Are you trying to find new living arrangements for your aging loved one?

Finding the right living arrangements for a loved one can be an overwhelming process. In order to find the best fit for your loved one, it’s important to understand the types of living options that are available.

The main decision you need to make is whether an independent living facility or an assisted living facility is better for your loved one. What’s the difference?

Check out this guide to learn about independent living vs assisted living.

What is Independent Living?

Before we dive into how to choose between independent living and assisted living, let’s first talk about what each of these is.

In an independent living community, your loved one will be able to live a fairly autonomous and active lifestyle.

They’ll also be provided with social opportunities that allow them to connect with others in their age group who share similar interests.

In an independent living community, senior citizens live in their own space. The space they live in varies from community to community.

Some independent living communities are made up of separate homes, while others are made up of apartments or cottages.

In addition to bathroom and bedroom facilities, many independent living facilities also come with full-service kitchens. Therefore, residents are able to prepare and host their own dinners.

Many independent living communities also come with laundry services, transportation, and housekeeping services. This makes it so seniors can relinquish these daily responsibilities and instead focus on living a healthy, social life.

Those who gravitate toward independent living communities tend to be healthy, active, and in need of little assistance.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living facilities are best for seniors who are unable to live on their own due to physical or cognitive impairments.

Some ailments that may prevent your loved one from being able to live independently include Alzheimer’s, arthritis, paralysis, diabetes, or heart disease.

In an assisted living community, seniors are provided with their own private or semi-private living space.

Typically, these are apartment-style rooms that are equipped with beds and bathrooms. Assisted living facilities are also equipped with staff 24/7 to help the residents with activities of daily living.

Staff members are typically comprised of personal care assistants, medical attendants, certified nurse assistants, and other care aids.

There are also typically a few medical professionals on staff, ranging from LPNs to RNs to doctors…
 
Continue reading the article and learn more about independent and assisted living on Life Is An Episode website.