The National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA) is dedicated to the promotion of Continuing Care Resident Communities (CCRCs) as a humane, cost-effective long-term care model for elderly individuals. NaCCRA encourages the development of minimum federal standards for provider performance, allowing ample opportunity for each state to utilize policies, which contribute to the welfare and financial security of their residents.

Seven main reasons have been developed regarding NaCCRA’s mission:

1. Monitor vital national issues
2. Provide consumer protection
3. Sharing ideas with other states
4. Provide an independent voice for CCRC residents before Congress
5. Serve as resource for the development of new state resident associations
6. Serve as an informational resource to state agencies
7. Provide a specific organization for the special needs of CCRC residents

Some of the most important issues affecting the financial security and health needs of the elderly are being debated in Congress. The American Association of Retired Persons and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging have broad legislative agendas and do not specifically protect the special needs and situations of residents of continuing care retirement communities.

MISSION STATEMENT

1. EDUCATION
1. Encouraging CCRC's to share information.
2. Creating Mechanisms for informational feedback.
2. CONSUMER PROTECTION
1. Propose minimum standards for provider performance.
2. Provide for dialogues with providers and regulators to formulate the standards.
3. Work with providers and regulators to develop effective monitoring programs for quality management.
4. Educating legislators as to the benefits of the CCRC concept.
3. PROMOTION
1. Identify those values which make the CCRC concept superior to other modalities in the provision of long term care.
2. Educate the public to appreciate those values.
3. Create programs to work cooperatively with providers for sound growth of the industry.
4. PARTICIPATION
1. Educate residents to define their governance role.
2. Educate residents to seek an appropriate role in the decision-making process in their communities.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. Three influences on CCRCs:
1. Federal and state guidelines and regulations for Medicare and Long-term care.
2. Provider efficiency.
3. Resident input.
2. Every CCRC has its unique characteristics, which must be respected. We should initiate democratic procedures to ascertain that federal legislations provide flexibility toward that end.
3. Every individual should be encouraged to plan for his continuum years, and that encouragement through federal incentives will reduce the Medicaid burden.

BECOMING A NaCCRA MEMBER

We have unsolved problems, which will require your help as we build on the foundation we have achieved. Your participation is important. We need your ideas and membership dues to defray the costs to back up our volunteering officers and directors. Our budget is democratically developed and published regularly.

Members receive our position papers through our newsletter. We are working to solve prescription drug costs, Social Security preservation, patient rights, nursing home liability insurance and adequate nursing staff. We have an opportunity to work with legislators, providers, other advocacy groups, and regulators to preserve and improve the advantages we enjoy living in the most cost effective option of living through the aging continuum. If we fail to participate, they will be made without our input.

Join NaCCRA and help us do the job. Stated dues are specified in the application.

NaCCRA ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. We have carried the CCRC message to all key Congressional Committee offices dealing with NaCCRA concerns.
2. We helped pass federal legislation on the the Return to Home (HMO) Bill and it is now law.
3. We are reaching more State Residents, Community Associations and individuals through growing membership.
4. We have prepared position papers on the most controversial issues affecting residents’ security and quality of life.
5. NaCCRA has a periodic publication to facilitate the exchange of successful solutions to mutual problems at the state level.
6. NaCCRA meets regularly with provider organizations in pursuit of common goals.
7. NaCCRA working with AAHSA persuaded Legislators to eliminate tax on Imputed Interest.

2008 ISSUES

•  Encourage Resident involvement in CCRC support of greater community - protect not-for-profit status.
•  Support AAHSA effort to achieve permanent elimination of Therapy Caps.
•  Support Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes.
•  Support Center for Excellence in Assisted Living.
•  Support Residents remaining independent as long as possible.
•  Monitor legislative activity and keep resident informed.
•  Promote CCRC as most desirable place for aging. 
•  Support Residents as voting members of Governance Boards.
•  Promote Resident/Provider relationships.
•  Promote sharing of information - provide information to Life Line - respond to information in Life Line.