How Paying for Assisted Living Works at The Greens at Cannondale
If you are comparing assisted living in Fairfield County, you will run into two different ways of paying for it. Some communities charge a large one-time entrance fee before a resident moves in, then a monthly fee on top. Others charge a monthly fee only.
The Greens at Cannondale is the second kind. There is no entrance fee and no buy-in. Residents pay monthly.
This page explains what that means in practice, and where a buy-in community may still be the better choice for your family. Both models are legitimate. They suit different situations, and the honest answer depends on your circumstances rather than on which brochure you are holding.
What a CCRC buy-in actually is
A Continuing Care Retirement Community, or CCRC, asks for an entrance fee at move-in. In Connecticut these commonly run into six figures. In exchange, the community commits to providing care as the resident’s needs change, under a contract signed at the start.
Entrance fees are usually structured with a refund provision. Many contracts return a set percentage to the resident or their estate when the apartment is vacated, often somewhere between half and ninety percent depending on the option chosen. A portion of both the entrance fee and the monthly fee may also qualify as a prepaid medical expense for tax purposes.
Those are real advantages and worth weighing. A CCRC contract can also cap what a family pays if care needs increase substantially, which is the main reason people choose one.
What the rental model changes
With a monthly rental arrangement, no large sum changes hands at move-in. That has three practical consequences.
Your capital stays where it is. Money that would have gone into an entrance fee remains in your accounts, under your control, available for other needs. What you do with it is a question for your financial advisor, not for us.
The commitment is shorter. A rental arrangement does not require signing a long-term care contract at the outset. If the community turns out not to suit your relative, or circumstances change, you are not unwinding a six-figure agreement.
The decision is reversible. Families who are unsure often start with a respite stay before committing to anything longer.
The tradeoff is real and you should hear it from us rather than from a competitor. Because there is no entrance fee funding future care, a rental community does not contractually cap your costs if care needs rise steeply over many years. A CCRC Type A contract is specifically designed to do that. If your family’s main concern is protection against a long, high-acuity care period, that is a genuine reason to look at a buy-in community.
Comparing the two
| CCRC buy-in | The Greens at Cannondale | |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee | Six figures, typical in Connecticut | None |
| Monthly fee | Yes, in addition to the entrance fee | Yes, this is the only fee |
| Refund of entrance fee | Often partially refundable, per contract | Not applicable |
| Capital committed upfront | Substantial | None |
| Length of commitment | Long-term contract at move-in | Monthly |
| Cost protection if care needs rise | Type A contracts can cap increases | Fees reflect care level as it changes |
| Higher levels of care | Provided within the community | On the same campus, at Wilton Meadows |
| Possible tax treatment | Portion may be a prepaid medical expense | Portion of care costs may be deductible |
Confirm any tax treatment with your own accountant. Rules vary by situation.
Care on one campus
One concern families raise about rental communities is what happens if a resident needs more care than assisted living provides.
The Greens sits on an eleven-acre campus alongside Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, under the same family ownership. Short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing are on that campus, as is the Nuvance Health Geriatric Assessment Program. A resident whose needs change does not have to search for a new community in a different town, and the family does not have to start over with an unfamiliar clinical team.
Ask us directly how transitions between the two work, and what is and is not committed in writing. That is a fair question and you should get a specific answer before you move in.
What the monthly fee covers
The monthly fee reflects two things: the apartment your relative chooses, and the level of personal care they need.
Apartment options are Companion Suites, studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units, with penthouse studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, and first floor suites also available. Every apartment includes a full-size refrigerator and freezer, electric cooktop, microwave, walk-in shower, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, and an emergency response system. Floor plans are on the site.
Services provided at The Greens include:
- Chef-prepared meals and anytime snacks
- Housekeeping and laundry service
- Transportation, including sitter services as needed
- Social activities, outings, and planned activity programs
- Personal care and medication management
- Registered dietitian services
Because care needs and apartment choices vary widely, we quote a rate after a conversation about what your relative actually needs, and we will tell you exactly which of the above is covered by the monthly fee and which is billed separately. Call 203.761.1191 and we will put it in writing.
A note on pricing you find elsewhere
Third-party referral sites publish estimated pricing for this community that they generate themselves, not figures we supply. Those estimates are often wrong in both directions and some are for shared rooms rather than private apartments. If you have seen a number on a directory site and want to know whether it reflects what your family would actually pay, call us and ask. We would rather give you an accurate figure than have you plan around someone else’s estimate.
Does The Greens at Cannondale charge an entrance fee? No. There is no entrance fee and no buy-in. Residents pay a monthly fee that reflects their apartment and their level of care, with no large payment required at move-in.
What does assisted living cost at The Greens at Cannondale? The monthly fee depends on the apartment your relative chooses and the level of personal care they need. Services at The Greens include chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and laundry, transportation, activities and outings, personal care, and medication management. Because care needs differ substantially from one resident to the next, we quote a rate after discussing what your relative needs, and we will set out in writing what the monthly fee covers and what is billed separately. Call 203.761.1191 for current rates.
Is a rental community cheaper than a CCRC? Not necessarily, and it depends on the time horizon. A rental arrangement requires far less money upfront, which is why families concerned about liquidity often prefer it. A CCRC may cost less over a long period of high-acuity care, because the entrance fee partly prepays for that care. The right comparison depends on your family’s finances and your relative’s health, which is worth reviewing with a financial advisor.
Can a resident move to skilled nursing if their needs change? Higher levels of care, including short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing, are available at Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on the same eleven-acre campus, under the same family ownership. Ask us how a transition works and what is committed in writing before you move in.
Can we try the community before committing? Yes. The Greens offers respite care, a short-term stay in a furnished apartment with full access to dining, activities, and personal care. Families frequently use a respite stay to see whether the community suits their relative before making a longer commitment. Availability depends on occupancy.
What is not included in the monthly fee? Ask for this in writing when you request a rate. A reputable community should give you a clear list of what falls outside the monthly fee, and you should compare that list across every community you tour.