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CCRC vs. Standalone Assisted Living

A Continuing Care Retirement Community keeps a couple together across care levels. A standalone community is usually simpler and less expensive to enter.

HomeComparisonsCCRC vs. Standalone Assisted Living
Short answer

A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) combines independent living, assisted living, memory care and often skilled nursing on one campus, letting a resident -- or a couple with different needs -- move between levels without changing addresses. A standalone assisted living community offers one level of care, usually with a simpler, less expensive entry process.

Campuses in this metro combining multiple levels

Several Indianapolis-area campuses operate this multi-level model, including communities in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Indianapolis itself that pair independent living with assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing on one site.

Entry cost and flexibility

Full CCRC/Life Plan Community models elsewhere in the country often charge a large upfront entry fee in exchange for guaranteed access to higher care levels later -- ask any local campus directly whether it uses an entry-fee model or a simpler month-to-month rental structure, since this varies by operator. A standalone assisted living community is typically the more flexible, lower-commitment choice if a couple does not yet need to plan for different care levels.

How Indiana licenses assisted living. Indiana licenses assisted living as a Residential Care Facility (RCF) under 410 IAC 16.2-5 -- one license type, not tiered like Texas's Type A/B. Read the full explanation →

Questions families ask

What should I do right after a dementia diagnosis?

Slow down -- very little has to be decided the first month. Get the specific diagnosis type, since Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia progress differently, and put power of attorney and medical power of attorney paperwork in place now, while capacity is clear.

I live out of state. How do I manage my parent's care from a distance?

Build a plan that survives a bad-weather week when you cannot fly in. Recruit local eyes such as a Meals on Wheels driver or trusted neighbor, get medical power of attorney and HIPAA authorization in place, and establish one local point of contact, such as CICOA or a geriatric care manager.

Which Area Agency on Aging covers Marion County?

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indiana's Planning & Service Area 8, covers Marion County and all five surrounding collar counties this site serves. Reach CICOA at 317-254-5465 or its Resource Center at 317-803-6131.

Does Hamilton County have its own Area Agency on Aging?

No -- Hamilton County is covered by the same agency as Indianapolis, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, so Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville families use the same regional resources as Marion County families.

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