Probably you’re looking for a lifestyle change or suffering from a medical condition, whatever your reasons are, finding the right place to live in your elderly years can be an overwhelming and stressful process for both you and your loved ones. However, the earlier you start to evaluate not only your current needs but also future ones as they evolve, the more you are in a good position to make informed decisions.
What is senior housing?
Aging is inevitable, and it refers to a time of adaptation and change, and therefore planning where you’re going to spend your elderly years is a crucial part of ensuring that you continue to enjoy a decent life. Certainly, everyone is different and as one gets old, the needs become more specific, so the senior living options tend to vary a lot from one person to another. The secret to making the best decision is to find housing that meets your lifestyle, health, and financial needs.
There are two approaches to this. One is to either modify your house to make it safe, accessible and comfortable or having to move to senior living communities with more specialized care and social amenities available on site. It could even involve moving to a retirement home or a nursing home.
Types of senior living housing options
There are numerous types of senior living but the main point of difference between these facilities is in the level of care they offer to their residents.
Independent living communities
This type of senior living refers to any housing that is set up to exclusively host seniors aged 55 and above. Independent living housing varies widely, from single dwelling home to apartment-style living. It’s a common senior housing option as it offers a friendlier environment to older adults and requires no maintenance.
As the name suggests, the concept here is to have residents live independently. However, most communities will go a step further to offer amenities, programs and services to their residents. This housing option is ideal for seniors who require little to no assistance in their daily living, hence no medical or nursing services being offered.
Assisted Living
Unlike independent housing, assisted living is a residential option for older adults who demand some level of care with their daily living activities such as housing keeping, preparing meals and traveling to appointments.
Assisted living housing offers round the clock support and access to care to their residents, whether day or night. It also encourages independence and privacy, and some will even offer a personalized plan that accommodates your needs and wants.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are perhaps the most common senior living housing options available. It provides custodial care to seniors with high level of care and medical assistance. This includes feeding, bathing, dressing and getting in and out of bed. Unlike other senior living options, a nursing home has a licensed physician who supervises the resident’s needs and has a full-time nurse who constantly takes care of the patient.
This is a good option especially after a patient is hospitalized or the case of a chronic condition which is overwhelming to handle at home or other assisted living housing.
With these senior living options, you can now make a decision based on what suits you. Few things you may want to consider in that decision making process include the level of care, cost, location, support services and enrichment programs.