Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Updated Wednesday, June 21st, 2023

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer persons 60 years of age or older a long term continuing care contract that provides for independent living units, residential care/assisted living services, and skilled nursing care, usually in one location, and usually for a resident’s lifetime. Most CCRCs require a substantial entrance fee (e.g., from a low of $100,000 to over a million) to be paid by the applicant upon admission along with monthly fees.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CCRC

Continuing Care Retirement Communities: Is One Right for You? (2009) is a 14- page consumer’s guide that provides essential information to make an informed decision regarding whether a Continuing Care Retirement Community is right for you. It includes a 4-page personal questionnaire insert, Points to Consider for CCRC Consumers, to aid in your decision-making.

Click here for a free copy of the Guide and the insert, Points to Consider for CCRC Consumers.

The decision to move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community or not represents one of the most important decisions a person can make in their lifetime. The relationship between a CCRC and a resident is expensive, lengthy, highly personal, and complex. In the following exchange, we explore some of the more important considerations in the fact sheet:

Should I really move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)? (PDF)

HOW TO FIND A CCRC

Profile of CCRCs in California (PDF) provides a snapshot of the number and types of CCRCs; lists providers planning to expand capacity; identifies applications for new CCRCs or conversions of existing long term care facilities to become CCRC providers; and lists multi-facility for-profit and non-profit providers.

The California Department of Social Services, Continuing Care Contracts Branch, regulates CCRCs, and maintains a website with general information on CCRCs (http://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Community-Care/Continuing-Care):

Listing of all CCRCs in California by name (pdf) includes information on applications pending for new communities, plans for expansion and remodeling, for-profit providers, and life care contracts.

Listing of all CCRCs in California by county (pdf).

Listing of non-profit providers (pdf).

Listing of for-profit providers (pdf).

PROVIDER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CCRC providers are required to submit annual financial reports to the Continuing Care Contracts Branch.

Before reviewing these reports, download a copy of the Guide to CCRC Financial Reports (pdf). The reports are scanned, listed alphabetically by provider name, and cover the past three years: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care/continuing-care/annual-reports

Non-Profit CCRCs must also file IRS Form 990 with the State Attorney General.

Before reviewing the 990s, download a copy of the Guide to IRS Form 990 (pdf).

View copies of your provider’s Form 990 for the last three years here:

Registry Search: http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx?facility=Y

Guide Star also provides free 990s on non profits whether registered in CA or elsewhere. For a fee, they offer more sophisticated searches: http://www.guidestar.org

CCRC RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS

The law governing CCRCs is contained in the California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 10 of Division 2, Sections 1770 and following. Click here for a copy of the most recent statute.

CCRC Residents’ Rights: Outlines the most critical rights for CCRC residents and cites the pertinent sections of the California statute.

Level of Care Transfer Rights (pdf): Describes the reasons for transfers and the assessment process, and clarifies the major stages of the transfer process and the rights of residents at each stage.

Exercising Your Rights & Resolving Problems in CCRCs: Explores self-advocacy options from working with administration to forming independent resident associations and family councils.

Filing a Complaint Against CCRCs: Explains where to file complaints depending upon the nature of the problem and at what level of care the problem occurred.

KEY RESOURCES

CCRC Legislation from 2006 to present.

Legal Resources: Presents relevant cases, IRS rulings, and other key resources.

Major Reports

Relevant Articles and Books concerning CCRCs.

California Continuing Care Residents Association (CALCRA) is the only independent voice for over 20,000 residents in California’s Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

National Continuing Care Residents’ Association: Promotes CCRC model and minimal federal regulations with oversight at the state level. Associated with LeadingAge, the national provider association. NaCCRA hosts a website including a bi-monthly newsletter, model statutes on a wide variety of key issues, and a Learning Center with webcasts on key issues for providers and residents.

– CCRC Corner – Compilation of articles on CCRCs from a consumer perspective written by Professor Lillian L. Hyatt, MSW, and CCRC resident, that have appeared in the CANHR newsletter, The Advocate. Articles are grouped by the following categories: About CCRCs; Resident Rights; and Oversight & Enforcement.