A major selling point of CCRC living is that prospective residents can settle into a ''user-friendly'' environment and maintain their normal independent routines for as long as they are able to do so. However, they are assured that if they become more dependent as time passes, they won't have to leave familiar surroundings to obtain the kind of care they require. So if you're doing long-range planning for yourself or a loved one, you may well appreciate the advantages of a CCRC's independent living setting should declining health or maintaining independence becomes a problem. CCRCs offer many of the amenities and freedom of a private home (with some limitations due to shared common facilities and areas) with none of the concerns of property maintenance, personal safety, loneliness and isolation that may accompany the life of an elderly person in a typical neighborhood setting.
Perhaps your loved one is showing some early signs of mild physical decline—difficulty with driving or meal preparation, for example—or simply isn't up to caring for a large home anymore. Or perhaps there just isn't a reliable support system of friends, neighbors and family nearby to help out with daily chores or to be available in emergencies. These common concerns can seriously interfere with your loved one's desire to live as independently as possible. But CCRC living will do away with these problems and provide your loved one with the opportunity to continue living on his/her own indefinitely in a sheltered, carefully monitored environment.
Of course, moving into a CCRC is a major life change that should always be thoroughly discussed among the individual, family members, healthcare professionals and legal and financial advisors. Since it is such a significant change and will involve legal contracts and a long-term commitment of time and financial resources, the decision to take up residence in a CCRC should be carefully researched and planned. Prospective residents should never make a change until they are absolutely convinced that this is what they want, not only for the near term, but also for years to come. CCRC residency should begin while your loved one is still fully capable of making decisions and is generally able to manage for him/herself both physically and mentally.