What’s in a name? How to spot the difference between a CCRC and a Life Plan Community.

As you set out to learn more about retirement communities, you’ll hear the term “CCRC” and “Life Plan” community a lot. What’s the difference? Simply stated: There isn’t one. But the preference by residents and those who work in these communities in recent years has been for “Life Plan.”

Traditionally, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)/Life Plan community offers every level of care that may be required as we age, from independent living options (apartments or houses), along with spaces and staff for assisted living, around-the-clock skilled nursing services, and memory care.

A Life Plan community like Harbor’s Edge provides a continuum of care that starts with independent, resort-style living. But it also places sharp focus on supporting residents to continue their active lifestyle and build their next chapter in their own home based on their own roadmap. A Life Plan retirement community is a place where people can enjoy a wealth of activities, time with friends and family, and all the possibilities their future has to offer — and all backed by financial and healthcare peace of mind.

At Harbor’s Edge we call our comprehensive plan for quality care True LifeCare, which guarantees access to the full continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care support. We have multiple contract options including those that are refundable which protect your estate.

Peace of mind and engaging lifestyle options are also made possible at Harbor’s Edge through maintenance-free, easy living for residents, with services and amenities like weekly housekeeping, fitness and wellness programs, dining options, and more. Plus, you’re just a short walk away from all that downtown Norfolk has to offer.

Coming soon: New homes, with a view.

Harbor’s Edge will expand our waterside Life Plan community this summer when we open the doors to River Tower, which includes 147 private one, two and three-bedroom apartments on the harbor. The gorgeous homes feature customizable floor plans with sizes up to 2,179 square feet. Most residences include high ceilings, custom details and modern finishes, and superior soundproofing—plus a private balcony with views of the skyline, ships in the harbor, and surrounding Elizabeth River.

Resort-style residences at River Tower (all of which will be opened by later this year) are paired with a full array of amenities, programs, and services catering to residents’ wants and needs. The River Tower expansion adds to Harbor’s Edge dining options with both casual and fine-dining venues, including the 15th-floor Horizons Lounge. The new building also includes a wellness clinic, a 40-seat movie theater, a salon/barbershop, and fitness center.

> View pricing for River Tower and our easy-to-understand Refund Options.

There are also plenty of nearby dining and cultural activities (especially in a post-COVID world), with downtown Norfolk and the historic Ghent District just a short walk or drive from Harbor’s Edge. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and The Tide light rail station are each short walks away.

Compassionate care at all levels.

After you join the Harbor’s Edge community as an independent living resident, the beauty of a True LifeCare plan is that you have priority admission to quality care – assisted living, skilled nursing, memory support – if and when you need it. And because of the LifeCare contract, your costs will be predictable over time, and you’ll pay far less for care.

• At our Hague Center for Assisted Living, we offer a person-centered approach with nurses and other staff providing around-the-clock support for activities of daily living, planned outings, three chef-prepared daily meals, and 33 private, spacious apartments.

• At the Ghent Center for Memory Support, we provide compassionate care with an approach that encourages giving residents as much independence as possible while catering to their special needs in a 24-hour supervised and secure environment.

• In addition, our short and long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation is offered to both residents and those from outside Harbor’s Edge who are in need of rehabilitation, nutrition support, or access to licensed physical, speech and occupational therapists.

As we like to say, the sooner the better to enjoy life here!

Harbor’s Edge is a Life Plan Community offering a full continuum of care, so no matter what your health care needs are in the future, we have you covered.