- [Dara] Every week you'll find her in the same place.

- Three crack.

- [Dara] Surrounded by friends at The Barclay at SouthPark playing Mahjong in the game room.

- Oh, I'll call that.

- For Marilyn Prensky, this is the life, (Marilyn laughs) laughing and enjoying her golden years at this continuing care retirement community.

- I don't have to get in my car, and drive anywhere to get to a game, or to do anything.

All I have to do is walk, come in the elevator.

- The elevator.

- And we're there.

(gentle piano music) - [Dara] Same for her friend and fellow resident, Bev Nordmann.

- We were looking for a place where we could retire completely.

We are all in an age category.

And this was the most accessible.

- [Dara] While everything looks great now for the ladies, Marilyn's transition wasn't easy.

- We're in Tucson for 24 years.

We had wonderful friends.

And to leave that to an unknown, knowing no one except for our children, that was very scary.

- [Dara] She and her husband Ira, made the decision to leave Arizona over a year ago to be closer to their daughter.

- The hardest thing was knowing where all our stuff was going to go.

We had a lot of things, stuff, that I really felt I couldn't do without.

- [Dara] Tough choices like this are only a portion of what many have to consider when they're transitioning to a new home to fit their needs.

- They feel that they're giving up their independence, and they feel that they're giving those choices.

- [Dara] Hillary Kaylor, a regional ombudsman with the Centralina Area Agency on Aging, says there's also the reality of where they're going to live, and how they're going to pay for it.

- Care is very expensive, and so you have to plan for that as well, see what else you have if you have long-term care insurance that may cover it, if it's your private pay funds, what your social security may contribute to that, your pensions.

- [Dara] Here are a few options.

An assisted living facility for people who need daily care, like getting dressed and preparing meals.

The average monthly cost in Charlotte is around $4,200.

Or a nursing home, for those who need more medical care, and help with activities like occupational therapy.

The average monthly cost starts around $9,000 compared to memory care facilities priced around $7,000.

Back at The Barclay at SouthPark, you'll also find continuing care.

- What that basically means is that we have all levels of care under one roof.

So we do offer independent living, assisted living, memory support, as well as a skilled nursing rehab.

- [Dara] Its average monthly cost starts around $6,700, and can go over $10,000.

Aldersgate is another continuing care retirement community in Charlotte, with an average monthly cost between $5,500 and $12,000 for members living in the healthcare spaces.

Here, you'll find 97-year-old Lucile Cole getting daily help from one of her caregivers.

- We are friends, and each feels free to let each other know what's bothering them or pleasing them.

- [Dara] After a fall in 2023 that left her with a broken shoulder and cracked pelvis, her daughter tells us this home care service has been a major part of her recovery.

- I love you so much.

- It's hard to watch your parent age.

It's hard to watch 'em come to the point of death three or four times in a two year period, and still have 'em on the other end.

And I credit the care, the caregiving.

- [Dara] Regardless of where you live, experts say it's important to fully understand what you're getting into.

- Laney, I'm gonna take you into our model, two bedroom/two bath.

The first step is go out and visit.

Understand different financial models.

They're not all the same.

Senior living communities have non-entrance fee rental models like what we are, - [Dara] Which means they don't collect your nest egg.

Instead, you sign a 13 month lease, and there's a monthly service fee.

- There are entrance fee models, there are equity models.

Each one has its kind of own financial arrangement.

- [Dara] The entrance model fee requires you to pay an upfront fee once, and according to AARP, the average price is around $402,000.

The equity model means you own your place, and are able to resell it.

- It's not a matter of you know what's good, bad, right or wrong, they're all just so different.

So you really have to go out and educate yourself to understand what the benefits are to to each type, and see what the best fit is for you.

- [Dara] It's also important to tell your family, sooner rather than later, what your desired living plans are for the future, so that when it's your time to transition like Marilyn, There's less confusion and you have more control.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Dara Khaalid.