Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are many things to a lot of people. They can be active and engaged senior living communities, a comfortable place to call home where all of your personal needs are met, a fantastic place to work, an extended family—the list goes on.
However, officially, the term Continuing Care Retirement Community—or in updated parlance, Life Plan Community—is a specific, industry-defined description of a senior living organization’s format. In short, CCRCs offer a flexible continuum of care to meet every resident’s changing health care needs over time.
In many ways, this format is very similar to “aging in place” at home since CCRCs allow you to stay within the same community—sometimes even within the same residence or apartment you have come to know and love—through all different phases of the aging process.
As AARP explains, within a CCRC environment, “a resident can start out living independently in an apartment and later transition to assisted living to get more help with daily activities or to skilled nursing to receive more medical care while remaining in the same community.” Peace of mind for residents and their families is the ultimate benefit of CCRCs. Once you choose a community, you won’t have to face moving in the event of a healthcare change.
Today’s blog post takes a closer look at some of the significant points on that continuum of care and shares why Zerbe Retirement Community is an excellent CCRC option in Lancaster County, PA.
The CCRC Experience Starts with Independent Living
As we touched on above, retirement community housing for seniors falls into several categories related to the overall health of the individual. In the CCRC setting, those categories are Independent Living, Personal Care, and Skilled Nursing. (Note that some other types of senior living options may use the term “assisted living,” which is somewhat similar to, but also different from, Skilled Nursing.) Here at Zerbe, as at other CCRCs, our residents have access to all levels of care.
Many retirees will choose to move into a CCRC/Life Plan Community as early as they can, so they can spend a lot of time enjoying the amenities and services provided to independent living residents and making friends with neighbors who are in a similar position in life. Independent living residents enjoy maintenance-free housing, among other opportunities like ongoing events, travel, volunteerism, and programs that appeal to their interests.
Woodland Heights is our independent living community designed specifically for healthy, independent adults who do not need daily supervision and want to enjoy a lifestyle filled with activities that enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
What if you do need some healthcare resources after you’ve moved to an independent living community, though? That’s where the best aspects of a CCRC come into play.
CCRCs Help You Plan for Future Care Needs
Not all retirement communities are CCRC/Life Plan Communities, and other types often simply cannot address individuals’ changing care needs as they age. Zerbe Retirement Community and other CCRCs like us are designed to address questions of “what if I need medical help?” and “what if I can no longer live independently?”
CCRC/Life Plan Communities are fully equipped to provide all levels of healthcare so that all long-term medical needs can be satisfied within a single community. At Zerbe, that care is offered in Harvest View, our personal care facility, and Zerbe Sisters, our skilled nursing center.
Explore the Levels of Care at Zerbe Retirement Community
From independent residents looking for a friendly senior living community to those in need of additional assistance from our warm, caring, and compassionate staff, Zerbe Retirement Community has it all.
These are our care levels/living options:
Woodland Heights Independent Living Neighborhood
Surrounded by picturesque Lancaster County farmland, Woodland Heights is a warm and inviting community of 58 homes for independent adults ages 55 and over.
Harvest View Personal Care
Beautiful private suites await residents who require some assistance with daily living. Harvest View is a safe and nurturing household environment where residents live full and active lives with encouragement from a supportive, caring staff.
Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center
Our Zerbe Sisters Skilled Nursing Center is a loving, warm environment that feels like home for our residents with more complex care needs.
Why Should You Choose a CCRC Like Zerbe Near Lancaster, PA?
Did you know that Lancaster has consistently ranked as one of America’s Best Places to Retire in recent years? In fact, U.S. News and World Report named Lancaster the #1 Best Place to Retire in the USA for 2019, and we remain in the top 3 for 2020.
If this award-winning record isn’t enough to convince you, there are countless other reasons why choosing a CCRC/Life Plan Community in Lancaster County is a great retirement move. For instance, Lancaster County also features a higher standard of living than many other popular retirement destinations. Based on survey data, Lancaster residents specifically experience enjoyment at higher rates than people living in almost any other metro area in the United States.
Closer to Everything You Need
While most CCRC and Life Plan Communities are self-contained campuses that provide everything you need to live well every day, Lancaster County is also conveniently located within the Mid-Atlantic region. Traveling to New York City, Washington, DC, and many other East Coast destinations is easy and surprisingly fast.
Ready to Experience CCRC Living for Yourself?
Whether you’re looking for worry-free independent living options or you’re caring for a loved one who may benefit from personal care or skilled nursing, our “extended family” atmosphere is second to none.
We welcome you to explore our website or get in touch with us to discuss all the amenities we have to offer our valued residents here at Zerbe Retirement Community.
