Trinity Terrace Winter 2006 - Continuing Care Defined

Trinity Terrace Winter 2006

Trinity Terrace || About Us || Contact Us || Careers || Newsletters

Continuing Care — Defined

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are designed as environments where people live longer, healthier, and more actively engaged lives. They are also communities that provide seniors with a sense of independence throughout the later years of their lives. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) defines a CCRC as “an organization that offers a full range of housing, residential services, and health care in order to serve its older residents as their needs change over time.”

CCRCs use a unique strategy for achieving these things: they combine several levels of health care within a single community setting, and they offer programs and activities emphasizing social involvement and community life.

In 1997 the Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-term Care for the US Department of Health and Human Services released a research analysis paper that found that residents who live in CCRCs are indeed healthier and they do live longer.

The research statistics show that CCRC residents have a life-expect-ancy that is 1 to 2 years longer than that of other elderly individuals. It has also been found that CCRCs reduce the risk of disease and disa-bility and improve the health of residents. Many have attributed these noticeable health benefits to the more active approach that CCRCs take toward health care. CCRCs combine a variety of services that may affect the overall wellness of their residents. These services, along with a clear strategy of health promotion by the communities, attempt to encourage the elderly to be more involved in maintaining their own health.

The research analysis specifically noted that CCRCs promote:

Active Lifestyles
CCRCs promote an active lifestyle by offering on-site Pools, Fitness Centers with strength training equipment specially designed for seniors, and exercise classes such as aerobics, flexibility exercises, yoga, and tai-chi.

Social Involvement
CCRCs encourage residents to stay involved in the community—both the CCRC and the greater community outside—because social isolation has proven to be associated with poor health. By creating environments that promote social interaction, CCRCs help make the lives of residents longer and more enjoyable.

Proper Medical Care
Because the CCRC philosophy focuses on disease prevention and early detection, they provide noticeable health benefits for residents. Staff nurses and social workers coordinate their services with the residents’ physician to optimize health. CCRCs offer on-site blood pressure clinics, immunizations against flu and pneumonia, a variety of therapies, and educational seminars on health-related topics.

Good Nutrition
CCRCs promote proper nutrition by offering three balanced meals a day. They also offer the services of dieticians who can set up special diets for diabetics or those on low-salt or weight loss diets. And, the meals are delicious because CCRCs hire outstanding Chefs, many of whom are Master or Executive level Chefs with years and years of training.

Overall Wellness
The health care and companionship residents receive a play a part in preventing sickness and poor health. They also help residents maintain overall happiness, and therefore, wellness. The respect with which residents are treated by staff members may significantly contribute to the longer, healthier lives residents lead.

Trinity Terrace
1600 Texas Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
1-800-841-0561

Newsletter Index