Getting on a waitlist at a life plan community (also called a continuing care retirement community or CCRC) can be a step toward greater peace of mind for older adults and their loved ones. But what happens when an opening becomes available?
For some people, the process of securing a life plan community residence can be a bit more complicated than they anticipated. Some prospective residents will remain on the waitlist for years until their preferred home floorplan or location within a CCRC opens up. Others may find that once a life plan community opening becomes available, they feel like they have little time to sell their current home, sort through decades of belongings, and prepare for a major life transition.
Let’s take a closer look at how life plan community waitlists work and how they may help you feel more prepared when you eventually make a CCRC move.
Why CCRC waitlists can be complicated
Life plan communities combine independent living with access to additional levels of care as residents’ needs change. For many older adults, the driving appeal of this type of retirement community is the opportunity to enjoy an independent lifestyle while planning ahead for potential future care needs.
Demand for desirable communities can be strong, creating a common situation where the number of interested applicants exceeds the number of available residences. Some communities maintain waitlists for specific apartment sizes or floor plans, while others have different stages for application, reservation, and admission.
The length of a waitlist can be an important consideration when researching your senior living options. But bear in mind that an estimated wait time may change as residences become available, existing residents’ plans evolve, and demand shifts.
And because there is no universal CCRC waitlist process, prospective residents should treat a quoted wait time as an estimate rather than a guaranteed move-in date.
>> Related: Waitlist Realities and the Future of Senior Living
A planning tool, not a move-in date
Recent responses to a myLifeSite consumer survey highlight two common concerns when it comes to CCRC waitlists and so-called “ready lists” (more on these in a moment…).
- One survey respondent described having only around two months to sell a house and a car, pack, and move to a community in another state.
- Another described a confusing process in which someone on their community’s ready list repeatedly lost his position to people moving over from the waitlist.
Both experiences illustrate an important point: Joining a life plan community waitlist does not guarantee a predictable move-in date. Adding your name to a waitlist might be better thought of as a planning tool — one step in a series of many steps within the senior living move process.
Additionally, understanding how each community manages their list(s), while also preparing for the practical and financial demands of a move, can help older adults and their loved ones navigate the process with greater confidence.
Life plan community waitlist vs. ready list: What’s the difference?
The terms waitlist and ready list can sound interchangeable, but some communities use them to describe different stages of the move-in process.
- A waitlist generally refers to prospective residents waiting for a particular type of residence or an opportunity to advance through the community’s admission process. Depending on the community, joining the list may involve submitting an application, paying a deposit, selecting a preferred residence, or completing other requirements.
- A ready list (in communities where one exists) may identify a subset of people on the waitlist who have reached a stage at which they can be considered for an available residence. They may have completed additional application requirements, confirmed their interest, or indicated that they are prepared to move when an appropriate opening becomes available.
However, it’s important to understand that these are not standardized industry definitions. Some communities use different terminology, combine the two lists, or operate multiple lists based on housing preferences, membership categories, or specific admission requirements. The only reliable way to understand a particular community’s process is to ask for a clear explanation of its policies.
This distinction matters because being “ready” does not necessarily mean someone has priority over every other prospective resident on the waitlist.
Our survey respondent described the person who repeatedly saw his position on a ready list pushed back as people from a waitlist advanced. Without knowing the exact situation or the community’s specific rules, it is impossible to determine why this happened. But the community might have different priority rules for applicants at various stages in the process, separate queues for different residence types, or policies governing transfers by existing residents.
Perhaps the larger issue to highlight here is transparency. Prospective residents should understand how their waitlist and/or ready list position is determined, whether it can change, and the exact process by which available residences are offered to prospects. Requesting written explanations of a community’s waitlist rules can help prevent misunderstandings and support better planning.
>> Related: Understanding the CCRC Health Evaluation Requirement: When Is the Right Time to Move?
The timing dilemma: When a CCRC opening arises ‘too soon’
Even when prospective life plan community residents understand the waitlist and/or ready list process, preparing for an actual move can still present challenges.
As one of our survey respondents noted, approximately two months was not much time to sell their home and a car, sort through their possessions to downsize, pack, and relocate to another state. Each task involves decisions, coordination, and expenses that can be difficult to manage on a compressed schedule.
Selling a home may be the biggest hurdle. Preparing a property for sale, finding a buyer, negotiating a contract, completing inspections, and reaching closing can take weeks or even months. The timeline depends on a variety of factors like local market conditions, the property’s condition, and the buyer’s financing.
If the home sale is expected to fund a CCRC entrance fee, the timing becomes even more consequential. Many communities require payment of the entrance fee before move-in. That deadline may not align with the availability of proceeds from the home’s sale.
Downsizing also takes time. Decades of accumulated possessions may need to be sorted, donated, sold, or distributed among family members. Moving across state lines introduces additional logistics, from hiring movers to coordinating transportation and arranging new local services.
These challenges do not mean prospective CCRC residents should delay exploring communities, however. Rather, they underscore the value of preparing for a move well before an opening becomes available.
>> Related: When Should I Get On the Wait List at a Retirement Community?
How to prepare before a life plan community opening becomes available
The best time to prepare for a CCRC move is often before you are offered a residence. Taking these manageable steps early can make the transition less stressful.
Ask the community about its waitlist/ready list policies
Find out how much notice residents typically receive when a desired residence becomes available, whether a response deadline applies, and whether extensions are possible. Also ask whether declining an offer affects your position on the list, whether you can change your housing preferences, and what happens if you are not ready to move when contacted.
Develop a financial and housing plan
If selling your home will be necessary in order to pay your CCRC entrance fee, speak with a real estate professional about preparing the property and establishing a realistic timeline.
It may also help to discuss with a lender and/or financial adviser how you might cover the entrance fee and ongoing monthly expenses if your home has not sold by the time an opening becomes available. Temporary housing or bridge financing may be options in some circumstances, but each carries potential costs and risks that should be carefully evaluated in advance.
Begin downsizing gradually
You don’t need to sort through belongings and pack your entire home years ahead of time. Start small with items you no longer use, organize important documents, and discuss with family members how treasured possessions will be handled. Measuring furniture and identifying what will fit in your prospective residence can also help you prepare and make the eventual move easier.
Create a practical moving plan
Identify who could help you with packing, transportation, home-sale preparations, and other responsibilities. If you are considering a community in another state, research moving companies and local services before you need them.
Adult children can be valuable partners in the planning process, but expectations should be discussed early rather than left until a CCRC move is imminent.
>> Related: Early Acceptance: Upgrading the 55 Plus Community Waiting List
Questions to ask before joining a CCRC waitlist or ready list
Before joining a life plan community waitlist or paying a deposit, you may want to consider asking a few specific questions related to their waitlist process:
- How is your waitlist managed, and what determines my position?
- What is the difference between the waitlist and the ready list (if both exist)?
- How are available residences offered, and can other applicants move ahead of me?
- How much notice will I receive when an opening becomes available?
- Can I decline an offer or request more time without losing my place on the waitlist?
- What happens if my home has not sold or my finances are not ready when I reach the top of the waitlist?
- What deposits, entrance fees, and/or other payments are required, and when are they due?
- How frequently will I receive updates about my waitlist status and estimated wait time?
Plan ahead to ease the CCRC move and transition process
For many older adults, a CCRC can offer valuable advantages, including a community setting, fewer homeownership responsibilities, and access to additional care as needs change. But choosing a life plan community is a significant decision, and prospective residents often need time to evaluate their options, get their finances in order, and prepare for the transition.
With CCRC occupancy at all time highs and a shortage of supply for the foreseeable future, the question has begun to change; it’s not so much “When will I be ready?” but rather “What can I do now to be sure the home or apartment I want will be ready when I am?” This is why getting on the right list(s) is as important as ever.
The myLifeSite consumer survey responses highlight two important considerations: understanding how a community manages its waitlist/ready list, and being prepared for the practical demands of moving when a desired residence becomes available.
Beginning the senior living research process early gives older adults and their loved ones more time to compare communities, evaluate finances, and prepare for a home sale and move. The key is to pair that preparation with a clear understanding of each community’s waitlist policies and realistic expectations about the move-in process.
Ultimately, by thinking of a life plan community waitlist as a planning tool, not a move-in date, prospective residents can approach the transition with greater confidence and less risk of being caught off guard when an opening occurs.
