A Continuing Care Retirement Community (also called a Life Plan Community) combines independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing on one campus, letting a resident -- or a couple with different needs -- move between levels without leaving the community they know. A standalone assisted living community offers just one level of licensed care, which is usually simpler and less expensive to enter.
What a CCRC campus looks like in this metro
Several Milwaukee-area campuses operate a full-continuum CCRC model. St. Camillus Life Plan Community in Wauwatosa is one verified example, a faith-based campus offering independent living through skilled nursing and hospice on one site, with East, West, South and North residence buildings sharing the same general campus address.
Entry-fee structure
CCRCs commonly charge an entry fee in addition to ongoing monthly fees, with refundability terms that vary campus by campus -- ask each community directly what portion of an entry fee is refundable, under what conditions, and get it in writing before signing.
When standalone assisted living is more flexible
A standalone community is usually a simpler, lower-upfront-cost option for a family that only needs one level of care right now and does not want to commit to a large entry fee for levels of care that may never be needed.
