Moving Made Easy: Senior Downsizing Guide | StoneRidge CT
Understanding Life Plan Communities
Senior living research comes with a learning curve – new terminology, different contract structures, financial considerations that take time to understand. This page cuts through the complexity and gives you the essentials: what a Life Plan Community is and why it matters, how CCRC contracts and costs are structured, and what the process of moving to StoneRidge looks like from start to finish. Start here, then reach out when you're ready to talk.
What Is a Life Plan Community?
A Life Plan Community, also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community, or CCRC, is a senior living community that provides a full continuum of care on one campus. Independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing are all available on a single campus, allowing residents to transition between levels of care as their needs change without ever leaving the community they've made their home.
At StoneRidge, that means residents enter as active independent living residents, knowing that if needs ever change, the right care is already in place, steps away, surrounded by familiar faces.
The financial structure of a Life Plan Community is relatively straightforward:
- Residents pay a one-time entrance fee and an ongoing monthly fee.
- The entrance fee secures your residence and – through LifeCare® – provides priority access to all levels of care on campus at substantially predictable costs.
- The monthly fee covers the comprehensive services and amenities that support daily life: utilities, housekeeping, dining, transportation, fitness, and more.
- Together, they replace the unpredictable costs of homeownership and long-term care with a structure built for clarity and long-term security.
Types of LifeCare® Contracts
Not all Life Plan Community contracts are the same. Understanding the differences is important when comparing your options. Here's a plain-language overview of the primary contract types you're likely to encounter.
Type A – LifeCare®
The most comprehensive contract type. Residents pay a one-time entrance fee and a monthly fee that remains relatively stable even if a higher level of care is needed. If assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing become necessary, the resident moves to the appropriate level at a substantially discounted, predetermined rate – for as long as care is needed. This contract type offers the greatest long-term financial predictability and protection.
Type B – Modified Plan
A modified contract typically requires a somewhat lower entrance and monthly fee than Type A. If a higher level of care is needed, the resident is responsible for a portion of those costs – either through a limited number of included care days followed by per diem market rates, or an ongoing minimally discounted rate. More affordable upfront, but with less long-term cost certainty.
Type C – Fee-for-Service
Generally requires the lowest entrance and monthly fees of the three types. If higher levels of care are needed, the monthly fee increases to reflect the current market rate for that care. Offers the least long-term financial protection but the lowest initial cost.
Rental Options
Some senior living communities offer month-to-month arrangements without entrance fees. While this avoids upfront costs, monthly rates are typically higher over time – and rental communities generally do not provide access to higher levels of care within the same community. StoneRidge's entrance fee contract structure is designed to provide long-term value and help preserve assets while ensuring comprehensive care access.
At StoneRidge:
We offer Type B contracts with either 80%, 65%, and 50% return-of-capital contract options. Our residency counselors can walk you through how each option compares to your current situation – including a side-by-side comparison of the cost of staying in your home versus making the move.
Moving to StoneRidge
We’ve helped countless residents navigate the transition from their longtime home to campus life. Through the years, we’ve learned what goes into making a smooth move. The key is support, planning, and the right people involved at the right time.
Our team connects incoming residents with downsizing specialists, professional move managers, and all the coordination needed to make moving day straightforward rather than stressful. Our Move-In Coordinator assists with the details of your new home preparation. The resident-led Welcome Committee is there when you arrive – ready with introductions, local knowledge, and the genuine warmth that makes StoneRidge feel like home faster than most people expect.
Get in Touch
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