Care Types

What Are Multi-Care Campuses?

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Multi-care campuses offer several levels of care in one location, allowing older adults to age in place as their needs change. While standard multi-care campuses charge monthly rent, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) use an entrance fee model with specific contract types.

A multi-care campus is designed for older adults who want the security of knowing future care is available on-site. The standard model operates on a month-to-month rental basis, where residents pay for the specific level of care they currently need. A specialized type of multi-care campus, known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) or Life Plan Community, requires an upfront entrance fee but guarantees access to higher levels of care, often at a predictable cost.

How Standard Multi-Care Campuses Work

In a standard multi-care campus, a resident might move into an independent living apartment while they are fully active. If they later need help with daily tasks, they can transition to the assisted living wing. If they develop dementia, they can move to the memory care neighborhood.

These communities usually charge a monthly fee based on the current level of care. There is typically no large entrance fee, and residents are not locked into a long-term contract. The primary benefit is convenience and continuity: the resident does not have to search for a new facility in a crisis, and spouses with different care needs can live on the same campus.

What Are CCRCs (Life Plan Communities)?

A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also called a Life Plan Community, is a specific type of multi-care campus with a different financial and legal structure. CCRCs combine independent living, assisted living, memory care, and often skilled nursing on one campus.

The key difference is that CCRCs require an entrance fee (which can range from 00,000 to over ,000,000) along with a monthly service fee. In exchange, the community guarantees access to higher levels of care for the rest of the resident's life.

CCRC Contract Types

CCRCs generally offer four main types of contracts, which determine how future care is paid for:

Type A (Life Care): The resident pays a higher entrance fee and monthly fee, but if they need assisted living or skilled nursing later, their monthly fee remains roughly the same. This acts as a form of long-term care insurance.
Type B (Modified): The resident pays a lower entrance fee. If they need a higher level of care, they receive a set number of days at no extra cost, or they pay a discounted rate for that care.
Type C (Fee-for-Service): The entrance fee is lower, but if the resident needs a higher level of care, they pay the full market rate for it.
Type D (Rental): There is no entrance fee, but the resident pays the full market rate for whatever level of care they need, similar to a standard multi-care campus.

Practical Takeaways

Multi-care campuses allow older adults to transition between independent living, assisted living, and memory care without changing their address.
They are an excellent option for couples who have different care needs but want to remain close to each other.
Standard campuses operate on a month-to-month rental basis, charging only for the care currently needed.
CCRCs (Life Plan Communities) offer the same continuum of care but require an entrance fee in exchange for guaranteed future care, often at a predictable rate.
When touring, always ask whether the community is a rental model or a CCRC, and what priority current residents have when a higher level of care is needed.

When To Get More Help

Choosing between a standard rental campus and a CCRC is a major financial decision. If you are considering a CCRC, it is often wise to consult with a financial advisor or elder law attorney to review the contract types and understand the long-term implications of the entrance fee and monthly costs.