CCRC not a Conveyor Belt
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are a popular senior living option in our region. The Chambersburg to Lancaster corridor is rich with several such communities, offering to today’s retirees an active, healthy lifestyle and valuable answers to their financial and health-related “what-ifs.”
First-time visitors to a modern and comprehensive CCRC like Cross Keys Village are impressed with the beautiful Residential Living accommodation, the great programming and thoughtful assistance in Personal Care, and the compassionate care and expertise in the Health Care Center. At the end of the day, however, first-time visitors may debrief at the kitchen table and come to the conclusion that the program is almost a conveyor belt to decline: you begin in an apartment or a cottage, you “progress” to Personal Care, then to Nursing Care, and then…
Such thoughts are a common misconception. Sure, some residents in a CCRC transfer through all the levels of care, but many will not. Many longtime apartment or cottage dwellers will take advantage of the Health Care Center on a short-term basis only, after a surgery or a hospital stay, and return home to their apartment or cottage with the support of residential nurses if needed.
Let’s take the example of Max and Maxine, an imaginary but typical couple in their early to mid-seventies. Like all aging Americans, they would rather not need long-term care in a nursing center. But keep this in mind: If they stay put in their house on Maple Street, they will see fewer and fewer of their friends as the years pass. They will skip medical appointments when their children can’t take the time off to drive them. They will eat crackers for dinner when they are not in the mood to cook, and maybe they’ll end up camping downstairs if the steps become too much of a bother. Now, if they move to a CCRC instead, they will see friends every day, exercise mind and body, and take advantage of transportation, dining options, and support services. To tell you the truth, moving to a CCRC is likely to decrease their chance of needing long-term care later on.
“Aging in Place” is a great idea, and it is what we all wish we could do when we get older. Interestingly, your chances to age in place increase if you move very close to a Health Care Center, into a modern and well equipped CCRC like Cross Keys Village. (Hint: When you start comparing villages to determine the perfect fit for your requirements and your budget, be sure to inquire about the availability of à la carte nursing services in apartments and cottages. This is a key factor in the possibility to age in place in the Residential Living setting of a CCRC.)