As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, there’s a need for family members to start exploring multiple housing options. The good thing is – today retirees get to pick from myriad choices in terms of their living situation.
That means, they get more flexibility and freedom to decide how they want to live out their days. With that said, let’s take a look at the most popular senior living options you might want to consider:
Continuing-care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
CCRCs or continuing care retirement communities come in myriad types. Designed for seniors – although they may vary but most of them offer a mix of senior apartments, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. So, depending upon the evolving needs, seniors can keep moving between different living arrangements.
Who is it Ideal For?
Continuing care communities are good for anyone who doesn’t want to own a home and does not wish to live with their relatives or friends either (even in the near future).
CCRCs are good in that they allow easy transition between different types of care and living options. Therefore, anyone who is still largely independent but ready to make a move towards a senior living community and thinks they might need more assistance in the near future will find this option appealing.
Few Benefits of a CCRC
- The freedom to move from a low level of care to a higher one without losing their social community.
- Familiarity with the staff gives a sense of peace as they know what kind of people will stay in touch with them even after they get more and more fragile.
- Multiple social activities that keep people engaged and active
- Good for couples with varying levels of care as it allows them to be in each other’s company.
Memory Care
Memory care facilities for seniors is usually a unit in an assisted living facility or a nursing home. As you can tell, it’s a community for people with memory issues such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Memory care is ideal for people who need intensive levels of medical care and supervision. There is dedicated staff and physicians who know how to handle dementia patients. The facility is also designed to prevent residents from wandering unsupervised.
Who is an ideal candidate for a memory care facility?
Seniors battling Alzheimer’s and Dementia should opt for a facility.
Benefits of residing in a memory care unit:
- Trained staff who knows how to take care of dementia patients.
- Security features that keep residents from wandering and also prevent accidental falls.
- Specialized features that promote living with dignity, independence, and comfort in a medically advanced and social setting.
Senior Co-Housing
SCCs or senior cohousing communities are a type of living facility where seniors live in a group together. Senior co-housing community allows purchasing a complex with private apartments and rooms with shared common areas.
The ultimate goal is to create a close-knit community of residents where they can share resources and live with each other in a social and independent setting.
All of the work such as management, planning, and operations are handled by the residents themselves.
There’s no developer or intermediary involved. Therefore, such a community is designed to live on a shared value and on each other’s support.
Who Should Opt for Senior Co-housing?
Any adult who wishes to live in an independent/private home or apartment but also wishes to have a sense of community with their neighbors should consider senior cohousing. Anyone who would like to share the costs of the housing will also find it a useful option.
For seniors who don’t have families nearby – this form of housing arrangement is ideal as they get to enjoy the companionship of friends who provide support and help with everyday tasks. Since space is shared and the costs are borne by everyone, it makes living extremely affordable.
Benefits of Senior Cohousing?
- Since it’s focused mainly on the sharing of space and resources, it helps to bring down the cost of living significantly
- Allows living independently in an environment that is not too rigid neither too vulnerable
Independent Living
This is also known as aging in place. This is the kind of living arrangement where a senior citizen chooses to receive care at their home rather than in a retirement facility.
To care for them, they may modify the home to create a convenient environment for any mobility issues. Often they would work in conjunction with a health care service provider so they can get medical assistance whenever required.
Who all should choose for independent living?
This kind of senior living arrangement is ideal for people who can live mostly independently in their home and can handle most of the tasks.
Especially, if the family is ready to provide additional support, aging-in-place can be the best option out of all. With regular assistance from a caregiver, it’s possible to live in a home setting even after the health degrades steeply.
Benefits of independent living:
- Allows living independently in a highly personalized setting
- If the circumstances are right, the arrangement can be a lot more affordable than any other retirement option
- There are many programs by the government which support aging in place.
Assisted Living
Assisted and senior living facilities mostly focus on helping individuals with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) such as cooking, bathing, laundry, housekeeping, etc. There’s also room for exercise and recreational activities.
There’s regular meals and transportation so residents can attend doctor’s appointments. Assistant living also has nursing staff and other medical assistance.
Who should opt for assisted living?
Anyone who needs assistance with everyday tasks and even basic activities should go for it.
Benefits of assisted living facilities?
Help is available to make living as comfortable as possible. Most assisted retirement homes are regulated by state and local agencies to ensure that residents can receive proper care.
Bottom Line
Senior living can be a tough decision to take. There’s a lot to consider and also the financial obligation to think about. In the end, be sure to put a lot of thought before deciding to pick one facility.
Find more articles in our health and wellness archives.
We are not doctors and this is in no way intended to be used as medical advice and we cannot be held responsible for your results. As with any product, service or supplement, use at your own risk. Always do your own research before using.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
