A CCRC bundles all three care levels — independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing — onto one campus, paid for via a six- or seven-figure entry fee. Stand-alone assisted living is one product, paid month to month.
| CCRC (Life Plan Community) | Stand-Alone Assisted Living | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | $100,000-$1M+ (refundable percentage varies) | None or small community fee |
| Monthly cost | $3,500-$7,000+ | $4,000-$7,500 |
| Care levels covered | Independent + Assisted + Skilled Nursing | Assisted Living only |
| Move when needs change? | Stay on campus | Move buildings |
| Risk if facility goes bankrupt | Entry fee may be lost | Move to another building |
| Best for | Healthy 70-somethings planning 20+ years out | People needing care now |
| Worst for | Anyone needing care soon (no time to amortize entry fee) | People wanting to lock in future care levels |
Tell us what's going on. We'll help you sort the right next move — without the sales pitch.
Get a real opinionAsk for the audited financial statements (you have a right to them in most states). Check the occupancy rate, the debt service coverage ratio, and the entry-fee refund liability. An elder-law attorney or a CCRC-specialist financial planner can read these in 20 minutes.
Type A: high entry fee, predictable monthly fee even when you need higher care. Type B: middle. Type C: lowest entry fee, you pay market rate when you transition to higher care. Read the contract; the brochure won't tell you.
Yes — and you should. The independent-living lobby is the showroom. The skilled nursing is the truth.