Senior Retirement Community

A Senior Retirement Community is an excellent housing option for seniors interested in additional services (either now or in the near future) such as housekeeping, meals, laundry and more. There are a variety of types of options including: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Continuing Care, Alzheimers and others.

This article includes:

• Overview
• Independent Living
• Assisted Living
• Alzheimers Care
• Continuing Care
• Tips on Choosing a Community
• Advantages

Overview

A Senior Retirement Community can provide accommodation, varying levels of care and supportive services in a residential setting for those who can no longer manage living independently in the community. Although there are a variety of retirement communities, they typically provide meals, social/recreational programs, 24 hour supervision, laundry and housekeeping services, supervision or administration of medications and assistance with activities of daily living (self/personal care) such as bathing and dressing.

They meet the needs of those individuals who need greater security or who are no longer able to manage all the activities of daily living (self/personal care) by themselves. Retirement communities aim to allow residents to continue to live with dignity and as independently as possible, while providing the security, care and supportive services.

They are not always regulated by the State/Provincial government. There are often State/Provincial associations to oversee retirement communities.

They vary widely in terms of care and supportive services provided (limited services to assistance with daily living and personal nursing), amenities offered (dining/living room to extensive common areas), types of accommodation (shared rooms to spacious apartments) and physical structure (small converted house to high-rise buildings). Accordingly, resident rates also vary widely.

Most communities are privately owned and operated, and do not receive any government funding. Residents pay the full cost of living in a retirement community. Tenure in a retirement community is typically rental and retirement community rates are subject to rent control.

Independent Living

Independent Living provides the greatest versatility and freedom. Residents live in a compact, easy-to-maintain, private apartment or house within a community of seniors. It includes any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors (generally those age 55+).

They are typically multi-unit communities that may provide supportive services such as meals, housekeeping, social activities, and transportation. Independent Living encourages people to socialize by providing meals in a central dining area and through scheduled social programs. It may also include housing with few or no services such as Senior Apartment.

Assisted Living Communities

Assisted Living combines housing and health-related care designed to respond to the individual needs of those who require help with activities of daily living (self/personal care). It is a non-institutional setting that promotes maximum independence and dignity for each resident and encourages family and community involvement. Staff is available 24 hours a day to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs.

They range in size from small homes housing 6-12 people to large full service facilities. The range of services vary from facility to facility. Services typically include assistance with meals, bathing, dressing, continence care and other routine daily needs. Medical services vary by facility.

These communities provide services including meals, laundry, housekeeping, medication reminders, and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLS - personal/self care) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). The exact definition will vary from state to state, and a few states do not license assisted living facilities. Assisted living is generally regarded as a step or two below skilled nursing in its level of care. Approximately 90 percent of the country's assisted living services are paid for with private funds, although some states have adopted Medicaid waiver programs.

It can also include communities such as Personal Care, Board and Care, Residential Care, Boarding Home, etc.

Alzheimers Care

A senior retirement community that specializes in providing care for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and similar cognitive issues. They specialize in care geared towards supervision of the patient in a safe and controlled environment.

Continuing Care Communities (CCRC)

Continuing Care Communities offer residents specialized services, support, and security. They offer all 3 levels of care within the same community. If your needs change, the appropriate level of support is available - from independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care.

This type of senior retirement community is planned and operated to provide a continuum of accommodations and services for seniors. Including independent living, congregate housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing care.

A CCRC resident contract usually involves either an entry fee or a buy-in fee in addition to the monthly service charges. The fee may change according to the medical services required. Entry fees may be partially or fully refundable. The fee is used primarily as a method of privately financing the development of the project and as payment for future health care. They are also called Life Care Communities.

They may also offer an insurance type of contract and provide all levels of care. It often includes payment for acute care and physician's visits. Little or no change is made in the monthly fee, regardless of the level of medical care required by the resident, except for cost-of-living increases.

Tips on Choosing A Community

Choosing an appropriate senior retirement community takes time & research. Planning ahead is the key to a successful transition.

Once you've identified the top retirement communities in your area, call ahead to schedule tours. Try to observe "a day in the life" at each retirement community. Some communities offer a short-term trial stay, which is an excellent way to determine if the senior retirement community.

Take into consideration the following tips:

• After the tour, ask if you can wander around to get a better feel for the community
• Ask current residents about their experience; their likes and dislikes
• After a scheduled visit, drop-in at a different time of day to see if there are any differences
• Ask for resident family references who you can contact for their opinions
• Location - proximity to community amenities such as hospitals and churches, and the availability of transportation for shopping, outings and medical appointments
• Evaluate the quality of food, safety and security issues, the cleanliness, the breadth of social and recreational activities offered and the community's ability to meet the needs of your loved one now and as needs change

Advantages

There are a variety of advantages of living at a senior retirement community, including:

• Maintenance-free lifestyle (no mowing lawns, paying property taxes and utility bills)
• An simpler and clearcut budget
• Space and safety is well designed for seniors
• Social and recreational activities Clubhouse
• At least one meal provided a day
• General convenience and socialization
• Community outings and in-house services (some have a salon, bank, gift shop on site)