What to Ask and Observe When Visiting Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Medical Services

• What healthcare services are available for each level of care?
• What healthcare services are built into the entrance and monthly fees?
• Do residents have to stay within the facility network for healthcare? Or can they continue seeing their own doctors and care providers outside of the community?
• Can residents receive assistance with activities of daily living, regardless of housing type? Or are those services available only to assisted living and nursing home residents?
• Is there specialized care for those with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other health conditions?
• How are emergencies handled?
• Are there emergency alert systems in each unit/home?
• Is there a pharmacy on site?
• Is medication monitoring available? If so, is medication dispensed by a qualified staff member?

Personal Services

• What transportation services are offered? 
• Are there on-site hair salons, cleaners, physical therapy offices and other conveniences?
• Are any types of housekeeping, laundry or linen service offered? Are these services included in the entrance or monthly fees or at an additional cost?
• What other personal services are available?
• Is there a gym on campus? How about organized exercise classes?
• Are there houses of worship on campus or is transportation provided to weekly services?

Social Life and Recreation

• What kinds of social events are planned? Is there a monthly schedule of activities? 
• Who organizes social and recreational activities?
• What is attendance like at social events?
• Are these events and activities included in the entrance or monthly fees or are they charged separately?
• Are off-site day trips planned? If so, to where?
• Is there ample notice for upcoming events and can all residents participate?
• Are these event and activities capped at a certain number of residents?
• How do residents sign up?
• Is there a common social area that is open at all times for residents? If so, are games, cards, TVs, movies and other supplies available?
• Are there any classes offered on site?
• Is there a forum in which residents can suggest activities and events?
• Is there a planning committee that residents can become a part of?

The Nuts and Bolts: Entrance, Contracts and Licensure

• What’s involved in the application process?
• What is the assessment process and what does it involve?
• What are the contract options?
• Are residences owned or rented?
• What is the breakdown of fees? Entrance fee? Monthly fees? Can we expect the monthly fees to be raised on a yearly basis? If so, by how much?
• What is the payment schedule?
• What services are included fully in the entrance and monthly fees? Ask for a breakdown of additional services and their fees.
• Does Medicaid, Medicare or other long-term care insurance cover anything?
• What happens when one member of a couple needs the next level of care?
• What happens if a resident decides this community is not for them? Will they be refunded?
• What happens when a resident dies? Is their estate refunded any of the fees they’ve paid?
• Who makes the decision to move a resident into the next level of care? The resident? The resident’s family? Or the doctors and care providers?
• Do the entrance and/or monthly fee cover any medical or health coverage? If so, what?
• Do residents retain control over their finances in regard to the community services? Is assistance available for those residents who request it?
• What happens when a resident requires assisted living or nursing care, but there are no rooms available within the community?
• Does the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission provide accreditation to this facility?
• Do Medicaid and/or Medicare certify the nursing facilities?
• Is there an ombudsman or an organization of residents who can help raise issues with the staff and management?
• Are there any issues on record about the facility that you can review?