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7. CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES (CCRCS). The advantage of these communities is their continuum of care. Residents start out in independent living, and as their needs grow, they
move on to housing that offers more care — typically assisted living, memory care and then nursing care. Although they’re hard to find, a few faith-based, not-for-profit communities may
reduce onetime up-front fees and monthly payments for low-income residents, Golant says. 8. ASSISTED LIVING. These facilities typically offer a resident their own room or suite with access
to round-the-clock clinical care, three meals a day in a dining room and medication management. Residents who need it can also get help with bathing and dressing. Assisted living is
typically private pay, with no government assistance, although in some states Medicaid may cover support services but not room and board for eligible people. 9. GROUP HOMES. Not to be
confused with house sharing, group homes are a form of assisted living and offer a similar range of care services. Residents have a shared or private room in these state-licensed homes,
which an individual or a company may own. Often, the caregiving staff lives in the home with their families, sharing common areas of the house with the residents. The homes can have five
to 20 residents and go by different names, including “residential care homes” and “board and care homes,” depending on the state. 10. MEMORY CARE. This specialized care is intended to
provide structured routines, reducing stress for residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The facilities may have circular hallways, so residents don’t have to worry about which way
to go, Cudney says. They often have locked elevators, front doors and stairwells to keep residents safe. In many communities, staff members offer activities to stimulate cognition, such as
singing and reading together out loud as well as arts and crafts. Memory care units are often connected to housing options that offer graduated care — which means you start out
independent and “graduate” to more hands-on care — such as CCRCs. 11. NURSING HOMES. These facilities deliver hands-on, 24-hour care for adults who need help with basic skills, such as
bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom and getting in and out of beds or chairs. Nursing homes came under harsh criticism for high death rates from COVID-19, leading to efforts for
reform. To find nursing homes with good track records, try Medicare’s nursing home find and compare website. Another helpful tool, the Eldercare Locator from the federal Administration on
Aging, connects older adults and their families to a range of caregiving services.