Understand the contract and fees: Most CCRCs offer three types of contracts: Life-care, or Type A contracts, which have the highest entry fee but covers all levels of long-term care as needed ...

but monthly fees are usually higher than those for Type A and Type B contracts. If you need skilled nursing care, you cover the cost. Some CCRCs allow residents to buy their units and pay monthly ...

Continuing care retirement communities can charge steep entrance fees, but are supposed to provide lifelong care. That ...

Entrance fees are one-time fees paid upon move-in and can vary depending on the community. For example, at a CCRC, entrance fees typically range from $9,000 (for the memory care segment) to more than ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in the February 2010 issue of Kiplinger's Retirement Report. To subscribe, click here. Roger Strand, 81, and his wife, Mary, 80, are ...