A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also called a Life Plan Community, bundles independent living, assisted living, memory care and often nursing care on one campus, usually with a substantial entry fee. A standalone assisted living community has no entry fee and a simpler admissions process, but does not guarantee a spot at a higher level of care later.
Entry-fee structure
CCRC entry fees in New York vary widely by campus and contract type (life care, modified, or fee-for-service), and refundability terms differ by contract -- get any entry-fee agreement reviewed by an elder law attorney before signing.
When standalone is the more flexible choice
A standalone assisted living community is usually the more flexible and lower-cost entry point for a family that is not planning multiple decades ahead, or that wants to preserve assets rather than commit a large sum upfront.
