There are a few different types of senior care to choose from. Two of the main options are independent living and assisted living. As you can probably tell by the names alone, each type of senior housing offers a different level of assistance. If you are wondering which one might be right for you, it’s time to get to know what separates one from the other by examining the differences in each level of senior care.
Assisted Living
When choosing senior care, you need to consider how much assistance you need on a day to day basis. With assisted living, you get more help than with independent living. More specifically, according to AARP, the staff at an assisted living facility often helps with dressing, bathing and management of medications. Such communities usually also provide meals, transportation, housekeeping services and organized activities.
At the same time, an assisted living facility still allows more independence and personal space than the typical nursing home does. In most cases, you will still have your own apartment unit, and you can simply let the staff know which tasks you need assistance with and which ones you can do on your own.
Independent Living
This type of senior care usually provides all the same options as assisted living, but the staff members of such communities usually expect a little more independence from their residents. This means that meals, transportation and planned activities are usually offered, but residents still have the option to cook their own meals, drive themselves and make their own plans with friends.
According to Lynchburg’s Business Magazine, independent living is often best for seniors as young as age 55. Such individuals can usually take care of themselves at home, but would prefer to live in a community with others their age. This is especially common after a spouse passes away or when there is no family around to visit with. In addition, Retirement Unlimited, Inc. reports that some people end up choosing senior care of this type simply because they do not want to maintain their home on their own and would prefer to leave some daily tasks to the professionals at the community in which they live.
If you are unsure of how to choose senior care and need help deciding which option is right for you, consider touring both assisted living and independent living communities before making a choice.