Please raise your hand if you thought that Senior Care Communities were reserved for those in need of the utmost care. If you are raising your hand, it’s not your fault. You come from the era of the ‘nursing home.’ A new era has evolved over the past several years; keep reading and you’ll become an Independent Living expert.
Sometimes referred to as retirement communities, Independent Living Communities embody the essence of independence and offer seniors an engaging social atmosphere needless of daily household chores.
Independent Living is a lifestyle opportunity for active, healthy seniors able to live free of immediate care needs.
In order to live independently, one must be able to perform the tasks that support an independent lifestyle, referred to as the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL):
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Independent Living Communities offer a variety of services, amenities and robust socialization opportunities including, but not limited to:
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So, How Much Does It cost?
The average monthly cost of Independent Living is roughly $2000 a month, with costs ranging from $500 to $6,000+ per month depending on location and other factors.
Independent Living unit options range from single-bedroom apartments to large town-homes. Many facilities also offer higher levels of care if needed. Those higher levels of care are generally Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing Care.
Aging In Place
Many Independent Living Communities offer the opportunity for residents to Age In Place, facilitating easy transitions from Independent Living to elevated levels of care.
Life-Care, Continuing Care and Aging In Place all refer to the availability of higher levels of care, usually negotiated in the initial contract. Widely known as a CCRC, some communities offer lifetime contracts for continued care on an entrance-fee basis.
