What is a Life Plan Community?

A Life Plan Community, also commonly known as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), is more than just a place for seniors to live—it’s a secure and supportive environment where residents can feel at home and retire with peace of mind.

If you’re not familiar with these types of communities, don’t worry! We’ll answer some of the most common questions. Although specific offerings, residence types and contracts vary across communities, we’ll provide a general overview to help you understand Life Plan Communities and how they work, as well as the top benefits and value they can provide.

How do Life Plan Communities work?

The purpose of a Life Plan Community is to meet the social, lifestyle and healthcare needs of residents—both now and in the future. These communities provide access to a wide range of care options, amenities and services. This flexibility makes Life Plan Communities an excellent choice for many older adults because it allows them to age in place easily.

Unlike communities that strictly offer independent living or memory care for your current needs, Life Plan Communities provide a wider range of services and amenities for your evolving social, emotional and healthcare needs—all on one campus. These communities provide multiple levels of care on site and have trained staff, including nurses and therapists, to assist with a variety of different needs and lifestyles.

At Westerwood, for example, we offer short- and long-term options to support every need:

5 common benefits of Life Plan Communities

Every home or living space comes with a unique set of benefits and the same applies to Life Plan Communities. Although the higher costs can be perceived as a drawback to some families, a long list of benefits can help justify the cost for others.

There are many advantages but here are five benefits to consider:

  1. Simple transitions. Life Plan Communities help reduce the stress and uncertainty around future health concerns and prevent stressful moves. For example, residents can transition to higher levels of care as their mental or physical health changes, while remaining around familiar staff, as well as their family and close friends. The staff works with residents and their families to ensure seamless transitions so residents can get the care they need, even if their health changes unexpectedly.
  2. Active environment. Many Life Plan Communities have an activities director on site to plan activities, events and entertainment regularly. At Westerwood, we find ways to focus on residents’ wellness and fitness as well as opportunities for lifelong learning. Here, our residents are prioritized every day, and we provide plenty of chances for them to try new things, meet new people and build lifelong friendships. Our daily activities promote socialization for seniors and reduce the risk of isolation.
  3. Daily convenience. From housekeeping and home repairs to healthcare and transportation, Life Plan Communities take care of nearly everything. This means residents can enjoy life with fewer responsibilities, so they have more time for friends and hobbies. These communities also provide convenience by serving meals and snacks. At Westerwood, we have a talented culinary team that prepares nutritious meals daily.
  4. Round-the-clock security. With staff available 24/7 and security measures in place, Life Plan Communities ensure residents are protected and monitored so accidents or emergencies are less likely to happen or can be addressed quickly.
  5. Diverse amenities. Amenities often vary from community to community, but it’s common to find areas like libraries, gyms, art studios, pools, trails and more.

What makes a Life Plan Community worth it?

The answer is simple—it all comes down to what matters most to you. If you value the convenience of having everything you need in one place, a Life Plan Community can be the right choice because it provides residents with an all-inclusive living and care experience.

While Life Plan Communities can be more expensive than other senior living options, it’s important to remember that, although there may be entrance fees, you won’t have to worry about property taxes, insurance or other costs associated with owning or renting a home.

The ability to live independently while having the security of future care if needed is a significant advantage for many people. If you or your loved one values stability, convenience and peace of mind, a Life Plan Community may be worth the investment.

Contact us to learn more about senior living

If you’re curious about senior living options like our Life Plan Community and have questions or want to take a tour of our 23-acre campus, our team can help. Please give us a call at 614-890-8282 to get started and find out if a Life Plan Community is truly the right fit for you or your loved one. We’re ready to help you plan your ideal retirement experience!

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