September 2, 2020 —Today’s older adults have many options for senior living.
Active adult, independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities are among the best options available to people looking to make a change as they approach or enter retirement. If you want to take advantage of the services and benefits senior living communities offer, start here to find the type of community that’s right for you.
Active adult communities offer amenities and events but lack care options.
Older adults and seniors who value an active lifestyle can move to a community designed for older adults and their interests. Many active adult communities offer housing options for different budgets. Events and amenities like gyms, pools, golf courses, tennis courts and hiking trails are often included and designed for your age group. The downsides include a lack of housekeeping, dining and transportation services and that you might need to move if you require skilled nursing care in the future.
Independent living communities are designed exclusively for seniors who want to live in a community setting.
Any housing designed exclusively for seniors falls into this category. These communities include retirement homes, retirement communities and senior apartments. There is a wide range of housing options available in independent living communities and, for this reason, the cost can vary widely with everything from affordable to luxury prices in the market. Independent living communities are a good choice for seniors who want to be in an active setting that offers opportunities to socialize and services like dining, housekeeping and transportation.
Assisted living residences offer a mix of independent living and supportive care.
There’s a wide range of service and care options across assisted living communities, designed for those who want to live independently but require some support in daily activities. Typically, residents live in apartments in a care community that is staffed around the clock and offers meals in a group dining room, as well as housekeeping, transportation and planned activities. Communities offer different levels of care that may include help with bathing, dressing and managing medications. Some offer higher levels of skilled nursing care. Costs can be high but vary according to the services a resident requires and choice of living space.
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) are a blend of other senior living options.
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) are part independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facility all rolled into one. Lifestyle amenities, activities, dining, transportation, skilled and supportive care are all elements of a CCRC, but the combination of independent living options with the availability of services and support in the same community is the major benefit. Residents of a CCRC often start in an independent living section of a community and simply move to different parts of the same community if they need increasing levels of care. This can be a great option for couples in which one person is able to live more independently and the other requires more care. Continuing care retirement communities are one of the more expensive options for senior living because of the flexibility and assurance that they provide.
Options abound for older adults and seniors who want or need to live in a community setting during retirement. Services and costs vary widely depending on the community and even on which part of the country you live in. Careful research and planning will help you find the right one for you.
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