Choosing the Best Senior Housing

Senior Housing is not an old age home but this is specially designed homes for the elderly who have resources to afford not only homes but also nursing care. These apartments are equipped with 24 hour medical services, recreational facilities, wheel chair facilities for a monthly maintenance charge plus the initial cost of the apartment. Choosing a best senior housing enables the older people to enjoy life without being bothered about day-to-day maintenance. They can actively participate in the activities of the residents and also play games, go out shopping and enjoy other cultural activities.

Choosing Senior Housing

The Senior citizens (60-plus age group) is now learning to fend for themselves and live an independent life separate from their children. Most senior housing is designed to encourage participation by all and is enjoyable for the people living there. To choose a best senior housing, you need to evaluate your needs, requirement and income or resources such as investment, deposit, pensions etc. You can choose senior housing without medical care and personal care if you are healthy and self-sufficient. Before choosing a senior housing, you need to know different types of senior housing. This helps you to choose the best senior housing that suits your lifestyle, requirement and social activities.

Types of Senior Housing

When selecting a senior housing you need to keep a few things in mind such as Location, Safety, public transportation and shopping, banks and ATMs, Health care or Hospitals etc. For choosing a best senior housing, you need to know different types of housing or communities available. Knowing the different types of senior housing helps you to choose best housing that suits your need and lifestyle. Following are important types of Senior Housing or Residential care available for Senior Citizens.

• Independent living: Independent Living communities or housing are designed for senior citizens who are self-sufficient and want the freedom and privacy of their own separate. These apartments are easy to maintain and apartment owners are of age 55 or above. These communities offer privacy, security, comfort and social activities of a senior community. This offers a social environment and some amenities but often no medical support.

• Assisted living: This type of senior housing is designed for senior citizens who need minimal assistance with personal care such as preparing meals, bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. These communities promote independence but minimal assistance with comfort and social activities of a senior community.  This suits for those who need some supervision and help getting through the day but not the extensive care a nursing home provides. Assisted living is sometimes called “board & care” and “congregate housing.” The board & care housing provides personal care such as preparing meals, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting etc. board & care housing is suitable for people who need minimal assistance and want communal meals and easy access to social contact with peers. “Congregate Housing” is now considered as unique combination of Independent living and assisted living with shared activities including communal meals and other social activities.

• Nursing home care: As the name implies, Nursing home care communities provide medical care with 24-hour a day. It offers short-term rehabilitation (physical therapy) as well as long-term care for people with chronic ailments or disabilities that require daily attention in addition to help with personal care.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Residential care that combines all 3 housing types is called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC). This type of housing provides an entire campus of living choices from independent living to assisted living and even skilled nursing communities. These communities provide specialized services to meet the needs of Senior citizens residing there. This is best for those who want to be able to stay in one place, can afford the cost, and are able to plan far ahead.

For choosing the best senior housing, you must evaluate your needs, requirement, income or resource. Today senior citizens prefer to live life in their own terms rather than becoming a burden for their children. In case you are healthy, self-sufficient and want the freedom and privacy of separate, “Independent Living” is the best option. The main advantage of senior housing is that it offers 24-hour medical care, personal care, security, comfort and social activities of a senior community. The complexities of choosing senior housing are such that most people are well advised to seek professional services to assist them.