Free senior care guidance for Indianapolis-area families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (463) 208-0977
Indy Senior Advisor

CCRC vs. Standalone Assisted Living

A Continuing Care Retirement Community keeps a couple together across care levels. A standalone community is usually simpler and less expensive to enter.

HomeComparisonsCCRC vs. Standalone Assisted Living
Short answer

A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) combines independent living, assisted living, memory care and often skilled nursing on one campus, letting a resident -- or a couple with different needs -- move between levels without changing addresses. A standalone assisted living community offers one level of care, usually with a simpler, less expensive entry process.

Campuses in this metro combining multiple levels

Several Indianapolis-area campuses operate this multi-level model, including communities in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Indianapolis itself that pair independent living with assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing on one site.

Entry cost and flexibility

Full CCRC/Life Plan Community models elsewhere in the country often charge a large upfront entry fee in exchange for guaranteed access to higher care levels later -- ask any local campus directly whether it uses an entry-fee model or a simpler month-to-month rental structure, since this varies by operator. A standalone assisted living community is typically the more flexible, lower-commitment choice if a couple does not yet need to plan for different care levels.

How Indiana licenses assisted living. Indiana licenses assisted living as a Residential Care Facility (RCF) under 410 IAC 16.2-5 -- one license type, not tiered like Texas's Type A/B. Read the full explanation →

Questions families ask

Does Hamilton County have its own Area Agency on Aging?

No -- Hamilton County is covered by the same agency as Indianapolis, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, so Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville families use the same regional resources as Marion County families.

What senior care options exist in Hendricks County?

Hendricks County, covering Avon and Plainfield, has verified assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing options, plus Hendricks Regional Health as the main hospital for discharge planning. CICOA is the Area Agency on Aging serving the county.

What senior care options exist in Johnson County?

Johnson County, anchored by Greenwood, has multiple verified assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing providers along the US-31 corridor, served by Community Hospital South and CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions.

What senior care options exist in Boone County?

Boone County, anchored by Zionsville and the county seat Lebanon, has a smaller but growing set of verified communities, including standalone memory care and Trilogy Health Services campuses, with CICOA as the Area Agency on Aging.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free