Arbor Acres retirement living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that has served older adults for decades on a scenic campus near downtown. What surprises many families is that only a small share of residents ever need skilled nursing — most enter while fully independent and use the community as insurance against future care costs.
The problem is that CCRC contracts are complex, entry fees are significant, and comparing communities like Arbor Acres to assisted living or aging in place can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down how the community works, what it costs, what care levels are offered, and which questions to ask before you commit.
What Arbor Acres Retirement Offers: Care Levels Explained
Arbor Acres retirement operates on the CCRC model, meaning multiple levels of care exist on one campus. Residents typically begin in independent living and can transition to higher care without leaving the community.
The standard care continuum includes:
- Independent living — cottages and apartments for active adults
- Assisted living — help with daily tasks like bathing and medication
- Skilled nursing — 24/7 medical care, often including Medicare-certified beds
- Memory care — secure, specialized support for dementia
According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), the occupancy rate for senior housing communities has been climbing steadily since 2021 as demand from adults over 80 accelerates — meaning waitlists at established CCRCs are common.
How to apply this: Call the community's residency counselor and ask specifically which care levels are on-site versus contracted out, and how long the current waitlist runs.
The True Cost of Arbor Acres Retirement Living
CCRCs charge two main fees: an entry fee (sometimes called a buy-in) and a monthly service fee. Entry fees at nonprofit CCRCs typically range from the low six figures to well over $500,000 depending on unit size, and monthly fees commonly run several thousand dollars.
Arbor Acres does not publish a full rate sheet publicly, so you must request current pricing directly.
A helpful way to evaluate cost is the return-of-capital structure. Many nonprofit CCRCs, including faith-based ones, offer plans that refund 50–90% of the entry fee to your estate when you leave or pass away.
| Fee type | What it covers | Action to take |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | Your unit and access to care | Ask the refund percentage in writing |
| Monthly fee | Meals, utilities, amenities | Confirm annual increase history |
| Care add-ons | Higher care when needed | Request the rate schedule for each level |
| Second-person fee | Spouse coverage | Ask what happens if one spouse moves to care |
How to apply this: Request the community's audited financial statements and recent fee-increase history before signing anything.
Entry fees at nonprofit CCRCs often start in the low six figures, and arbor acres retirement sits within that typical range. Monthly service fees at arbor acres retirement cover meals, maintenance, and campus services on top of the buy-in.
Under a Type A Life Care contract, arbor acres retirement keeps your monthly fee roughly level as care needs rise. The tradeoff at arbor acres retirement is a higher entry fee in exchange for the strongest long-term cost protection.
Contract Types: How Your Fees Change With Care
Type A (Life Care)
Under a Life Care contract, your monthly fee stays roughly the same even if you move to assisted living or skilled nursing. This is the most expensive entry fee but the strongest protection against runaway long-term care costs.
Type B (Modified)
Modified contracts include a set amount of discounted care — say, 60 days per year — after which you pay market rates for additional care. Entry fees are lower, but you carry more risk.
Type C (Fee-for-Service)
Fee-for-service keeps the entry fee lowest, but every day of higher care is billed at full market rates. The AARP's guide to CCRCs recommends comparing at least three contract types across communities because a "cheaper" Type C deal can cost more over a long nursing stay.
How to apply this: Ask the residency counselor to put all three contract options side by side in a written comparison, then have a CCRC-specific elder law attorney review it.
Accredited status gives arbor acres retirement a verifiable quality signal beyond any marketing brochure. As a United Methodist–affiliated community, arbor acres retirement also carries a faith-based nonprofit identity worth noting.
Treat the decision about arbor acres retirement like a retirement plan rather than a home purchase. Advisors often suggest total annual fees at arbor acres retirement stay within a set share of income.
Quality Signals: How to Vet the Community Before Moving
Accreditation and inspection data tell you more than brochures. Arbor Acres is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is among the CCRCs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which requires multi-year re-evaluations of governance, finances, and resident satisfaction.
When vetting any CCRC, check:
- The skilled nursing facility's rating on Medicare.gov Care Compare — look at health inspections and staffing stars
- CARF accreditation status at CARF International — confirm it is current, not lapsed
- Resident and family reviews through AARP resources and local senior living directories
As Medicare's Care Compare tool itself notes, star ratings reflect "health inspections, staffing, and quality measures" reported during certified surveys — making them one of the few third-party data sources you can verify yourself.
How to apply this: Visit unannounced at lunchtime and eat a meal in the dining room; residents in casual conversation reveal more than any tour.
Many nonprofit, faith-based communities like arbor acres retirement hold benevolent care funds that let residents stay after resources run out.
Accreditation and inspection data tell you more than brochures, and arbor acres retirement is among the CCRCs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
Financial Fit: Affordability and Lifecare Considerations
CCRC contracts are long-term financial commitments, so treat the decision like a retirement plan, not a real estate purchase. Financial advisors commonly suggest that total annual community fees should not exceed a large share of your combined retirement income, and that you retain liquid reserves beyond the entry fee.
Key financial checks:
- Confirm whether the community requires proof of income or assets to qualify
- Ask whether Medicare and Medigap still cover hospital and rehab stays as they would at home
- Find out how the community handles residents who outlive their resources — many nonprofit CCRCs have benevolent funds, but policies vary
AARP's financial planning resources recommend having an attorney who specializes in elder law review the residency agreement, because these contracts blend real estate, insurance, and healthcare in ways standard contracts do not.
How to apply this: Bring the residency agreement to a fee-only financial advisor who is a fiduciary before paying any deposit.
CCRC contracts are long-term financial commitments, so treat arbor acres retirement like a retirement plan rather than a real estate purchase. Financial advisors commonly suggest that total annual arbor acres retirement fees should stay within about half of your retirement income.
Many nonprofit, faith-based communities like arbor acres retirement maintain benevolent care funds that allow residents to stay even after their resources are exhausted.
Lifestyle, Location, and Community Culture in Winston-Salem
Arbor Acres retirement living sits minutes from downtown Winston-Salem, giving residents access to Wake Forest Baptist medical facilities, arts venues, and the city's celebrated dining scene. On-campus, expect amenities typical of established nonprofit CCRCs: multiple dining venues, a wellness center, an indoor pool, chapel services, and organized lifelong learning.
Culture matters as much as amenities. Ask about:
- The resident council and how much input residents have on food and programming
- Transportation for medical appointments and errands
- Whether faith-based programming matches your preferences (or welcomes all faiths)
The NC Department of Health and Human Services licenses adult care homes and nursing facilities statewide, so you can also verify inspection histories through the state's facility search portal.
How to apply this: Ask to be added to a future event or lunch guest list so you can experience daily life before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions About arbor acres retirement
How do waitlists work at continuing care communities like this?
Most CCRCs use a deposit-based waitlist, where you pay a refundable fee to hold a position and a unit selection priority. If your health changes while you wait, some communities let list members access higher care before permanent residents.
Always ask whether the waitlist deposit earns interest and under what conditions it is refundable, because arbor acres retirement waitlist terms differ from other communities'.
Can couples move in together if they need different levels of care?
Yes — this is one of the strongest reasons couples choose CCRCs. Typically one spouse lives independently while the other receives assisted living or nursing care on the same campus. Some contracts charge separate care fees for each spouse, so request the exact pricing scenario for your situation.
Couples' contracts at arbor acres retirement communities should be reviewed in writing before deposit.
What happens if I run out of money after moving in?
Many nonprofit, faith-based CCRCs maintain benevolent care funds that allow residents to stay even after their resources are exhausted. Policies vary on eligibility, duration, and whether family assets are considered first. Ask specifically how many residents currently receive financial assistance — a well-funded community will answer openly.
Is a CCRC a good alternative to long-term care insurance?
They solve overlapping but different problems. Long-term care insurance pays for care wherever you receive it; a CCRC bundles housing, care, and predictable costs in one contract. Some residents hold both. Review any existing insurance policy for elimination periods and benefit triggers before signing an arbor acres retirement contract, since coverage may coordinate with the community's fees.
How does a CCRC compare with aging in place at home?
Aging in place works well when your home is single-level, near family, and your health is stable. Costs rise quickly once you stack home care aides, home modifications, and eventual moving costs. A CCRC trades flexibility for guaranteed access to escalating care.
Run a five-year cost projection of both paths with a financial advisor before deciding against arbor acres retirement communities.
Conclusion
Arbor Acres retirement communities represent a proven model — housing, healthcare, and community combined under one contract. Before you decide, keep these takeaways in mind:
- Verify care levels and waitlists directly with a residency counselor, not through third-party listings
- Compare all three contract types (Life Care, Modified, Fee-for-Service) in writing
- Check third-party data on Medicare.gov Care Compare and confirm CARF accreditation is current
- Have an elder law attorney and fiduciary advisor review the residency agreement before any deposit
The single best next step is scheduling an unannounced visit — eat a meal, talk to residents, and request current pricing and the residency agreement the same day. That combination of firsthand observation and written detail will tell you more than any guide, including this one.
