CCRC vs Age in Place

[camfused]

I suspect there are several threads already discussing this, but I could not find one.

So...we are on the wait list for a nice CCRC, which is fine. It will probably be about 4 years from now before we can move in.

We have also been thinking lately that maybe we should think some more about, instead, moving to a 55+ community and aging in place. I was wondering if folks here could state their reasons for choosing the one path or the other. It may help us make a better decision. Thanks!

Some pros of CCRCs (at least the one we are in the queue for):
- All meals are taken care of
- No maintenance to worry about
- They take care of you when you need assisted living and when you need rehab
- Lots of facilities and activities

Some pros of Aging in Place:
- No CCRC buy-in cost (likely about $1M by the time our turn comes around)
- More freedom to do what you want in your place
- Won't be living in apartments, surrounded by "old folks"
- More greenery - lawns, trees around
- Lots of facilities and activities

 

[RetiredHappy]

If you are an extrovert and like to be around people, that is another pro for CCRC. If you are an introvert, you would prefer to age in place.

 

[Souschef]

I can only share our experiences. I think a lot of your decision is a function of your health.
I retired at 71, solely because I needed medical coverage for my late wife. Later I remarried, and moved to a +55 MHP. We lived there for 15 years before finding a beachfront apartment, where we have lived for 3 years.
One of the aspects of the MHP was it was like a ghost town with few people outside other than the occasional dog walkers.
I am 88, and in relatively good health, DW is 82, but has minor mobility problems. We have no steps to negotiate here, which makes it easier for her. The age spread here is wide, and there are monthly get togethers sponsored by the management.

 

[braumeister]

I suspect there are several threads already discussing this, but I could not find one.

So...we are on the wait list for a nice CCRC, which is fine. It will probably be about 4 years from now before we can move in.

We have also been thinking lately that maybe we should think some more about, instead, moving to a 55+ community and aging in place. I was wondering if folks here could state their reasons for choosing the one path or the other. It may help us make a better decision. Thanks!

Some pros of CCRCs (at least the one we are in the queue for):
- All meals are taken care of
- No maintenance to worry about
- They take care of you when you need assisted living and when you need rehab
- Lots of facilities and activities

Some pros of Aging in Place:
- No CCRC buy-in cost (likely about $1M by the time our turn comes around)
- More freedom to do what you want in your place
- Won't be living in apartments, surrounded by "old folks"
- More greenery - lawns, trees around
- Lots of facilities and activities

Except for the entrance fee, all four of your "aging in place" pros apply to my CCRC.

• Total freedom to do what I want (can't think of any restrictions offhand)
• I'm living in a ranch home with a 2-car attached garage, and all my neighbors seem to be quite active
• Hundreds of acres, huge lawns, lots of trees
• So many facilities and activities going on I can't even count them

So maybe the answer is to explore a wider variety of CCRC facilities?

And yes, there are a lot of threads here on the subject. Do a little searching.

 

[splitwdw]

Camfused, I was curious about when do people move to a CCRC. My aunt & uncle sold their house while they were in their early 70's claiming it was due to each others health issues. Before they moved in they raved about this particular one after researching places for years. We were getting tired of hearing about the different places. LOL After moving in they complained about everything at this place. If you've got health issues isn't 4 years a long time to wait to get into the CCRC that you signed up for.

 

[camfused]

^^^ The CCRC people told us the average age of folks moving in is 72/73. With CCRCs, you roll the dice that you can pass the health questions/test when you reach the front of the move in queue. We are currently healthy and will be that age in 4 years. Seems a bit early, but much better chance of passing the test when 72/73, than say 78/79.

 

[nwsteve]

Second the suggestion to perhaps do a bit more shopping for options. If the buy-in is a factor there are lots of well run Type B rental models CCRCs that are highly rated often offering the same progression of care. Unless a Type A, you just have to understand you will be exposed to market prices for any "move-up" in care intensity. The importance of the progression care is really an individual factor depending on family history, and condition on entry.
Our Type A has no meal plan which is more popular in new builds. so our monthly burn is lower. We really appreciate as we are often travelling so no need. We moved into a new property 7 years ago but operated by a well-established organization with a very successful Type A campus. As a results we are still quite a bit lower average age than our sister property where their average age is 85 vs our 80. Our Independent Living (IL) residents are still largely mobile and active outside the CCRC.
The point is to appreciate how wide ranging the experience is depending on the CCRC you are in and your own expectations and needs.

 

[Aerides]

cons:

One of you needs help. Not necessarily a rehab situation, but can no longer bathe and enjoy mobility. The other of you is also getting up there, and while healthy, not able to help another adult and provide nursing. Someone falls, but isn't deemed as needing full time care...the spouse who is less capable at driving is now taking both to the doctor's appointments that seem to fill every week. Eyesight is not what is used to be.

It's all the middle stuff where SHTF.

 

[harllee]

I live in a CCRC and LOVE it. I have been here about 3 years. I have a whole thread about moving in and why I love it, search CCRC under my name

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

OP, another pro for CCRC, especially if you don't have kids or they live far away: The staff of CCRC act as a surveillance network, monitoring your health and well-being. This would be especially true when one spouse dies and the other one is living alone.

This is why we are on a waiting list for the CCRC.

 

[audreyh1]

We don’t have kids, siblings far away. I don’t see aging in place or either of us having to manage the other’s care or dealing with house maintenance.

 

[gattara]

OP, another pro for CCRC, especially if you don't have kids or they live far away: The staff of CCRC act as a surveillance network, monitoring your health and well-being. This would be especially true when one spouse dies and the other one is living alone.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. We have no children and our niece and nephew live far away. I wondered if the staff at these types of places would, in a way, become our family - making decisions, ensure that we are taken care of, etc. Not sure how I feel about this scenario, but I can see how it could play out this way for us, like it or not.

 

[audreyh1]

^^^ The CCRC people told us the average age of folks moving in is 72/73. With CCRCs, you roll the dice that you can pass the health questions/test when you reach the front of the move in queue. We are currently healthy and will be that age in 4 years. Seems a bit early, but much better chance of passing the test when 72/73, than say 78/79.

I had heard early to mid 80s is more typical.

 

[Mark1]

Op, if the CRCC called tomorrow and said we are ready to interview you and have you move in now, would you be ready tomorrow? If you are, then great. If your not ready yet, then why not? This might help you figure it out for yourself.

Personally, I'm have never been receptive to the sales tactic "you must act now". Also, being towards the back end of the baby bummers also makes me more nervous about the CRCC's business model, so I'll likely always be a pay-as-you-go kind of guy.

The choice kind of reminds me of some advice a senior manager gave me one time I was offered two great jobs at Megacorp and I had to pick one. "Sometimes either choice will work out great."

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

I’ve been thinking about this lately. We have no children and our niece and nephew live far away. I wondered if the staff at these types of places would, in a way, become our family - making decisions, ensure that we are taken care of, etc. Not sure how I feel about this scenario, but I can see how it could play out this way for us, like it or not.

I suspect that at most the CCRC staff will convene a meeting, discuss their observations and recommendations with you, and perhaps reach out to your health care POA.

 

[Ronstar]

I never have considered a CCRC. But I can see going the CCRC route when the time comes. Aging in place in our current 4000 sf house on 5 acres doesn't seem like it's going to work.

 

[braumeister]

I had heard early to mid 80s is more typical.

Yes, I've seen a number of articles that say 80 is the most common age to move to a CCRC.
I would think they prefer to see younger newcomers, simply to have a more stable community with less turnover.
But people don't age at a standard rate. I've known a couple of folks who were still happily living independently at 100, and others who needed assisted living in their 60s, so individual differences are the key,

 

[athena53]

The movers are arriving today to pack up my remaining stuff for my move into a retirement community. Not sure if it's Type B or something else, but there's a $200K buy-in, 85% refundable if I leave for any reason, and a flat monthly rent. I'm in a 2-BR apartment in the main building. I'm 73 and in very good shape but the house is too much for me and I'll now be close to my son (only child) and his family. I also travel 3-4 weeks at a time and will be happy to "lock and leave".

I deliberately chose the main building because I can be a bit of a hermit and it will be easier for me to join the many activities. If I get to the point that I need assistance with meds, activities of daily living, etc. they charge separately for each service. They have LTC but it's priced separately and if I enter LTC I also get the 85% refund of the buy-in. I'm fine with that- I may not need it and if I do we can decide if that facility is best or I need to go elsewhere. I'm nowhere near needing to give up my driver's license but I'm hoping it will be an easier decision knowing that the community has weekly shuttles to Costco and the local grocery chain.

My main concern is that average age at entry is late 70s/early 80s so I'm relatively young, but I'll deal with it and hopefully build a life outside the community as well. I've been very active in my church and hope to find one in the area. There's one in my denomination nearby.

 

[Flyfish1]

We hope to age in place in our community but if mobility becomes an issue we have a nice A and a B facility in town. Perhaps a silly question, but with high 6 figure or more buy in's do people tap into their portfolio or use a HELOC on the primary home and then sell the home? I hope never to have to make these decisions but if i do I would be hesitant to tap into my portfolio.

 

[athena53]

Perhaps a silly question, but with high 6 figure or more buy in'd do people tap into their portfolio or use a HELOC on the primary home and then sell the home? I hope never to have to make these decisions but if i do I would be hesitant to tap into my portfolio.

I'm tapping the equity in my home which (please, God) will sell on July 1. I borrowed against my investments for the buy-in in the meantime.

 

[old medic]

We have a couple CCRC in our county and my job but me in close dealings with them. I can see the benefit of living in one but its not for us, 2nd can't afford it. We remodeled the house to age in place.

 

[gattara]

The movers are arriving today to pack up my remaining stuff for my move into a retirement community.

Best of luck with your move! We look forward to hearing about this new chapter in your life, keep us posted. Many of us are learning from you and others who are taking this big step.

 

[Delawaredave5]

IMHO - live where you want to live right now. The idea of moving to a place because of increasing progressive care availability is too unpredictable and too practical.

 

[harllee]

At my CCRC the average move in age is 77. But I was 72 when we moved in and it has worked out great. We had been on the wait list for 10 years and when they finally called us that a unit was available it was perfect so we snapped it up. At my CCRC you have to pass a cognitive test and they check you health records so you don't want to wait too long. We know several people that could not get in when they finally were offered a unit because they had a health problem. As for selling the house issue. As soon as we knew we had gotten into our CCRC we put the house on the market, it sold immediately. We had to put our stuff in storage while we waited for the CCRC to be renovated (took 4 months). In the meantime we stayed at our mountain cabin, so it worked out. By the way, the wait list is so long at our CCRC they are talking about suspending taking new names for the waitlist.

 

[skipro33]

We built our house with the intention of aging in place, including an upstairs studio apartment with a separate entrance from a roof-top deck to a covered parking area. A live-in caregiver will live there while we live on the ground floor. My idea is that the cost won't be any more than what it would cost for us both in a CCRC since we have no mortgage and the living space for the care provider is part of their compensation. Along with the landscaping and other expenses, we are budgeting for an extra $8,000 per month over our current spending in order to live here if and when the time comes we need that level of support. I imagine my wife will move to a long term care facility if I die before her as she really doesn't have a clue how to actually maintain a house or manage hired help. I would rather die than end up in a group home. We live in the woods for a reason and I find most people insufferable. With any luck, some day I'll be found slumped over my work bench out in the barn, working on one of my many projects and that will be that. Not in some facility where I'm warehoused with others spending meaningless hours playing games or 'activities' with brain addled geriatrics who smell funny while forced to eat a 'healthy' diet and constantly talked down to as if I were a child by staff.