Newsweek has announced its annual ranking of best continuing care retirement communities, with Givens Estates in Asheville remaining first in North Carolina and rising to 8th in the nation, of the 67 communities in the state and more than 2,000 in America.

Continuing care retirement communities provide long-term options for residents typically aged 55 and older who can transition from independent living into higher levels of care, including assisted living, skilled nursing care or memory care, all at the same campus.

“At Givens Estates, we believe aging is not a limitation but an opportunity to embrace vibrant living and endless possibilities,” said Kirsten Cone, executive director of Givens Estates. “Our strong sense of community is founded on the individual work by residents to be fully human. Residents and staff find our campus to be an engaging place where we share our strengths and struggles. Our belief in a citizenship model where each of us is valued for our voice and contributions.”

Givens Estates boosted its national ranking by five spots over last year, improving its quality dimension rating from residents and their acquaintances and maintaining a high professional recommendation score.

“Asheville, North Carolina, is a great place to live, a great place to retire, and I believe Givens Estates is a very real contributor to everything that factors into the quality of life of this region,” Geoffrey Cantrell, the director of public relations for Givens Estates, told Newsweek in an emailed statement. “Our residents are engaged, whether as volunteers or civic leaders, willingly involved in community life and campus living.”

Cantrell said Givens Estates has updated its programs and services after developing a new set of core values and assessing the overall happiness and satisfaction of residents and staff.

In partnership with global research firm Statista, Newsweek evaluated each CCRC’s total score by reputation (70 percent), visitor satisfaction (15 percent), accreditation (10 percent) and a Google review (5 percent). The ranking draws on two national online surveys of medical professionals and residents, as well as an analysis of key quality dimensions, accreditations, visitor satisfaction and online reviews.

To learn more about the best in retirement living that is experienced at Givens Estates, go to www.givensestates.org or call 828-274-4800.