Kingswood's New Rental Model: What Kansas City Families Should Know

Kingswood Senior Living, a continuing care retirement community in southern Kansas City, said in a PRNewswire release that it has shifted from a traditional entrance-fee model to a rental model after being acquired earlier this year by an affiliate of Lapis Advisers. That matters because entrance fees can be one of the biggest barriers for older adults considering a move, especially families trying to preserve savings while still keeping access to assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing on one campus.

What happened

According to the company's Aug. 13 announcement, Kingswood has kept its full range of services in place: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The community says the major change is financial, not clinical. Instead of requiring a large upfront entrance fee common in many CCRCs, it now offers a rental structure.

A CCRC, or continuing care retirement community, is a campus that typically lets residents move between levels of care as needs change. In exchange, many CCRCs have historically charged a substantial buy-in or entrance fee, sometimes alongside monthly charges. Kingswood says residents can now access the same campus and amenities without that large initial payment.

The release also says the property is undergoing capital improvements, including roofing and flooring updates, with the first phase expected to finish in early September. The company did not provide pricing, contract details, occupancy figures, staffing levels, or any specifics about whether monthly rates changed under the new model.

What this may mean for families

The biggest practical change is likely affordability at move-in. A rental model can lower the amount of cash a family needs upfront, which may open the door for seniors who could not manage a six-figure entrance fee. For many households, that can make it easier to compare Kingswood with other local options rather than ruling it out immediately. It may also appeal to families who want more flexibility and do not want to tie up a large portion of savings in a single community.

That said, "rental model" does not automatically mean "less expensive." Families still need to ask what the monthly rate includes, how often rents can increase, and what happens if a resident later needs assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing. A campus with multiple care levels can be attractive, but the details matter. Before touring, it helps to review basics like what assisted living actually includes, the differences in assisted living vs. memory care, and the key questions to ask on an assisted living tour.

Families should also pay close attention to payment planning. If the community no longer requires a big entrance payment, that may preserve funds for future care needs, but monthly charges can still be significant. It is worth comparing private-pay costs with other resources, including veterans benefits or state Medicaid pathways where applicable. Assisted Living Channel's guides on how to pay for assisted living and VA Aid and Attendance for assisted living can help families frame those questions.

What to keep in mind

This is still a company-issued press release, so it gives only one side of the story. It highlights amenities and planned improvements, but it does not answer several questions families usually care about most: current monthly rates, staffing stability after the ownership change, occupancy trends, whether any services have been reduced, and whether residents moving to higher-acuity care receive any pricing protections.

It is also important not to assume that a rental CCRC contract works the same way as a standard assisted living lease. Some continuing care communities have more complex terms around transfers, healthcare access, priority placement, or fee increases. Families should ask for the actual residency agreement and have enough time to review it carefully before making a decision.

Bigger picture: why some communities are moving away from entrance fees

Across senior living, some communities have been looking for ways to widen their pool of potential residents as older adults become more price-sensitive and hesitant to commit large sums upfront. A rental model can remove one barrier, especially for people selling a home on a slower timeline or trying to keep more assets liquid. But it can also shift costs into higher monthly charges, so families should compare the full long-term picture, not just the move-in number.

For readers weighing whether a community like this fits a loved one's needs, it may help to compare levels of care and timing. Start with guides on signs it may be time for assisted living and how to compare assisted living communities, especially if you are choosing between staying independent for now and moving to a campus that can handle future care changes.