What is WACCRA?
Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (WACCRA)
Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (WACCRA)
Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (WACCRA)
In addition to advocacy by our members, a professional lobbyist supports our legislative efforts in Olympia.
WACCRA’s key 2017 legislation requires that communities wanting to call themselves a CCRC must register with the State DSHS. The legislation also requires some protections for prospective and current residents. These are listed in section 070 of RCW 18.390: The CCRC Law.
Currently, 23 CCRCs are registered in the State.
In addition to seeking legislation, WACCRA has worked very closely with LeadingAge WA (the organization of senior living management professionals) to develop the Commitment to CCRC Practices. The Commitment lays out best practices for ensuring cooperation, transparency, and trust between the CCRC Executive Director and the CCRC residents around issues of financial disclosure, entrance fee refunds, and resident involvement in decision-making. This landmark agreement went into effect on January 1, 2021 at each of the 23 registered CCRCs in the State.
WACCRA is an active member of Senior Lobby, a consortium of organizations focused on senior issues.
We also work with the WA State Long Term Care Ombuds Office and other state agencies that oversee issues of concern to seniors. WACCRA is an affiliate of the National Continuing Care Residents Association NaCCRA
A strong and robust WACCRA membership is essential
to our success. If you aren’t a member, please consider joining now.
200+ Members Attend the 2023 Annual Meeting!
Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (WACCRA)
Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (WACCRA)
Left to right: Laura Saunders, incoming WACCRA President, Carlos Caguiat, Kim Hickman, and Barb Horrell during panel discussion.
Our 2023 Annual Meeting at Timber Ridge CCRC on October 21st in Issaquah was a great success!
Those gathered (approximately 200 in person; others on zoom) heard outgoing President Donna Kristaponis talk about highlights of the past year before passing the torch to Laura Saunders. We thank Donna for 3 years of strong leadership laced with good humor.
Our Legislative Liaison team got us up to speed via a panel discussion on our past, current, and future legislative work in Olympia. The team asked WACCRA members to submit their legislative priority interests via an electronic survey soon to be distributed.
Katherine C. Pearson, Professor of Elder Law and Arthur L. & Sandra S. Piccone Faculty Scholar at Dickinson Law, Penn State, bolstered and validated our legislative work in her talk titled Challenging Roles for Regulation and Resident Advocacy for Continuing Care Communities.
Consumer Guide to CCRC's in Washington State
Consumer Guide to Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC's) in Washington State
Our Consumer Guide provides critical information for seniors considering investing in, and moving into, a CCRC. You will find sections on the types of contracts available (A, B, C, D), independent living options, levels of healthcare (Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care), financial considerations, and ownership and governance characteristics. A helpful checklist of amenities makes decision-making easier. The Consumer Guide includes contact information for each of the 23 CCRCs registered in Washington State.
The community living experience in a CCRC can offer you congenial new friends, rich social and cultural experiences, excellent health care, life-enhancing fitness/wellness opportunities, genuine security and peace of mind.
Your move will eliminate the stress of maintaining a home and relieve your children’s worries about their parents living alone. In this way, you will avoid becoming a burden to them or to others.
What is a CCRC, Actually?
A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is an organization that provides a secure and comfortable place for senior citizens to live, with an agreement that assures a continuum of care as their needs change over time through the rest of their lives. CCRCs generally include independent living residences which are rented on a monthly basis; memory care facilities; assisted living; and skilled nursing. Some contracts require a substantial
up-front deposit (a percentage of which is refundable) in addition to the monthly rent.
