What Seniors Need to Know About Independent Living Apartments
Independent living communities provide a perfect solution for seniors who want to maintain their privacy and independence but may need a little help to do so. These communities feature full apartments in a variety of sizes and floor layouts, but they also provide services and amenities not often available in ordinary housing situations. They’re great for seniors who no longer feel comfortable living alone, retired individuals looking for fulfilling social lives, and those who need just a little help with meeting their daily living needs.
What Is Senior Independent Living?
Sometimes called retirement communities, independent living communities are nothing like nursing homes. They do not require residents to sacrifice independence and privacy. Instead, they preserve the best things about living at home while simultaneously offering access to help when it is needed.
Technically, any housing arrangement designed exclusively for adults over 55 can be called an independent living community, including both those that feature apartment-style accommodations and freestanding homes. What sets the housing at retirement communities apart from ordinary arrangements is that each apartment is designed with seniors in mind. They are generally single-floor apartments without any stairs, are more compact and easier to navigate than traditional homes and have more mobility-friendly features.
Since everyone in a retirement community is over the age of 55, the community itself is also tailored to meet the needs of an aging population. There are usually recreational centers on-site, and managers often arrange social events both on-site and away from home to make it easier for residents to make new friends.
What independent living communities do not tend to offer is extensive medical care. They are primarily intended for seniors with little to no advanced health issues, although residents may be able to hire their own in-home nursing staff, or even personal caregivers, as needed. Most facilities also have staff available round-the-clock, and some are affiliated with other senior living communities that can provide more advanced care if residents’ needs change.
Commonly Provided Services
Independent living communities may not offer on-site medical care or keep nurses on-call round-the-clock, but that doesn’t mean highly independent residents aren’t provided with any additional services or amenities. Most facilities offer more than a typical apartment complex. Available services may include:
- Meal preparation that meets seniors’ nutritional needs
- Transportation to local events
- Structured on-site social activities and classes
- Comprehensive living area maintenance
- Well-maintained grounds
- Access to help in emergencies
Combined with the fact that independent living apartments are designed specifically with seniors in mind, these extra services and amenities can improve residents’ ability to maintain their independence well into old age. Plus, they’ll make friends, learn new things, and adopt new hobbies along the way, which makes for a more fulfilling life than sitting at home alone.
Differences Between Independent Living and Assisted Living
Seniors have a lot of options when it comes to finding living arrangements to accommodate their needs. There’s some confusion about independent living and assisted living in particular. These two types of communities are similar, but they’re not the same.
Assisted living facilities are designed for seniors who need extra help with the daily activities of living. They have nursing staff on-call and can get assistance from trained caregivers with everything from medication management to maintaining personal hygiene. Residents of dedicated independent living communities should require only minimal assistance and should not have substantial health problems that prevent them from performing the tasks of daily life for themselves.
Both assisted living facilities and retirement communities offer convenient access to dining and entertainment, and both provide easy access to medical care. It’s often the case that both assisted living and independent living communities also offer hospitality services like housekeeping and laundry services, although they’re not always included in the cost of monthly rentals. Since independent living communities don’t provide the same level of medical and personal care, they typically have lower rent than assisted living communities and cater to a different type of resident.
Who is Eligible?
Every retirement community is a little different, but most share at least a few general eligibility criteria. Residents must be at least 55 years old, must be physically and mentally able to live alone without substantial assistance, and may need to undergo a physical exam prior to admission.
Benefits of Independent Living Apartments
Some seniors feel overwhelmed by the idea of moving out of a family home and into a new apartment. Once they’ve made the switch, few would ever consider going back, though. Here’s why:
Fewer Responsibilities
Moving to an independent living community removes all the trials and travails of conventional homeownership, giving residents more time to enjoy their retirement. Independent living apartments are comfortable, convenient, and require far less upkeep than the average home or even rental apartment.
Increased Peace of Mind
Residents provide their own furnishings, making their apartments feel more like home, and maintain independent lives, but they also have access to help if they need it and are protected by security systems to prevent break-ins. There’s no need to worry about what will happen after an unexpected fall, for example, nor is there any need to find and vet home repair contractors when appliances or fixtures break down. Community managers take care of most daily responsibilities and provide a safety net, so residents can remain in control of their daily lives while freeing themselves from the concerns that plague aging homeowners.
