Happy New Year from everyone at Plantation Village! The New Year is the perfect opportunity to reflect on changes that meet the needs of our evolving society. At Plantation Village, we are concerned with addressing the issues and desires of our current and future residents. That’s why we’re excited about a change that is coming to our industry.

LeadingAge, a non-profit association focused on education, advocacy and research efforts applicable to the senior community, recently unveiled “Life Plan Community” as a new name for the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) category of retirement living options.

A revolution to the idea of retirement, the name change is being driven by baby boomers, who have been doing things differently since they were teenagers. To meet the needs of this generation, senior living communities have transformed from care providers into vibrant communities with a range of residential options, along with new opportunities for creative, educational and personal exploration. Clearly, the Continuing Care Retirement Community name is no longer an adequate description of the active, forward-looking nature of the contemporary senior living community. Life Plan Community better defines and reflects the changing perceptions about communities such as Plantation Village.

The Life Plan Community name was created to educate the public about the many different services and amenities that are provided by CCRCs and to help ensure people can relocate in time to take full advantage of everything these communities offer.

Considering that many CCRCs offer world-class, resort-style amenities, enriching group activities, social outings and learning opportunities, the Life Plan Community name is much more appropriate. After all, it’s about more than just exceptional health care, and the change is meant to emphasize that idea.

When the residents of Plantation Village do need care, however, they receive priority access to Champions Assisted Living and the Davis Health Care Center. Our residents also get up to 30 days of temporary care every year at no additional cost.

What this means for people who decide to become a part of the Plantation Village community is that we are accepting responsibility for their long-term care needs for the rest of their lives. This makes the Life Plan Community name even more appropriate.

Unfortunately, many people still have the misguided view that CCRCs are only for those who need an assisted living provider or long-term care. As a result of this misperception, and the stigma attached to CCRCs, many potential residents wait until it is too late to make their choice. This places the burden of making an important, life-changing decision on the shoulders of a loved one, something that is uncomfortable for everyone.

Another unfortunate outcome of the misperception about CCRCs is that it causes many folks to miss out on the amenities that are offered by these communities, plus the variety of social activities and life-enrichment programs.

Instead of being passive and reactionary, today’s seniors are engaged, active citizens who are focused on being proactive about their futures. The new Life Plan Community name reflects this fundamental shift in the way that existing and future residents think about the concept of aging.

It is our hope that this new name will serve as an effective remedy against some of the stigma that is currently attached to Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Educating the public about the many service offerings and amenities provided by Plantation Village should quickly shatter the perception that CCRCs are only for the elderly and the sick.

For more information, please call 910.319.1416, or visit www.PlantationVillageRC.com.

Lisa Polanski is the director of marketing at Plantation Village. Plantation Village is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, just minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas. Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s third-largest elder care management company. For more information, visit plantationvillagerc.com.