When the younger generation approaches retirement age, they have realized that they will need more retirement housing opportunities than their parents did. Above all, retirees nowadays have many options on where they want to live and how they want to spend their retirement years. This article explains the top ten types of senior living options and tells you how and who can benefit from them.
Types of Senior living options
There are three types of senior living options.
- Independent living options
- Options with assistance
- Other common living options
These types are subdivided into different living options. Let’s start with the Independent living options.
Type # 1- Independent living options
There are several options for independent senior living, range from home care to senior housing.
Option # 1- Aging in place
Aging in place refers to when an elderly citizen stays in their residence rather than shifting to a retirement facility. They frequently change their current residence to fix any accessibility problems. They also regularly collaborate with home health care providers for assistance where necessary.
Option # 2- 55 plus retirement communities
Age-restricted communities are living options where only residents of a certain age are allowed to live. Residents can live in a single-family home, a townhouse, a condo, or an apartment. It all depends on the neighborhood. If they rent or buy their home, it can be easily accessible by the individual community. Some of the age-restricted communities are Niche retirement communities that belong to a specific population. They relate to those who have strong preferences. Such communities are developed near college campuses for retiring professors and others who wish to be connected by academic culture. Few communities operate to provide open and accepting spaces for LGBT seniors.
Type # 2- Options with assistance
People that are dealing with certain diseases and ailments need extra assistance with regular tasks. Accepting that you or a loved one requires assistance can be difficult, but understanding all of the available options can support you in selecting the best facility.
Option # 1- Assisted living
Assisted living facilities are the type of senior living options that assist with instrumental tasks of everyday living, such as cooking and washing, but not necessarily significant medical care. Residents usually have their own or semi-private bedrooms and toilets, but all other areas are easily accessible. All the assisted living centers provide a wide range of services. Assisted living facilities mainly give meals, housekeeping, washing, fitness opportunities, and transportation to doctor’s appointments. For emergency support, certain facilities may have a small nursing staff. They even have beauty salons and entertainment facilities on the site.
Option # 2- Nursing homes
Secondly, nursing homes are senior housing communities that have high-quality medical services. All the Nursing homes, including assisted living centers, provide various services and help with basic everyday activities. They do, additionally, provide drug monitoring and 24-hour supervision. This results in a more professional environment.
Option # 3- Respite care
Several respite care facilities come in many different forms. Generally, these living options are assisted living centers or nursing homes that provide services for those who only need them for a limited period. For those suffering from surgery or a critical condition, respite care is a good choice. It also provides caregivers with a much-needed break from the burdens of caring for the next person.
Option # 4- Memory care facilities
Memory care facilities are normally part of a nursing home or assisted living community dedicated to dementia patients. These facilities also have a bigger staff that provides extra supervision and protective measures that stop tenants from walking outside unsupervised.
Option # 5- Hospice
Hospice is a form of care for people who are dealing with a terminal illness. Therefore, these types of care living options are provided at patient’s homes or in nursing homes. Hospice aims to make a person’s life as easy as possible by offering services such as pain control.
Type # 3- Other common assistance options
People may get a wide range of treatments as they get older. There are also options for those who can’t live alone, can’t move in with a roommate or relative, or don’t want to go to an assisted living center or nursing home. This part is for you and your loved one if you are hunting for something a little different.
Option # 1- Continuing-care retirement communities
Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRCs) provide a variety of living options for senior citizens. Senior flats assisted living centers, and nursing homes all are present on the same property in a CCRC. When the needs change, tenants can switch from one area to another.
Option # 2- Senior cohousing communities
SCCs are a type of cohousing where seniors team up to build or buy a housing complex with private rooms, apartments, or share common areas. The purpose of cohousing is to combine resources and create a close-knit community where people can support one another while ensuring independence. Residents, not a developer, plan and run cohousing communities, which also reflect the common interests of the people who live there. This is also available in general family settings for people of all ages.
Option # 3- Senior home-sharing
Now, there are several types of senior home-sharing arrangements, but any situation in which older people share a living room is considered senior home-sharing. One common type of arrangement requires an older adult to renting a room in their home or apartment to a college student or young single person in exchange for a lower rent. This is also done for getting support with activities like shopping, cooking, cleaning, and housework. Another type of home-sharing means senior citizens are reinvesting their money to share or buy a home where they can live together and support one another rather than shifting into assisted living.
Conclusion
You can find the right place for you or your loved one to live by considering all of those senior living options. I know that discussing a changing living condition can be stressful, but the above options can convert this into a pleasant time rather than a scary experience. If you are amongst the seniors now and looking for a mortgage to get a home where you can spend your life peacefully, contact Aceland Mortgage for expert opinion and guidance.