As you begin your search for senior living options, you will find that they come in all sizes and styles. Some focus on energetic and engaging lifestyles for seniors while others focus more on supportive living with a whole catalog of healthcare services available. At first, understanding the variants of senior living can be a daunting task. Let’s look at the following types to see where you or your loved one may fit best.

Active Adult Age Restricted Communities

These Age-restricted communities require at least one resident to be of a certain age (55 and over for example). These communities are often a great option for seniors who wish to downsize and move into a neighborhood close to shopping and amenities with people in a similar season of life. Healthcare services are not directly provided to residents in this type of community, but outside additional supportive services (e.g. home healthcare) may be utilized. There are also many government-subsidized, age-restricted communities that may be a good option for seniors that need financial assistance. 

Independent Living

These senior communities are designed for independent seniors to enjoy a lifestyle filled with recreational, educational, and social activities. They are also a great option for seniors that are downsizing or live alone and want a more active social life with maintenance-free living. They often have amenities such as a clubhouse, beauty salon, swimming pool, movie theater, fitness center, tennis courts, or restaurants on site. While they typically don’t provide health care on-site, some will partner with a Home Care agency to provide limited services if needed. 

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)

This unique type of community provides seniors with a complete spectrum of lifestyle and healthcare options all on one campus. Similar to a college campus, they offer a plethora of amenities, activities, dining options, and social events. Residents can begin their journey in independent living and move to different areas of the same community as they need different levels of care such as Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing. Multiple moves can be stressful for an elderly loved one, so living somewhere that can accommodate their changing health needs is a huge benefit. 

Assisted Living

These communities specialize in supportive health services to adults that can’t safely live alone. Residents typically receive assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as help with meals, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and medication management. These communities will generally have a community dining area and common spaces for social and recreational activities. Some Assisted Living communities will designate a secure area or section of their building for Memory Care to provide a safe place for wandering and exit-seeking residents.

Memory Care

Much like Assisted Living communities, Memory Care also offers assistance with ADLs and has common spaces for dining and activities. But unlike most free-standing Assisted Living communities, Memory Care communities are specifically designed for residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other forms of memory loss. The care staff are trained to encourage and redirect residents who are struggling with memory inconsistencies. Apartments are smaller and simplified to meet the residents’ needs and keep them safe. Long hallways are avoided by clustering apartments into mini neighborhoods within the community to help with identification. Exterior doors are secure with keycard access. Common spaces are thoughtfully laid out and decorated. Activities and meals are catered to their unique care needs. The ultimate goal is to enable residents to thrive as independently as possible while providing a safe, calm, and comfortable environment.

Skilled Nursing 

Commonly referred to as nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities offer the highest level of care out of all types of senior living. They provide 24-hour nursing care for those who need more skilled and direct care than can be provided in the Assisted Living model. They are the best choice for residents that are suffering from complex medical conditions, recuperating after surgery or a stroke, or needing specialized around-the-clock medical care.

So now that you know the different types of senior living, where do you start? Check out our Blog Post on “5 Tips for Successfully Choosing a Community”