What Exactly is Senior Living
The term senior living encompasses a range of services, living options and care types. Frankly, senior living simply means any living options that cater to seniors usually over 65. However, there are more active types of communities specifically for the 55+ crowd looking for neighborhood type living including townhomes and condos.
Everyone has unique needs and desires. Fortunately, there are many living and care options for you to choose from. The trouble is knowing which option fits your needs. Below is a descriptions of each type of senior living and senior care option.
Senior Apartments: These are apartment complexes catering to seniors. These are independent living homes, and sometimes offer community activities and other services. Often, senior apartments are catered to lower income senior housing, but this isn’t always the case. In urban areas, apartments are much more practical and affordable than condos or townhomes.
Active Adult Communities: These are the 55+ communities that cater to adults looking to live a maintenance free lifestyle. Usually the kids are gone or just finishing college, and having a large home with a lot of maintenance just isn’t practical anymore. These communities usually consist of townhomes, condos, or even single family homes. The homes are usually owned by residents, but sometimes may be rentals. You’ll often see amenities catering to the active adults like golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools etc. Maintenance-free living is usually included in the monthly HOA or condominium fees.
Independent Living: Homes or apartments that cater to the 65+ crowd. These are rental communities catering to seniors that provide residents maintenance free living. Because they are independent residences, care is not provided. However, many independent living communities are either part of communities that also provide assisted living and more, or are at least affiliated with assisted living. Not having to move again as one ages and needs a higher level of care can be an advantage.
Assisted Living: Usually private pay communities that incorporate care from trained staff and nurses. There is a spectrum of assisted living options and choices. The spectrum ranges from close to independent living to borderline 24 hour nursing care. It’s important to find a community that fits your needs today, and your needs in the future. A good assisted living community offers customized care to fit your needs. Many assisted living communities include a memory care section dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia as well.
Memory Care: Memory care (including Alzheimer’s and Dementia) are advanced care and monitoring services usually in a dedicated wing or floor in an assisted living community. However, becoming more popular are communities that are solely dedicated to Alzheimer’s, Dementia and memory care issues. Staff members must be trained specifically to care for those with memory issues and often will work with residents in a supporting and rehabilitative manner.
Nursing Homes: Typically called nursing homes, retirement homes, or skilled nursing communities, these communities are for residents that require a large amount of care. These are licensed communities where the majority of residents require rehabilitation, 24-hour skilled care, post-acute care, etc. Most nursing homes accept Medicaid and/or Medicare reimbursement as the monthly rate can be quite high depending on the state you live in.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): Often times considered the resorts of retirement living. CCRC’s are communities that cover the entire spectrum of senior living choices. Typically, there are independent living options, assisted living memory care, skilled nursing, home health, hospice care, and daycare services all on one campus. Residents can get all their care needs in one place without ever having to move and can ascend up the care ladder as it’s needed. Most CCRC’s offer a service called life care. Lifecare is a service you pay into and all your care needs are covered for life at that fixed cost.