Finding Community
Today’s elders face a dizzying array of living options. With so many possibilities, make sure and find the right location that meets your needs and makes you comfortable.
Facing recovery after a debilitating stroke, Mary needed months of medical care and rehabilitation. Her family turned to a nursing home to provide her care. The facility offered a medical staff and the features of a hospital that Mary still needed, but without the hospital itself, which Mary and her family were eager to leave.
When Bill’s wife passed away, he faced a different situation. Bill couldn’t imagine staying in the home he and his wife had shared for more than a decade. He was in good health, even making time for a daily jog. For Bill, the housing answer right for him was an independent living facility that offered him his own apartment, a restaurant-style cafeteria and plenty of activities.
For people like Mary, who are forced to seek a new living situation, or Bill, who want a healthy change, today’s elders enjoy a wide array of housing options that are designed to meet their needs, no matter their level of independence or requirements for assistance.
However, it is crucial that elders find the living option that is right for them. That decision will include cost, health requirements, location and aesthetics.
After considering the options available and discussing them with family and friends, it is important to research each individual residence in your area. Some assisted living communities are better suited to seniors with fewer medical concerns, while some can accommodate more. When it comes down to the final choices, visiting in person and feeling comfortable with the facility and staff is always best. The following is a general overview of the many housing options available to elders in today’s market.
Aging in Place (Staying at Home):
Aging in place means seniors stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Most seniors would prefer to stay in their homes, but outside help is often necessary. Many cities around the country have organizations or businesses that provide meals, transportation, and advocates for a monthly or yearly fee.
Senior Day Care
Senior day care programs vary widely. Some focus on rehabilitation or medical care, while some are geared toward providing social connections and outings for retired seniors. Most are open normal business hours on weekdays.
Senior Retirement Communities
Senior retirement communities are typically complexes with several apartment buildings and amenities that may include a gym, hair salon, restaurant, gardening space, or planned social events. Most retirement communities have a minimum age of 55 or 62. Prices are similar to living in other apartment housing, with communities with more amenities costing more.
Age Restricted Apartments
Age restricted apartments are the type of apartments found in senior retirement communities. If they are outside of more expansive retirement communities, age restricted apartments will probably include fewer amenities, but some seniors prefer just living among other seniors.
Modular Home Communities
Modular home communities are communities of seniors in leased or owned mobile homes. They are similar to senior retirement communities, although they tend to offer fewer amenities.
Shared Housing
Shared housing is simply living with another person, often someone younger who can assist with some tasks, or another senior. Shared housing can be a cheaper alternative to assisted living. Non-profits services exist to help match roommates seeking or offering specific help.
ECHO or Accessory Unit Housing
Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities (ECHO), sometimes known as accessory unit housing, refers to what is commonly known as mother-in-law apartments. These units are apartments attached to a house. This is similar to shared housing, but the occupants live more independently from each other. Often a family will have elderly relatives living in the attached apartment, or elderly residents will rent the attached apartment to younger tenants who are willing to provide some basic assistance.
Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities offer limited assistance such as laundry service, meals, and transportation, but little or no medical care. Most assisted living centers provide a private bedroom and shared spaces for activities. But elders should be aware that assisted living facilities are not covered by Medicare.
Congregate Communities
Congregate communities, also known as congregate living centers, are essentially identical to assisted living centers in most cases. In some states, “congregate living” refers to affordable subsidized housing for elders and people with disabilities.
Board and Care Housing
Board and care housing is similar to assisted living, but with much smaller facilities. Often a large house is converted into board and care housing, typically for three to six seniors. Board and care housing can offer more personal care because of the small number of seniors in care, but usually lacks the amenities of larger facilities. These facilities are often a large single-family home that are converted into a board and care housing facilities.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes provide a bedroom and full-time medical care for elders who require more extensive medical assistance. They may be the best option for seniors who require more medical attention than they could receive in an assisted living facility. All or some of the cost of nursing homes is covered by Medicare.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities or Life Care communities
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) or life care communities are a combination of independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes. They are designed to allow seniors to move into a new section of the community as they grow older and become less independent, while staying in the same community.
Alzheimer's Communities
Alzheimer’s communities are nursing homes specifically for Alzheimer’s patients. They provide the same services as nursing homes, but staff members are trained to handle the aggression and confusion that occur with Alzheimer’s.