (CFB), Not-For-Profit (NFP), For-Profit FP), or Coop CCRCs, Go to the Set Organizational Structure Page. and sort by Church-Faith Based (CFB), Not-For-Profit (NFP), For-Profit FP), or Coop CCRCs.

You may want to search using different priorities to determine which combination meets your needs best. This site provides some of the information in the Directory (State, Facility Name, City, Average Price, Discount (%) and Refund (%)) so that you can compare various facilities in your state of interest. For complete listings you can Order this Directory.

You should, of course, consult with your attorney before making a major commitment. And, you should also contact the facilities of interest for current prices, amenities and availability. When contacting the CCRCs of interest, you should request complete price lists, with details on options, refunds or discounts. Many CCRCs provide what is called a Disclosure Statement, with this information, so you should request this, as well. Some states require this document to be submitted to a state agency.

After you have assembled the prices lists, options, discounts and amenities, you can compare facilities, based on your priorities. If you are primarily concerned about your ability to pay the costs of Long-Term-Care, you may want to consider a Class A CCRC, with lifetime assisted living and nursing care. However, you should understand that you may not need nursing care, even though you are paying for it. If you want to hedge your bets (You expect to be in the 80% of the aging population that does not need long-term-care.), you may want a Class B CCRC, with discounted Assisted Living & Nursing Care. After you have determined how you will provide for Health-Care, then you can look at options or discounts, to either reduce Entrance Fees (by accepting a lower Refund), or provide for Asset Preservation (by accepting a higher Entrance Fee). Only you can decide how much risk you are willing to take or how much of your assets you want to pass down to your beneficiaries. There are no perfect CCRCs! Some compromises will have to be made to balance your priorities. This publication can provide you with information upon which you can make an informed decision.