Understanding the Life Plan Community Model at Brookridge

Choosing where to live in retirement means weighing more than location and amenities. It also means thinking ahead to what happens if your health needs change. A Life Plan Community, sometimes called a continuing care retirement community or CCRC, is designed to answer that question before it becomes urgent. At Brookridge in Winston-Salem, that means one campus, one community, and a full continuum of care available right where you already live.

What Is a Life Plan Community?

A Life Plan Community combines independent living with access to higher levels of care, all within a single, connected setting. Instead of researching and relocating to a new provider if care needs increase, residents can transition to the appropriate level of support without leaving the community they know and the neighbors they have come to rely on.

This differs from a standalone independent living building or an assisted living community that offers only one type of care. At Brookridge, the continuum of care includes independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation, all located on one wooded campus just minutes from downtown Winston-Salem.

The Brookridge Continuum of Care

Independent living at Brookridge takes two forms. Apartment homes range from studios to spacious two-bedroom layouts, all connected to dining venues, the fitness center, the pool, and the health center under one roof. Garden Homes offer a quieter, tree-lined setting a short distance from the main campus, with private two-bedroom, single-story residences and a choice of floor plans. Both options are maintenance-free, so residents spend less time on upkeep and more time on the things they enjoy.

Should health needs change, Brookridge offers assisted living for residents who need a helping hand with daily activities, along with skilled nursing and rehabilitation for those recovering from illness, injury, or a hospital stay. Memory care provides a secure, supportive environment with specially trained caregivers for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or a related condition. Brookridge is also adding memory care residences designed specifically for couples, opening in early 2027, so partners can continue living together even as one partner's care needs evolve.

Backed by a Mission-Driven Nonprofit

Brookridge is part of ThriveMore, a nonprofit organization with a long history of serving older adults across North Carolina. That nonprofit structure means decisions are guided by the mission of resident wellbeing rather than outside shareholders, and it supports a Foundation that provides financial assistance to residents in need and subsidized medications for seniors across North Carolina.

Why Families Choose This Model

The appeal of a Life Plan Community often comes down to reducing uncertainty. Health needs can change gradually or suddenly, and having a plan in place ahead of time removes a significant source of stress for both residents and their families. Rather than researching options during a crisis, residents and their loved ones can make decisions calmly, with full knowledge of what is available and where.

Exploring a Life Plan Community typically takes more than one visit. It starts with a tour of the campus, conversations with current residents about their experience, and a review of the community's continuum of care and financial structure. Brookridge welcomes these conversations and encourages anyone considering the move to schedule a tour and see the campus firsthand.

A Community Built for the Long Term

At Brookridge, the Life Plan Community model supports continuity, connection, and the ability to plan ahead with confidence. A resident may move in fully independent or already be thinking about a future care need. Either way, the full continuum, including the new couples memory care residences opening in early 2027, is already in place and ready to support them.

To learn more about the Life Plan Community model at Brookridge or to schedule a tour, contact the Brookridge team today.