We will develop a valid database to allow objective analysis of continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) and other senior congregate living arrangements based on data specific to these facilities. In contrast to current generic databases, this database, designed for updating and future enhancement will be built from the collection of a minimum 50,000 life years of CCRC experience. The new database will allow the development of tools to provide sound financial projections of future costs and determine whether a CCRC is priced and reserved appropriately or whether the promises are empty Phase I will define the community and resident data to be captured, establish common definitions and design flexlble computer software for data collection. Phase 11 will collect, validate, merge and analyze the data. Morbidity and mortality standards for an insured older population (CCRC residents) will be produced from the database for use in secondary research and financial modeling of CCRCs.Applicable factors reflecting differences between communities' resident transition rates will be developed. The database win be available to researchers at cost and to commercial users at a profit. Flexible data collection and management information software will be sold to CCRCs. Financial models based on new rates of mortality and transition will be marketed to existing and developing CCRCs to enhance financial viability over the long term.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The project creates, from the new database, normative morbidity and mortality standards against which a CCRC can compare itself. Reliable standards for financial forecasting and management reports. A software package for data collection and management information reports usable by CCRCs. Over 40 CCRCs have expressed interest.National Institute on Aging (NIA)
