Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are residential settings that provide a continuum of care—-from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care. CCRCs are designed to offer active people an independent lifestyle but also include the availability of services of an assisted living environment and nursing care.

A typical CCRC may offer residential services such as a maintained apartment, house, townhouse, or other unit, cleaning and laundry services, meals in common dining areas, ground maintenance, security, social, recreational, and cultural programs. Health care services often include personal care, and help with daily activities, nursing care, rehabilitative care and Alzheimer's care.