A lot of people ask about the average age of residents in a CCRC senior living community. For continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs, or life plan communities), the average age at move-in is generally in the early 80s. That figure is an average: newer communities tend to show a younger move-in age, while older communities often have an older one.
However, focusing too much on the average age of a retirement community’s residents can be misleading. Besides the risk of reinforcing ageist thinking, the average age overlooks key considerations about what we can and cannot control in the aging process.
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Living longer
News reports on life expectancy in the U.S. appear every year. Overall, average life expectancy has inched upward over the last century, though recent events such as the pandemic caused a temporary dip.
For perspective, in 1900 the average life expectancy in the U.S. was roughly 46.3 years for men and 48.3 years for women. By 1919 those numbers had risen to about 53.5 for men and 56.0 for women. Fast-forward to 2019 and, according to the CDC, average life expectancy had risen to about 75.1 years for men and 80.5 years for women.
You might assume that rising lifespans primarily reflect medical advances or improved environments — and that is part of the story. But a recent study points to a more nuanced explanation.
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The nature of aging
International researchers tested the “invariant rate of aging” hypothesis, which suggests that each species has a fixed aging rate once adulthood is reached. By analyzing birth and death records for humans and other primates across centuries and continents, they found that people today are not necessarily living longer in terms of individual aging rates. Instead, far fewer people are dying at young ages.
The research identified a consistent mortality pattern among primates, humans included:
- Infancy carries a relatively high risk of death.
- That risk falls sharply through adolescence and remains low in early adulthood.
- From midlife onward, the risk of death steadily increases with age.
Put simply, previous generations had lower life expectancy mainly because more people died young from birth complications, infectious disease, childbirth, war, accidents, and similar causes. Improvements in medicine, public health, and living conditions have reduced early deaths, raising average life expectancy across populations.
Perhaps the most notable finding is that the trajectory of increasing mortality in mid- to late-adulthood has remained largely unchanged despite modern advances. This suggests that biological factors play a dominant role in determining longevity.
“This suggests that biological, rather than environmental factors, ultimately control longevity,” said researcher José Manuel Aburto from Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science. “Individuals live longer as health and living conditions improve, which leads to increasing longevity across an entire population. Nevertheless, a steep rise in death rates, as years advance into old age, is clear to see in all species.”
In short: our species’ biology constrains how far human lifespans can extend.
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Health and longevity in CCRC senior living
The takeaway from this research is that aging is an inevitable, largely biological process. Still, environmental factors that we can control—diet, exercise, social engagement, smoking cessation, and access to healthcare—have a major influence on how well we age. That’s why focusing only on the average age of residents in a CCRC offers only a partial view.
While biology sets limits on maximum lifespan, people age at different paces depending on genetics and lifestyle. You’ve likely met 85-year-olds who remain as active and vibrant as many 65-year-olds. This is often true in CCRCs, where residents frequently benefit from structured activities, social opportunities, and onsite services that support health and wellness.
Research consistently shows that living in a retirement community, such as a CCRC, can help residents stay active and engaged, potentially extending the number of healthy, high-quality years they enjoy.
That said, the average age within a community does matter for practical reasons. For example, a CCRC with a disproportionate share of very elderly residents may face higher care costs and different staffing needs. But averages mask a wide distribution: chronological age does not necessarily equate to physical vitality or cognitive health.
When evaluating senior living options, consider both the community’s average age and its emphasis on wellness, activities, and care continuum. Those environmental factors influence residents’ day-to-day quality of life and can make a meaningful difference in how people experience their later years.