Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Parent Cafe
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<p>Thought I would pass along my recent experiences with my parents and their CCRC. If your parents are considering entering such a community, I have a couple of questions they should ask. </p>

<p>Two years ago my parents wisely decided to sell their home and move into something smaller. We live in an area that is exploding with retirement communities, so they had lots of choices. They were very impressed with an established facility that was in the midst of expanding. It was a church affiliated, non-profit, with a wide range of services. I accompanied them a couple of times as they were investigating. My understanding was that a full range of support was available on campus, and that the fees they would pay (entrance plus monthly) would cover services no matter how they changed. </p>

<p>Dad recently underwent extensive surgery. It became apparent that he would need skilled nursing for several weeks upon discharge. Unfortunately, the skilled nursing beds at their CCRC were filled and after doing a lot of questioning, I found out that they have been filled for over a year. Everyone from their community has been “outsourced.” Now, they were under construction, but as they INCREASED the number of independent living apartments, they decreased (from 170 to 120) the number of skilled nursing beds. </p>

<p>The other issue, is that their fee covers their services when the services become long term. Skilled nursing for dad is not long term, so it is paid thru Medicare and supplemented by his own insurance. Not a major problem, but not what he understood. </p>

<p>In fairness, the marketing materials indicate that residents will have “priority access” to skilled nursing and other levels of service. Unfortunately, my parents (and all of the other new residents) did not understand this language. As a result, my dad is now in a facility that is about 20 miles from where my mom. Mom has some early signs of dementia, so you can imagine how well this is working out. Fortunately, the facility that accepted dad is close to my house, but we were just lucky. </p>

<p>So - here is my advice. </p>

<p>Read the contract very carefully.
Ask what is the ratio of total residents to skilled nursing beds. I can tell you 1000 to 120 is not enough.</p>

<p>Ask how often in the last year someone has not been accommodated on the campus.</p>

<p>Ask what happens IF someone cannot be accommodated. </p>

<p>Make sure you understand exactly what is covered. Spell out specific scenarios and have included in contract. </p>

<p>I regret I did not take a more aggressive role. My dad is very bright and capable, but because it was a church related facility, he was entirely too gullible.</p>

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<p>Thank you for sharing your experience. I would not have thought to ask those questions and now I will. I hope your father is able to return to his home and your mother soon.</p>

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<p>That’s great info worknprogress2. My mother’s still living independently but has had to go to several different skilled nursing facilities after medical care. I noticed that many of these are places that also include assisted living but it seemed that the two were fairly segregated with separate entrances, separate staff, etc. I also noticed that they’re frequently ‘full’ and that the hospital goes through a list of facilities until they find one with an open bed. Once a bed is emptied it fills up with a new person within a few hours or at least a day.</p>

<p>I know part of the marketing hype from the ‘assisted living’ facility, which is very expensive, is that they also have an on-site ‘skilled nursing’ facility with the implication that one can simply move from one side to the other as need be and still be convenient to their spouse and friends who might be in the assisted living facility and I’m sure most of the potential residents view that as a major benefit and use that info to decide on the place. However, since the skilled nursing places seem continually full there’s no way they can guarantee the person can stay there and I’m sure there’s a lot of disappointment.</p>

<p>Your suggested questions are good ones and I’ll be sure to ask them should the need arise to have a relative/friend move into one.</p>

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<p>My parents chose this community specifically to eliminate driving for visits should one be incapacitated. That was the primary appeal.</p>

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<p>worknprogress2 - this thread and your advice are so timely. we are just beginning to explore some kind of retirement community for my Dad, and I have no idea what questions to ask. this is a great start. thank you.</p>