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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

What senior care options exist in Hancock County?

Hancock County, anchored by Greenfield, has several verified assisted living, independent living and skilled nursing options and is served by Hancock Regional Health and CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions.

What's the difference between independent living and assisted living in Indiana?

Independent living is generally unlicensed housing -- apartments or cottages with dining and activities but no personal care. Assisted living communities in Indiana are licensed as Residential Care Facilities and provide medication administration and help with daily activities.

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in Indiana?

Both can be licensed as Residential Care Facilities, but a memory care unit must also file Indiana's Alzheimer's and Dementia Special Care Disclosure under IC 12-10-5.5 and meet dementia-specific staff training requirements. There is no separate state cost median for memory care, unlike assisted living.

Is in-home care or assisted living cheaper in Indiana?

It depends on hours needed. At Indiana's 2025 median of $35 an hour, a 40-hour week of home care already costs more than Indiana's assisted living median of $5,639 a month. Below roughly 30-35 hours a week, home care is often cheaper; above it, a community usually wins.

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