Senior Living Guide · Central Texas
What Is a Continuing Care Community?
The short answer: You move in while you’re still independent, and if your health changes, you move to more care on the same campus instead of starting over somewhere new.
Many charge a large entrance fee plus a monthly fee. The contract matters as much as the campus.
Who is it for?
- Healthy, active seniors planning ahead, often in their 60s or 70s
- Couples who want to stay close even if one needs more care later
- People who don’t want their kids to have to find care in a crisis
- People with savings or home equity to cover the entrance fee
The contract types you’ll see
| Life care (Type A) | Higher entrance fee. Your monthly fee stays about the same if you move to assisted living, memory care, or nursing care. |
|---|---|
| Modified (Type B) | A set amount of care is included, or care is discounted. You pay more if you need more. |
| Fee-for-service (Type C) | Lower entrance fee. You pay market rates for care if and when you need it. |
| Rental | No big entrance fee. Monthly rent, and you pay for care as you go. |
Pros and cons
The good
- Every level of care in one place
- No crisis search if health changes
- Couples can stay close
- Lots of activities, dining, and amenities
- Some contracts protect you from big care costs later
The hard parts
- Large entrance fees, often six figures
- Monthly fees on top, and they rise
- Contracts can be confusing
- You usually must be healthy enough for independent living to get in
- Refund rules on the entrance fee vary a lot
What does it cost?
Most charge a one-time entrance fee plus a monthly fee. Both depend on the contract type, the apartment, and how much of the fee is refundable.
Ask for the full fee schedule in writing, including what monthly fees have done over the last five years. Compare with Austin prices for other types of care.
What nobody tells you to ask
- “How much of the entrance fee is refundable, and when is it paid back?” Some refunds wait until the apartment is resold.
- “What happens if I run out of money?” Some have a fund for residents. Get it in writing.
- “Is there always room in assisted living, memory care, and nursing care for current residents?”
- “Can you move me to a higher level of care without my agreement?”
- “How have monthly fees changed over the last five years?”
- “How is the community doing financially?” Ask for the latest financial statements.
Questions families ask about continuing care
What is a CCRC?
A CCRC, or continuing care retirement community, offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing care on one campus. Residents move to more care as they need it, without leaving.
Do you get your entrance fee back at a CCRC?
It depends on the contract. Some are fully non-refundable, some refund part, and some refund most of it, often only after your apartment is resold. Read the refund section carefully.
What happens if you run out of money in a continuing care community?
Policies vary. Some communities have a fund to help residents who outlive their money, and some don’t. Ask, and get the answer in writing before you sign.
Do you have to be healthy to move into a CCRC?
Usually, yes. Most require you to move into independent living first and may review your health. People who already need assisted living or memory care often can’t get in through the front door.
What’s the difference between a CCRC and assisted living?
Assisted living is one level of care. A CCRC includes assisted living plus independent living, memory care, and nursing care, all on one campus, usually with a long-term contract.
Is a life plan community the same as a CCRC?
Yes. “Life plan community” is a newer name for a continuing care retirement community.