Making the move to senior living might sound scary, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, making the move to places like an independent living community can be a joyful switch. Wondering what independent living is like? Here is what you can expect if you or your loved one make the move.
What are Independent Living Communities?
Independent living means just what it says: living as independently as possible. Independent living residents are older people who can take care of themselves but just want to reap the benefits of living in a community of other active older adults without the hassle of maintaining and owning a home.
How is Independent Living Different from Other Senior Living Communities?
This type of long-term care differs from others in that it does not offer many support services to residents besides luxury amenities like housekeeping.
Senior living options at a glance:
- Independent living community – For active older adults who want to live in a community of their peers, maintenance free.
- Assisted living community – For older people who need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like getting dressed and bathing.
- Memory care community – For people who live with some form of cognitive impairment and memory problems, such as dementia.
- Skilled nursing facility/nursing home – For seniors who live with severe disabilities and need 24/7 medical care and personal care assistance.
- In-home care services – For older people who need some personal assistance, like medication management and reminders for doctor’s appointments, but who want to receive this care in their own home.
- Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) – A campus of senior housing options, such as independent living, assisted living, nursing care, and memory care. A person can change their level of care as their care needs change without moving to a different location, reducing the stress of moving and becoming acquainted with new residents, caregivers, and other staff members.
Who is a Candidate for Independent Living?
Independent living communities are best suited for older adults who require little to no assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs). However, they may be starting to feel the strain of taking care of their existing home and want freedom from responsibilities associated with home maintenance.
Needing occasional medical help doesn’t disqualify someone from becoming an independent living resident, but this help is not provided with the facility’s amenities.
What is Daily Life Like in Independent Living?
Independent living communities regularly offer on-site facilities, services, and amenities like:
- Fitness centers with wellness classes
- Salons and barber shops
- Transportation services
- Restaurant-style dining rooms
- Lectures and discussion groups to foster learning new skills and interests,
- Regularly planned social activities
- Outings to the surrounding community and events
- Opportunities to meet and engage with other residents
- Arts and crafts time to allow residents to express themselves creatively
- And much, much more
How Can I Find Senior Living Communities Near Me?
There are 6 easy steps you can take to find your best senior housing match.
- Make a list of your wants and needs. Your community of choice should ideally meet most, if not all, points on this list.
- Determine your monthly budget.
- Find communities in your area. You can do so by searching online for “senior living communities near me” or by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging to find these communities.
- Filter each community that comes up in your search from Step #3 by budget, then lifestyle option. For example, if you’re looking for independent living, you can exclude communities that only offer memory care.
- Visit the communities you are interested in.
- Make the final choice!
Learn more about finding the best independent living community near you by reading our blog How to Find the Best Independent Living Community Near You. [add link to new blog once posted]
Enjoy Senior Living at Avista
What is independent living? Independent living is whatever you want it to be! At Avista Senior Living, however, we make sure that all of our senior living options—independent living, memory care, assisted living, and respite care—offer the same sense of enjoyment and personal fulfillment.
Discover a whole new world of possibilities with independent living at an Avista Senior Living community. Get in touch with us to learn more about the amenities we offer at our senior living communities and find a community near you or your loved one today.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only.