If you are exploring the wide array of senior living options available today in the world of senior care, there may be various terminologies that can confuse you. When doing research, it is essential for you to find the right place at the right time to fully understand the level of care offered by each senior living option. Learn more about the differences between assisted living vs. independent living to derive the most suitable senior living option for yourself or an older loved one.
Cost of Assisted Living Vs. Independent Living
Assisted living is generally designed around a rental model. Monthly rentals include housekeeping, maintenance, nursing monitoring, security, programs, meals, and a 24/7 team. In an assisted living model, one to two hours of daily personal care is included in the monthly rent. The daily personal care can include assistance with daily living activities like bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding, grooming, and overall mobility. Assisted living may be an out-of-pocket expense, but there are certain types of insurance policies and veteran benefits that can cover a portion of its monthly rental. The cost of independent living differs slightly. Residents often pay a community fee upon moving in and pay an additional monthly fee that covers housekeeping, home maintenance, meals, and senior living programs.
Medical Care and Support
In general, independent living communities are catered to older adults who are fit and active and do not require medical care or assistance with their daily living activities. For residents of an assisted living community, they are given access to daily care for activities of daily living that can include feeding, grooming, dressing, toileting, showering, and mobility. They are also given basic healthcare services such as medication management, insulin administration, glucose and blood pressure monitoring, and health observation.
Community Design
Independent living communities are designed to accommodate residents in multiple buildings that are spread out in large areas. There are common spaces where residents gather to participate in various senior living activities. Residents are also offered a wide variety of senior living floor plans of apartment homes and suites in various sizes. Assisted living communities are smaller in size and are more self-contained. The care services and support are facilitated right within the assisted living building. Assisted living communities that offer memory care also have unique features implemented across the common and living spaces such as easy-to-navigate walkways, lit hallways, secure areas, and more.
Family Involvement
Families of independent living residents are encouraged to be as involved as possible in the senior living activities. Family members are free to visit their loved ones and enjoy the same senior living amenities that residents have access to. For assisted living residents, family members often take a more active role in the care of their loved ones, particularly for those with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Assisted living also practices superior senior communication to ensure family members are kept up-to-date about their loved one’s progress.
Having known the differences between assisted living vs. independent living, you now have a better understanding of the unique offerings of each senior living option to make an informed decision.
