If you’re considering moving into a retirement home or senior living apartment home, the first question you’ll need to answer is: independent or assisted? “Independent” and “assisted” don’t mean what they used to—these days, it’s all about your specific needs. So let’s talk about independent living and assisted living and how you can decide between them.
Independent Living
Independent living is for aging adults who want to live on their own but need some help with day-to-day tasks. In many cases, this can be cheaper than assisted living and may be the most appropriate choice for someone in good health who needs minimal assistance.
Independent living communities are typically built around an apartment or townhouse model where residents lease their space from the community management company. The tenant pays rent on time and respects the rules of the community in order to maintain autonomy over their unit and lifestyle choices, although they typically have access to shared amenities such as a clubhouse or swimming pool. In some cases, independent living will include meals prepared offsite by caterers; other times, it might mean ordering out every night or fixing your meals at home in your kitchenette apartment.
Independent Living Pros· Independence is the first reason people choose independent living. You’ll have your apartment where you can come and go as you please, with the freedom to decorate it any way you want. No curfew, no restrictions on guests, and no meal plan mean that your days will be open to whatever activities you’d like to do on them.
- Another advantage of independent living is privacy—living alone gives you some peace from other residents’ noise and movements around the complex (and vice versa). If you don’t want roommates but still need assisted care services such as housekeeping or transportation, this option can work well for those who are fairly self-sufficient but still need some assistance now and then.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is very different from independent living. It’s more of a hybrid between the two, and it has its own set of pros and cons.
Assisted living is defined by the government as a housing option where you can live independently, but receive help with basic daily tasks like bathing, dressing and cooking meals. The latter is especially important for people who are starting to lose their ability to take care of themselves due to physical or mental deterioration.
- Assisted Living Pros
- The team at an assisted living center usually includes nurses, social workers, aides, and activities coordinators. All of them provide personalized attention that helps residents maintain their independence while also helping them stay safe in their homes.
- This type of caregiving tends to be more intensive than what you would find in typical retirement communities or senior apartments; some assisted living facilities even offer 24/7 medical services on site! This can be helpful if your loved one needs constant assistance with things like dressing wounds or managing medications due to chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease (among others).
It’s important to know that the cost of living in assisted living varies depending on location. For example, assisted living facilities in New York City or San Francisco are going to be much more expensive than those in rural areas or small towns. Also, costs tend to increase as you move farther south and west (the South and West have more affordable housing options).
If you’re looking at a community with a large number of services offered on-site (like meals), then this will probably add about $100-$300 more per month than basic independent communities offering no services whatsoever (elderly persons who don’t need assistance with daily tasks). Once again, though, these numbers may vary depending on the geographic location where one lives, largely because nursing care isn’t required by law except when needed by those who qualify under specific terms defined within each state’s regulations regarding eligibility requirements.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the difference between independent and assisted living. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
