Independent living communities are ideal for seniors who need help with daily chores but don’t have major health concerns. The cost of meals, housekeeping and other amenities are usually included in the rent.
Residents typically have a private room and kitchenette. The staff will help them with everyday activities and provide medical assistance as needed.
Medical Assistance
Assisted living is a better option for seniors who have trouble performing some aspects of daily life, like getting to the bathroom in the middle of the night or cooking meals. It provides them with the assistance they need while allowing them to live independently.
Typically, assisted living residents will have a team of medical professionals on staff, including licensed nurses and care attendants. They’ll be available to assist with bathing, dressing, and medication reminders. Residents can also receive specialized care through third parties.
Assisted living has more options for covering costs, such as personal savings and investments, long-term care insurance policies, and Aid and Attendance benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Independent living has medical assistance and fewer options for paying for chef-prepared meals, housekeeping, and laundry services. However, it’s worth noting that many of the same perks are offered in both types of communities, such as socialization and centralized hospitality services.
Meals
In assisted living, meals are provided for residents in a restaurant-style dining room. This eliminates the hassle and expense of grocery shopping, meal preparation and cleaning. The meals also offer proper nutrition.
Independent living communities similar to Spring Creek Chalet, also known as continuing care retirement communities, are residential and often housed in converted homes, apartment complexes or even renovated schools. A monthly fee usually includes rent, meal options, and access to on-site amenities and social activities. Medical services are not offered, but residents may contract with third-party providers to receive personal care and physical therapy.
Independent living apartments and villas have private living areas but are enclosed within a community of other senior residents. On-site amenities include beauty salons, physical rehabilitation centers and communal dining rooms. The district also offers fitness classes and day trips to keep seniors active and connected with friends. A staff member can assist with medication reminders, bathing and dressing.
Transportation
One of the things that separates assisted living from independent living is the inclusion of transportation services. In both arrangements, you or your loved one will have access to a robust calendar of learning and entertainment activities. Still, independent living communities don’t always include transportation in their standard packages (though our example above does).
On the other hand, assisted living facilities often have their transportation programs or partner with local transportation services to create specialized transportation services for seniors. This helps to reduce isolation and allows residents to get out more to socialize or attend community events.
When touring a potential independent or assisted living community, ask about transportation services and how they are included in the standard package. Be sure also to ask how far the transportation service area extends and what days are available. Then, explore low-cost transportation options in your area as well. They cover a greater range of destinations for less.
Socialization
One of the things that separates assisted living from independent living is the amount of hands-on care available to residents. Independent living communities do not offer full-time medical staff or custodial personnel to assist seniors with daily tasks and help them manage medications or basic hygiene.
Rather, they emphasize centralized hospitality services for socialization and offer residents various lifestyle options for their unique needs. These community amenities include fitness areas, dining rooms, entertainment centers, and more.
The design of independent living communities often mirrors traditional apartment buildings, housing campuses, or neighborhoods. Each resident has a small home or apartment but can easily move throughout the community via walkways, gazebos, and other outdoor spaces, connecting them with fellow residents and communal areas. In contrast, assisted living communities are more centralized and usually have apartments and community spaces in the same building.
Choosing the right one can greatly improve someone's quality of life, or maintain a feeling of independence seen a lot in seniors. Both exist for a reason, ensure you've made the right choice. https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/ and https://www.mcknights.com/ have a lot of good information as well that might help.
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