Senior Living at Its Finest!

Many things change as you age and with those changes come the need for more adaptive housing.

Whether you’re looking to cut down on the maintenance of homeownership or looking for more accessibility features like same-floor laundry and zero-entry doorways, here are some of the different living options for senior citizens.

NURSING HOMES

What it is: This is what lots of peoples minds go to when they hear “senior living”, but these are the facilities that offer the most comprehensive level of care for seniors. A place that qualifies as a nursing home provides residential care for the elderly and disabled.
Who it’s for: A nursing home is for those who don’t necessarily need the constant medical attention that they’d receive in a hospital, but are not capable of living on their own. Nursing homes offer a team of skilled nurses and nursing aids who are available around the clock to help with daily activities such as showering/bathing, eating/drinking, dressing, and running errands.
Cost: There are a number of factors that can affect the price of living in a nursing home. Costs usually range from $7-8,000 per month. Factors such as location, size, length of stay, and services offered that can impact the cost of this option.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

What it is: A continuing care retirement community is a combination of independent living, assisted living, and a nursing home. This type of retirement community offers a number of services such as health services, meals, personal care, housekeeping, transportation, and emergency help. Also, these communities usually offer social and educational activities for their residents and a greater sense of community. Continuing care retirement communities are normally condo or apartments developments which are sold to residents.
Who It’s For: This is for those that want to stay as close as they can to a home setting, but at the same time does require a certain level of care and aid.
Cost: Entrance fees for communities like these can range from $100,000 to $1 million. To put that in a monthly perspective for you it would be about $3,000 to $5,000 a month, but this may change as your needs change.

RESIDENTIAL CARE APARTMENT COMPLEX

What it is: A residential care facility is designed to promote independence for all of its residents. Each resident has their own apartment which only that resident and the workers working with that resident have keys too. This is for the purpose of allowing residents to maintain their independence and freedom while receiving assistance with housekeeping, supervision, personal hygiene, dressing, eating, and walking.
Who It’s For: A residential care apartment complex is for people who are not completely ready to give up their independence, but who do need assistance and services in their daily life.
Cost: Pricing varies based on location, services provided, type of accommodation, and level of care services required.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING CARE

What it is: Independent senior living communities commonly provide apartments, but can sometimes offer townhouses, cottages or single family homes. These types of communities offer senior-friendly surroundings, convenient services, and increased social opportunities for residents.
Who It’s For: This type of living is for more independent seniors. Independent senior living communities do not provide health care or assistance with daily activities such as medication, eating, dressing, bathing, or using the restroom.
Cost: The monthly costs can vary dramatically depending on the community type, apartment size, location, and services offered. Costs vary, based on amenities included.

VILLAGE MOVEMENT

What it is: The village movement is a new movement helping local seniors live independently in their homes. The village movement is a network of nonprofit organizations which spread nationwide and work like a concierge service to allow more independence for senior citizens. When a member of a village is in need of something they’d call their village office and be referred to an approved contractor or receive help making necessary arrangements. Each and every village has a wide variety of assistance so members can receive help with nearly anything and everything.
Who it’s for: This type of living is a good choice for healthy and active seniors who do not need help with daily activities but may need help with home maintenance. If your interested in socializing, making new friends, or participate in group activities then joining a village may be right for you!
Cost: On average it only cost around $50 a month to be apart of a village. That is about $600 a year.
Learn more about the village movement here!

If this article has done anything, I hope it has shown that your options are not limited. There are a number of paths you can take when it comes to senior living, and lots of them allow you to remain independent and free. It’s important that you find the path that suits you best, and I hope this article has helped you pinpoint which path/paths you might be interested in!