CCRC Costs
Before you make a decision about moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), there are a few things you need to know. For starters, there are multiple kinds of CCRCs. Some include more services than others, and each one comes with its own price tag. It’s also important to keep in mind that the actual cost of the community you pick will vary depending on things like the geographic location, apartment floor plan, service plan and contract you select.
But even though there are different price ranges for each type of community, the good news is that you have options no matter what your budget looks like. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in and find out what kind of continuing care retirement community is right for you.
Rental and Life Care Costs
One big decision when considering a CCRC is whether you’re interested in a Life Care or rental option. Since Life Care comes with the added benefit of lifetime care*, it will have additional costs than a rental option.
Rental CCRCs
Rental CCRCs can have a monthly fee that depends on the accommodations and care level you choose. The good news is that this monthly amount covers the majority of your living expenses!
You may already be paying for expenses like a mortgage, groceries, utility bills, lawn care, entertainment, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and more. But your monthly fee at a CCRC covers all of that. Plus it includes the additional perks that you may not have right now, like laundry and housekeeping services, quality dining programs and an extensive community calendar of events and excursions.
Life Care CCRCs
Life Care CCRCs also require you to pay a monthly fee. Like a rental CCRC, the amount varies depending on the accommodations and contract you choose. While the fee may vary slightly from year to year depending on the amount of care you need, the community you choose may agree to cap increases. Brookdale also voluntarily caps annual increases at the consumer price index plus two percent at most of its Life Care CCRCs.*
In addition to the monthly fee, Life Care CCRCs charge an upfront entrance fee. Like the monthly fee, this depends on certain selections like your floor plan, services and Life Care contract. Many of our residents choose to fund this fee through a portion of their investment portfolio or the sale of their home in exchange for long-term peace of mind.*
*The life care guarantee is subject to the terms & conditions of the Residency Contract.
Talk to a Senior Living Advisor about pricing today! Call 855-350-3800
Affording Life Care Could Be Easier Than You Imagine
Every great investment begins with a down payment. Whether you want to purchase your dream home or fund a retirement account, sometimes it pays to put money down. You can think of your Life Care entrance fee in the same way — as a down payment on your future.
If you want to explore your options for Life Care but you’re not so sure about the commitment of an entrance fee, think about it like this. The upfront cost gives you access to a benefit unlike any other. You can have peace of mind knowing you will receive quality care for the rest of your life, even if you run out of funds through no fault of your own.* But how do you pay for it?
Home Sale
If you have your own home, you’ve probably been building equity for years. You may even own your home outright. If you wanted to move into a Life Care community, selling your home is a great way to cash out and cover the cost of the transition. Many of our residents have chosen to go this route to finance their retirement. Several were even considering selling their homes before they moved into a Life Care community.
And you can think of this option as transferring your funds from one investment to another. You’ve spent years enjoying everything that homeownership had to offer, but now you’re ready to enjoy a beautiful apartment without any maintenance, delicious food that you don’t have to cook for yourself, a gorgeous campus full of new friends and countless amenities just a few steps from your front door.
Personal Investments
If you have funds in stock holdings, a 401(k) plan or Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you may be able to finance your Life Care entry fee sooner than you think. After all, you’ve probably spent decades working hard and building up your savings so you could enjoy the retirement you deserve. What better way to spend it than on a community that guarantees your healthcare needs will be covered for life?
*The life care guarantee is subject to the terms & conditions of the Residency Contract.
Whether you decide to go with the rental or Life Care model, you have to think about how you’re going to afford to pay the monthly fee. Fortunately, it could be easier than you think.
What if the monthly rental fee isn’t that different from your current monthly expenses?
Consider some of the things you already budget for each month:
Mortgage
Utilities
Groceries
Transportation
Healthcare
Entertainment
Travel
Once you remember to factor in things like property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, you may already be paying as much as you would if you lived in a CCRC! The only difference is that when you live in a community, you get the added bonus of amenities and services like:
Quality dining in a friendly environment
Housekeeping services, like cleaning your apartment and doing your laundry
Transportation to places like medical appointments, restaurants and shopping
A planned activities calendar with fun-filled events and excursions to enjoy with new friends
Health and wellness programs designed to help you stay strong and healthy
Beautiful common areas where you can socialize and entertain
Peace of mind knowing staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Life Care is often considered to be a prepaid medical expense, so tax deductions may be available for portions of the upfront entry fee and monthly service fee — sometimes up to 40 percent of the fee.** Because deductions may vary state to state, it’s wise to check with your personal tax advisor to learn more about your specific tax benefits.
Entering a Life Care community can also affect your estate planning. A Life Care contract takes care of the portion of your planning that would address funding your health care needs. The contract ensures your healthcare needs will be met even if you run out of money (through no fault of your own).* You can also choose a refundable contract that returns a portion of your entry fee to your designated beneficiary after you pass away.
*The Life Care guarantee is subject to the terms & conditions of the Residency Contract.
**For information purposes only. This is not to be construed as tax advice. Please consult with a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
One of the most common misconceptions about Life Care is that entrance fees are never refundable. But in many cases, a considerable portion of the entry fee can be refunded if your stay is shorter than expected. If that happens, you or your estate will generally get a percentage of the refund back.
Because policies differ from community to community, there are multiple options available. Your refund could be a set percentage based on the total entry fee amount, or it may be based on a monthly reduction that’s determined by how long you stay. It could even be a combination of the two.
Rest assured that no matter which community you choose to move into, the refund policies will be thoroughly outlined and settled before you sign on the dotted line. There will never be any surprises, so you can make the wisest decision possible for you and your family.*
If you have questions about the policies of a specific community, it’s best to get in touch with one of their representatives who would be happy to help explain your specific options in more detail.
*The Life Care guarantee is subject to the terms & conditions of the Residency Contract.
Continuing care retirement communities give you multiple levels of care on a single campus.
What are the benefits of choosing to move to a CCRC?
Finding the right CCRC is easy with these helpful tips.
*For information purposes only. This is not to be construed as tax advice. Please consult with a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.