CCRCs Can Help Aging Couples Stay Closer Together

About 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need some type of long-term care during their lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). On average, women will need care for a longer period of time (3.7 years), compared to men (2.2 years), and 20 percent of 65-year-olds will need care for more than five years. As older adults need more care, the question of how aging couples stay closer together as they age becomes more important.

There are no guarantees in life and the question of whether—and how long—you or your spouse may need care remains unknown. Some couple choose to spend their “golden years” in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) to help them prepare for the challenges that an unknown future may offer. CCRCs provide a continuum of services, ranging from independent living to full-time skilled care, which is available if and when you need them.

There was a story in the Chicago Tribune* about John and Barbara Baber of Naperville, IL, decided to move into a CCRC several years ago after Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, they lived in an independent living apartment until, a few years later, Barbara moved into another section of their CCRC to receive the additional care and support she needed. Now John continues to enjoy the social benefits of living within the retirement community and can visit with Barbara, who is just a short walk away, whenever he wants.

CCRC living can give you peace of mind in the face of uncertainty. To learn more about how CCRCs can help you prepare for an unknown future, visit myLifeSite.net.

*Update: This link is no longer live on the Chicago Tribune website as it was at the time of this post’s original writing.