I often write and speak about the many benefits of living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a life plan community. Visiting CCRCs across the United States, I see how these communities enrich residents’ lives through social opportunities, lifelong learning, fitness programs, nutritious meals, and compassionate care when health issues arise.
CCRCs support senior wellness in many ways. A recent study by the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, in partnership with Northwestern University, aligns with these observations and quantifies how living in a CCRC contributes to residents’ health and well‑being.
First-of-its-kind research on CCRC residents
Mather LifeWays is a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on improving the lives of older adults. The organization operates neighborhood programs, gathering spaces, and multiple senior living communities, and it established the Institute on Aging to conduct research on senior living and aging in place. The institute partners with healthcare organizations, universities, and community groups nationwide to advance knowledge about aging.
In collaboration with Northwestern University, the institute launched the five‑year Age Well Study. The study uses self‑reported health and wellness data across 24 measures collected from CCRC residents to evaluate the overall impact of life in a CCRC.
Researchers compare annual survey results for CCRC residents with a demographically similar control group of community‑dwelling older adults drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), an ongoing project conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. The comparison helps isolate differences associated with living in a CCRC versus remaining in other living situations.
The Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging recently released findings from the first year of the Age Well Study, offering useful insights for the senior living field and for seniors considering a move to a CCRC.
Year 1 findings about CCRC residents’ wellness
The first year analyzed responses to a 2018 survey completed by more than 5,000 residents living in 80 CCRCs across 29 states. Overall, the results indicate that CCRC residents report higher levels of well‑being than their counterparts who live in the community outside CCRCs.
- CCRC residents report greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and vocational wellness compared with the demographically matched control group from the HRS.
- Residents in CCRCs report significantly more healthy behaviors, including not just regular exercise but healthier diets and other positive lifestyle choices.
- Over two‑thirds of surveyed CCRC residents said that moving to a CCRC “somewhat or greatly improved” their social wellness, reflecting stronger feelings of connectedness and belonging.
- Residents in CCRCs located in the South and West reported higher life satisfaction and greater optimism than those in the Midwest or Northeast.
- Residents in CCRCs with entrance fees showed lower levels of depression, better diets, and overall better health than residents in rental communities.
- Residents in larger CCRCs (300 or more residents) reported higher life satisfaction, better moods, more positive perceptions of aging, lower stress, and greater perceived control over their lives compared with the control group.
Looking to the future
Over the remaining years of the Age Well Study, researchers will continue to explore three main areas:
- Whether moving to a CCRC changes residents’ overall health and which community features most strongly influence well‑being.
- How residents’ beliefs about living in a CCRC relate to their health and quality of life.
- Which factors predict which prospective residents are most likely to thrive after moving to a CCRC.
Valuable insights for CCRC prospects and administration
Although industry professionals have long observed the positive effects of CCRCs, robust analytics about why and how these communities improve residents’ lives have been limited. The Age Well Study provides concrete data showing specific health and wellness advantages for those who choose CCRC living and highlights community attributes that contribute most to residents’ well‑being.
These findings can guide community leaders in prioritizing investments in amenities and programs that deliver measurable benefits. They also help prospective residents evaluate which community features may be most valuable to their long‑term health and quality of life.
Overall, the Age Well Study’s initial results reinforce the value CCRCs can offer: supportive environments that promote healthier behaviors, stronger social connections, and higher life satisfaction for many older adults.