Find the Best Senior Living Options For You

The older you become, the harder it is to live alone. Your body naturally weakens over time, which not only makes you more vulnerable, but makes it harder to recover from an injury or illness. The more wear and tear you experience, the harder it becomes. For many seniors, something as small as walking up and down the stairs everyday can become a hassle. Fortunately, there are many senior living options for both independent seniors and seniors who need more assistance living at home.

Senior living options focus not only on physical health, but also your emotional wellbeing. Many seniors have a difficult time living in younger communities. It can be challenging to fit in when you are retired and everyone else around you is working. With a senior community, you not only fit in with everyone else, but there may be additional facilities or other services on site.

Independent Senior Homes

Independent senior homes are sometimes called retirement homes. The exact requirements to live in these homes varies based on the community. Some place an age limit, with 55, 60 and 65 being the most common ages. Others do not have a strict age limit, but require you to be retired. Independent senior homes are similar to most apartments or condos. With apartments, the number of floors is typically limited, so you have fewer stairs to deal with each day.

The main appeal of independent senior communities is living around similar aged tenants who are all retired. Community events, such as movie or game nights are commonly hosted. Because you have total freedom over your schedule, you are not required to participate in these events. Some independent senior communities also have recreational facilities on site, such as gyms, restaurants or even spas. In most communities, access to these locations is included with your basic rent, but some charge separately for services. This is more common when there are many amenities on site, so you can selectively pay based on your interests. Based on 2019 reports, the average price for an independent senior home is $1,500 to $2,500.

Assisted Senior Living

Many seniors live in an assisted living community. In an assisted living community, you are healthy enough to maintain your home and participate in community events, but you require extra assistance from a caregiver. Your caregiver must not live with you in order to qualify for assisted senior living. There are no limitations on how often your caregiver comes by. Some seniors only require weekly assistance, while others have a caregiver visit each day. Caregivers commonly help with tasks like taking medications, transportation and limited home assistance.

Assisted senior living facilities commonly include amenities and other services. Many locations include a communal dining hall. It is also common to partner with transportation services designed specifically for seniors. These services commonly help with medical visits and scheduled trips into town. Other services found in senior living facilities include gyms, restaurants, salons, pools and recreation halls.

Because there are so many extra features, assisted senior living facilities are more expensive than independent communities. The average cost is between $3,500 and $4,000. Your insurance may cover some or all of the costs of your rent. If you have Medicaid, you can apply for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). There are also state sponsored services and nonprofit groups that help seniors who are struggling with the costs of assisted living.

Long-Term Senior Care

Long-term care is designed for seniors who cannot live on their own without the support of a caregiver. Long-term care is commonly associated with nursing homes, but there are additional care facilities. Depending on the level of assistance you need, you may be able to get long-term care without moving into a new facility. A big consideration is whether you are mentally coherent. Seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s are typically required to live in a nursing home or similar facility. If you are mentally cognizant, but unable to cook and clean on your own, you may be able to stay in your home while receiving long-term care. While many seniors require a medical professional, other seniors receive support through groups like Meals on Wheels.

Long-term senior care is expensive, but more commonly covered by insurance. In-home care costs between $4,000 to $5,000, largely based on the level of care you need. Staying in a nursing home or similar long-term facility is more expensive, costing between $6,000 to $7,500.

Finding the Right Community

It may take some time to find the right senior community to live in. While budget is an issue for many seniors, make sure you look at more than the costs. Consider where the community is located and what amenities are available. Make sure you are close to your friends and family. If you routinely see a doctor, you must decide if it is worth changing doctors or choosing a community near your doctor’s offices. Moving becomes much harder when you are retired, so you want to pick an area you can comfortably enjoy the rest of your retirement in.

Another consideration is what rules are in place at the community. Independent living and senior apartments have few restrictions, but there may be some general rules you must follow. For example, guests may only be allowed at certain hours, or certain facilities may only be open at select hours. Something else to look at is the overall size of the community. Some communities consist of only a handful of tenants, while others include up to 40 seniors.