How to Evaluate a Continuing Care Retirement Community

A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) provides a continuum of care for seniors who live independently or who require various levels of assistance.

Instructions

• 1

  Take the CCRC's marketing tour and observe the upkeep and safety of the facility. Does it appear clean, and are the grounds kept up? Are there appropriate hand rails or grab rails in the bathing areas and hallways? Are the sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers easily accessible?

• 2

  Verify the type of training given to the staff. Ask to see training policy and procedure manuals to make sure that the facility does indeed train the way it says it does.

• 3

  Ask if the facility does national criminal background checks on staff. Some only do local or state background checks. Also, what type of pre-employment drug screening does it do, and is drug screening ongoing?

• 4

  Compare staff numbers with other CCRCs you are considering, looking at the number of staff on each shift for the weekend and weekdays.

• 5

  Find out about the types of food choices a facility offers and whether it is able to accommodate special dietary needs.

• 6

  Be sure to ask about the reciprocal agreement that the CCRC has with other CCRCs for skilled nursing or assisted living wings within the communities, should those wings be full at the time a senior needs to make that transition.

• 7

  Look at the range of activities on site and off site, and see if they meet the senior's needs. Are there activities off site at least twice a week? Does the facility offer activities such as religious services, lectures, discussion groups, and arts and crafts classes on site?

• 8

  Inquire if a facility has a wellness center that can meet clinical needs such as memory impairment services or weight control and blood pressure checks. Also, how close is the nearest hospital in case of an emergency?