What is a CCRC (continuing care retirement community)?

A continuing care retirement community — now often called a life plan community — combines independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing on one campus, so a resident can age in place and move between levels of care without leaving. It solves a real problem, but the financial model deserves scrutiny.

How the money works

Most CCRCs charge a large entrance fee — commonly $100,000 to over $500,000 — plus a monthly fee. The entrance fee is essentially a bet: you pay up front for a guarantee of future care. How much you get back if you leave or die depends entirely on the contract.

The three contract types

Type A (life care): highest entrance and monthly fees, but assisted living and nursing care come at little or no additional cost — you’ve pre-paid the risk. Type B (modified): lower fees, with a set number of discounted higher-care days, then market rates. Type C (fee-for-service): lowest entrance fee, but you pay full price for assisted living or nursing care if you need it. Type A protects you from catastrophic care costs; Type C keeps more money in your pocket unless your health declines.

The risks families miss

A CCRC is a long-term financial commitment to a single organization. Check its financial health (occupancy, debt, reserves — a struggling CCRC can raise fees or, rarely, fail), what refund your estate receives, and how much monthly fees have risen historically. On the same campus, the skilled-nursing facility still has a public CMS inspection record — look it up before you sign.

Who they suit

CCRCs fit people who are still independent, want to plan ahead, can afford the entrance fee without draining everything, and value certainty over flexibility. Run the entrance fee and monthly cost through your own numbers in My Plan before committing. When you’re ready to look, browse CCRCs by state from public regulator registries — with the on-campus nursing home’s inspection record a click away.

This guide is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and change over time. For personalized, unbiased help, your Area Agency on Aging and your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman are free.