When considering a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), prospective residents benefit from understanding the broader market. At myLifeSite, we often get questions such as: Who are the largest CCRC providers? What portion are non-profit versus for-profit? Which regions have the most CCRCs? And are most CCRCs standalone communities or part of multi-site organizations? The following overview addresses these common questions and provides context to help you evaluate options.
Non-profit CCRCs by the numbers
There are roughly 2,000 CCRCs in the United States, and approximately 80 percent are operated by not-for-profit organizations. The 2017 LeadingAge Ziegler 150 report (which evaluates only non-profit organizations) found that the largest 150 non-profit organizations own 632 CCRCs. The report uses the term “life plan community (LPC)” in place of “continuing care retirement community (CCRC).”
Digging deeper, the top 15 non-profit providers account for 281 CCRCs, summarized below:
| Non-profit organization | # of CCRCs (LPCs) | States covered* |
| The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society | 67 | SD |
| Benedictine Health Systems | 24 | MN, IL, MS, ND, WI |
| Asbury Communities | 22 | MD, TN, PA, OK |
| ACTS Retirement | 21 | PA, AL, FL, GA, DE, MD, NJ, NC, PA, SC |
| Humangood | 17 | CA, AZ, ID, WA, NV |
| National Senior Campuses | 16 | MD, MI, PA, VA, KS, CO, TX, VA, NJ, PA, MA |
| Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America | 16 | KS, MO |
| Covenant Retirement Communities | 14 | IL, CA, CO, CT, WA, IL, MI, MN, OK, FL |
| Presbyterian Homes and Services | 13 | MN, IA |
| Kendal Corporation | 13 | PA, IL, MA, MD, NH, NY, OH, VA |
| Presbyterian Senior Living | 12 | PA, MD, DE |
| Ohio Living | 12 | OH |
| Lifespace | 12 | IA, FL, MN, PA, IL, KS, MS, NE |
| Lutheran Senior Services | 11 | MO, IL |
| Christian Horizons | 11 | MO, IL, IN, IA |
*States shown in italics indicate the location of the organization’s main corporate office.
>> Related: For-Profit or Not-for-Profit CCRCs- What’s the Difference?
The for-profit CCRC landscape
Among for-profit providers, Brookdale is the largest presence, operating hundreds of senior living communities nationwide and roughly 50 CCRCs. Other sizable for-profit operators own many senior living properties but have fewer CCRCs than Brookdale; examples include Sunrise Senior Living and Kisco.
Most remaining for-profit CCRCs are standalone communities, properties owned by real estate investment trusts (REITs), or small corporate groups such as Continuing Life or Liberty Healthcare.
>> Get more information on for-profit and not-for-profit CCRCs near you!
Regional concentration of CCRCs
The Midwest and Great Lakes region contains the largest concentration of CCRCs. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin together account for roughly 500 CCRCs—about 25 percent of the national total.
The Northeast is next, driven largely by Pennsylvania, where CCRCs began. Pennsylvania alone has nearly 200 CCRCs, with New York adding about 50 and other northeastern states contributing roughly 100 more.
The Southeast follows, with about 350 CCRCs. Many are located along the coast, and Florida alone represents about 35 percent of the Southeast’s CCRCs.
The West has seen population growth but still has relatively few CCRCs. There are around 210 CCRCs on the West Coast, while the other western states (including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming) combined have roughly 50.
The Southwest has the fewest CCRCs among regions, with about 150 total across Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Texas leads this group with more than 90 CCRCs.
Below are the top 10 states by approximate number of CCRCs:
| State | Approximate Number of CCRCs |
| Pennsylvania | 195 |
| Ohio | 150 |
| California | 135 |
| Illinois | 110 |
| Florida | 105 |
| Texas | 90 |
| Kansas | 72 |
| Idaho | 70 |
| North Carolina | 62 |
| Virginia | 58 |
These figures are approximate. Some communities resemble CCRCs but do not offer a full continuing care residency contract, and several states do not regulate CCRCs or only regulate certain contract types. Because of differing definitions and regulatory approaches, precise counts are difficult, but these estimates offer a reliable sense of distribution.
>> Related: Understanding the Regulatory Process for CCRCs
Big picture, better decision
As you research CCRCs, you will likely narrow your search to a few communities based on location, amenities, pricing, and contract terms. While it’s helpful to focus on a shortlist, understanding the broader CCRC landscape makes you a more informed consumer and helps you weigh differences between communities.
Using resources like myLifeSite’s free community search, CCRC resource library, and side-by-side comparison tools will help you compare options more effectively and choose the community that best fits your needs.