What’s the Difference Between a 55+ Community and a CCRC?

Depending on the lifestyle and health care preferences of older adults as they approach retirement age, the ideal retirement living option for one may not be ideal for another. Considering the different wants and needs of prospective residents, Masonic Villages offers various living options and plans for long-term care across five Pennsylvania locations. Here is what you need to know about the differences between a 55+ community and a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), so you can make the decision that is right for you.

55+ Communities

A 55+ community offers a variety of amenities and activities that cater to the resident within a planned space. These communities may have a general goal of keeping the atmosphere and home layouts within the community relevant to those over age 55. These communities are often close to hospitals, shopping, dining and local attractions.

Expenses such as exterior maintenance, landscaping and security are often wrapped up in one monthly fee. Should a resident need personal care or nursing services, he or she would need to move to another community to receive them, which would potentially mean selling their home, assessing quality providers, going through the application process and moving to a new community when the resident is less mobile. If one spouse needs a different level of service than the other, distance can also become a challenge.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

A CCRC has the atmosphere of a typical 55+ community, along with on-campus dining options and plans, wellness centers and classes and clubs that keep residents active. Monthly fees may also include utilities and interior maintenance. However, they also feature access to a continuum of care. Four of Masonic Villages’ five locations are considered CCRCs, and in addition to retirement living, offer nursing and personal care services to residents, should they ever need them. Masonic Village at Warminster is not a CCRC, as it provides nursing and personal care services, but not retirement living.

While the entrance fees residents pay at CCRCs are typically more expensive than fees at traditional 55+ or retirement living communities without continuing care, this tiered approach to care brings nearly everything aging individuals may need to one central location. There is never a reason to move off campus if a health care need arises. A 55+ community or a retirement community without a continuum of care options may be a suitable here-and-now choice for many retirees, but some seek the comfort and additional layer of support that CCRCs can provide in their preparation for the unknown.

In addition to nursing and personal care, Masonic Villages’ CCRCs offer access to home care, home health and hospice services, short-term rehabilitation and on-site pharmacies for residents, depending on which campus they choose. If certain health care services are not available on a Masonic Village campus, staff connect residents with off-campus providers to ensure they receive high-quality care.

Yes, senior living is an investment, but an investment in a plan that addresses new priorities in vitality, guaranteed access to health care (whenever needed) and asset protection. No matter which Masonic Village location you choose, access to high-quality health care at your fingertips will ensure you have peace of mind while you enjoy those retirement years you’ve worked so hard for!

About the Author

Molly Foster, a graduate of Shippensburg University, was a public relations associate in 2018.