Do you long for a retirement full of social and leisure activities, great food, and beautiful surroundings?
Senior living communities, with their various levels of care, can significantly enhance the retirement experience, offering a more fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyle.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the key types of senior living communities before tackling some common misconceptions about assisted living.
What is a Senior Living Community?
Senior living communities are designed to accommodate adults of retirement age. It’s important to note that senior living is not a one-size-fits-all solution; there are various options to cater to different needs and preferences.
Who Qualifies for Senior Living?
There are a range of senior living choices available for adults aged 55 and older. Multiple levels of care mean there are great options for people of all ages and with varying abilities to carry out activities of daily living.
What Are Activities of Daily Living?
Often referred to as ADLs, activities of daily living are all the basic daily tasks a person must do to stay physically and mentally healthy. ADLs are sometimes split into basic ADLs and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). Basic ADLs encompass the simple tasks needed to manage baseline physical needs. Conversely, IADLs are daily tasks that require more complex organization, reasoning, and thinking.¹
Basic ADLs include:
- Moving around the home
- Eating
- Dressing
- Brushing teeth
- Using the bathroom
- Showering
Instrumental ADLs include:
- Shopping
- Transportation
- Financial management
- Housekeeping
- Medication management
Types of Senior Living Communities
Independent Living
For seniors who are independent but would like an easier retirement.
Independent living is the perfect choice for seniors who do not need help with any ADLs but would like to live in a community with additional conveniences (and some on-site entertainment and social opportunities).
It can also be an ideal choice for seniors who need a little help managing IADLs (many independent living communities have on-site laundry services, salons, gardeners, etc.) but can manage personal care themselves.
In independent living, seniors typically live in their accessible apartment or house within a larger setting.² These communities can provide valuable peace of mind, as they often have around-the-clock emergency assistance.
Assisted Living
For seniors who need a balance of freedom and ADL support.
Assisted living offers similar freedom but with a little extra assistance. This flexible type of care is great for seniors who need support with ADLs but do not require specialized medical care.
In assisted living, seniors may live in their apartment or an accessible house with other residents (either with a private or semi-private bedroom). Residents can access around-the-clock personal care from professional caregivers based on a support plan tailored to their needs.
With a carefully curated plan, seniors can balance easy living, freedom, and autonomy. Meals and snacks are also often included as standard in assisted living, eliminating the need to cook or shop for groceries.
Skilled Nursing
For seniors who require specialized nursing care.
The highest level of senior care, skilled nursing communities offer around-the-clock support from registered nurses. A step up from assisted living, skilled nursing is excellent for seniors with chronic health conditions that require daily medical care.
Why Move to An Assisted Living Community?
24% of American seniors are socially isolated, and 43% of those 60 and older feel lonely.³ Senior living can provide a wonderful sense of community, with on-site social groups and activities, communal mealtimes, and even outings.⁴ And with around-the-clock ADL support, seniors in assisted living feel uplifted, reassured, and able to enjoy their retirement with fewer worries.
Three Helpful Facts About Assisted Living
Despite common myths and misconceptions about senior living sticking around, assisted living in 2024 is more positive, accessible, and nurturing than ever before.
Here are three facts that might surprise you:
- Assisted living is affordable for a range of budgets. Considering what’s included, it can offer terrific value. Fees can be all-encompassing, or a payment plan may be built based on the specific services a senior needs. By choosing assisted living, you can eliminate or vastly reduce costs like home health, groceries, home adaptations, social events, home maintenance and even transportation. Many assisted living communities also accept multiple methods of payment and payment schedules to suit individual needs.
- Assisted living can boost independence. One of the most common misconceptions about assisted living is that it strips seniors of their independence. In 2024, this couldn’t be further from the truth. With highly personalized care plans, residents enjoy just the right level of caregiver support. Adapted spaces (e.g., grab rails in the bathroom, wheel-in showers, elevators) can even leave seniors more independent than in their own unadapted homes.
- Assisted living offers a vibrant, social lifestyle. With more social events, activities, outings, and amenities than ever, assisted living communities can present a world of opportunities a senior may not be able to access on their own. For example, seniors at New Hope enjoy activities like yoga, painting, pet therapy, book club, and pie bake-offs. This vibrant lifestyle can make seniors feel excited and engaged in their retirement.
Hendersonville Assisted Living at New Hope
At New Hope Senior Living, we understand that moving into a new living situation can be a significant change. That’s why we offer a comprehensive transition process to help our residents settle in comfortably. Our team can always answer any questions and support you during this transition.
Residents can explore the spectacular grounds on our state-of-the-art golf carts daily before cozying up in the cherry wood library by night. Our residents enjoy freshly prepared farm-to-table meals and an impressive range of daily social, recreational, physical, and educational activities.
If you’re interested in learning more about our exceptional assisted living experience at New Hope Senior Living, we invite you to call us today to organize a guided tour of our sensational grounds and welcoming Hendersonville assisted living home. We look forward to showing you all that our community has to offer.
References
- Edemekong P F, Bomgaars D L, Sukumaran S, Schoo C. Activities of daily living. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
- Jones K. What is independent living? Lottie. Published August 13, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://lottie.org/care-guides/what-is-independent-living/.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: The National Academic Press; 2020. doi: 10.17226/25663.
- Fontinelle A. Staying at home vs. Moving to a retirement community. Investopedia. Updated July 10, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/staying-at-home-vs-moving-to-a-retirement-community5089910#:~:text=Many%20elders%20who%20live%20alone,you’re%20in%20great%20shape.&text=Elderly%20communities%20can%20offer%20the,and%20group%20activites%20and%20outings.