A few weeks ago, Bluespire Insider, a marketing group that promotes senior living communities, hosted a virtual roundtable on innovative ways to encourage social connections for residents of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs or life plan communities). As someone who follows this topic closely, I found the discussion informative and timely. The roundtable was moderated … Read more

[Originally posted Feb 2016. Updated May 2021]. In a recent post, I described the various types of independent living senior housing providers and ways to distinguish one from another. In this article I address a common question: What is the cost of senior living? According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care … Read more

Marketing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a life plan community, is essential to its long-term success. High occupancy rates are critical for financial stability because residents in independent living typically cost the community less and their fees help subsidize assisted living and skilled nursing care. To maintain financial health, CCRCs need … Read more

Who would make your legal, medical, or financial decisions if you were no longer able to do so yourself? This is an essential question every older adult should address before circumstances force the issue. Without clear communication and written directives, families can face confusion, emotional strain, and costly legal battles. Below we explain elder guardianship … Read more

When people explore retirement community options, questions often center on services, amenities, and cost. Those are important, but another crucial question should be near the top of your list: How safe is the community? Everyone deserves to feel secure at home. Selecting a retirement community where you or a loved one will be comfortable and … Read more

Many retirees use the start of a new year as a prompt to schedule their annual health checkup. For others, winter illnesses like colds or the flu trigger a visit to the doctor. Whether you’re seeing a healthcare provider for preventive care, an unexpected problem, or management of a chronic condition, the time available during … Read more

Life plan community, naturally occurring retirement community, retirement village, active adult community — if you’ve been researching senior living and care options, the industry’s vocabulary can start to feel like its own language. Those similar-sounding terms often create confusion for people trying to compare choices and understand what each option provides. >> Related: Comparing Rental … Read more

Deciding on senior living ranks among the most significant choices many people make. If you’ve settled on a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also called a life plan community, you still face many options and details to evaluate. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you can simplify the process by focusing on four main areas: … Read more

Life plan communities, often still called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), offer many retirees the reassurance of living independently today with the knowledge that assisted living and skilled medical care will be available if needed in the future. These communities typically require a significant entrance fee along with monthly service charges in exchange for a … Read more

Many factors influence how long we live. Some, like genetics, are beyond our control, while others, such as lifestyle choices, are within our influence. Together they shape our biological age, which can differ significantly from our chronological age. We know diet and exercise support healthy aging, but recent research suggests there may be additional ways … Read more