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<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nSenior housing is a hot topic, in part because older Baby Boomers are driving demand for more and better options. Even if you plan to stay in our own home, it\u2019s a good idea to know what\u2019s available in case your situation changes. First we\u2019ll cover resources for living safely and comfortably at home. Then we\u2019ll look at options for residential senior living.<\/p>\n
Most US seniors want to live at home. A 2014 AARP survey found that 87% of adults age 65 and older want to age in place<\/strong><\/a>. A familiar setting is often the best option, and there\u2019s a growing array of options for getting help at home.<\/p>\n Home safety adaptations<\/strong> are necessary for most seniors. Many home-care companies and fire departments<\/a><\/strong> offer home-safety checklists and, sometimes, in-person evaluations. These can identify fall hazards, the need for new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and proper lighting for safety. You may need to install grab bars, ramps, and other safety items.<\/p>\n Personal emergency response systems <\/strong>can be literal lifesavers. Look for systems with wearable call buttons that include automatic fall detection.<\/p>\n Family caregivers<\/strong> can make aging in place possible. Be aware that intensive caregiving often takes a toll on the caregiver\u2019s health and finances, according to data<\/a><\/strong> from the Caregiver Action Network. For this reason, any family caregiving plan should include support from delivery services, hired caregivers for part-time and respite care, and community-based adult day programs.<\/p>\n Concierge services<\/strong> such as grocery delivery, house cleaning, and errands can help you avoid traffic and save time.<\/p>\n Home care providers<\/strong> should be on your resource list even if you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll need them. It\u2019s inevitable that something will come up \u2013 an illness or bad weather, for example\u2014that disrupts the normal routine and creates a gap in at-home care. It\u2019s far less stressful to interview agencies now about short-notice care than it is to scramble for it at the last minute or to do without.<\/p>\n Live-in caregivers<\/strong> can be a boon if you want to live at home, need round-the-clock help or company, and don\u2019t have family members who can provide that level of help. Trustworthiness and a good match of personalities are the key elements that make a live-in caregiving arrangement work.<\/p>\n Community programs<\/strong> at senior centers offer some variety, social opportunities, and a break for caregivers. In most communities you can find at least one weekday adult day program or drop-off respite care program that includes a hot meal, fitness and arts programming, and safe supervision.<\/p>\n Remember to check references and online reviews before you hire help. Ask about rates and payment methods, too. Some providers are certified by Medicaid or the VA. Others may charge sliding-scale rates based on your income.<\/p>\n For some of us, there comes a time when living at home is too difficult or costly compared to the residential care alternatives. For others, turning over home maintenance tasks, meal preparation and housekeeping to someone else is appealing after years of those responsibilities. Either way, there are residential senior living options to suit most lifestyles and all levels of care.<\/p>\n Before you start visiting senior housing communities, consider how important it is to you to stay in the same community for as long as possible. Some, but not all, senior communities provide what\u2019s called a \u201ccontinuum of care<\/strong>.\u201d That means that residents can move from one level of care to another (from assisted living to skilled nursing, for example) on the same campus without having to make a major relocation or leave familiar surroundings. This can be the best option if you have a progressive illness or want to minimize disruption if your health status changes.<\/p>\n Independent living communities can be suburban apartment complexes, city-center towers, or entire mini-villages of cottages and townhomes, all catering to residents of a certain age. These communities often provide opt-in meal plans, some landscaping and home maintenance, and an array of social, creative, and fitness options on-site and through group outings. Most such communities welcome residents\u2019 pets, but may have size, breed or weight limits. These are typically private-pay communities because there are no or very few health and personal care services provided.<\/p>\n When looking at independent living communities, ask about parking for residents\u2019 vehicles, group transportation options, meal plans, housekeeping services, and recreational opportunities.<\/p>\n These communities<\/a> are designed for residents who are mostly independent and in good health but need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or getting around. The typical arrangement in a large assisted living facility is an apartment-style unit with a kitchenette or full kitchen and a patio or balcony. In a private care home, residents have their own bedrooms (and sometimes their own bathrooms) and share common areas in a converted single-family home with on-site caregivers. There\u2019s usually a call button in each resident\u2019s room.<\/p>\n In assisted living, you can expect daily meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping and linen laundry, regularly scheduled group transportation to local shops, home maintenance, medication management, personal care, and mobility help. Some communities also take care of residents\u2019 personal laundry, and many allow small pets. Some offer furnished or partially furnished units while others are entirely unfurnished. Long-term care insurance, Medicaid, or the VA Aid & Attendance Pension<\/a> may cover some assisted living costs.<\/p>\n When you visit assisted living communities, ask about activities, menu options, transportation schedules, laundry services, utilities, and personal care assistance. You may also want to ask if there are guest suites available to visiting friends and family.<\/p>\n Seniors who need daily care from a nurse or therapist, and those who have complicated or advanced health conditions, may fare best in a skilled nursing home<\/a>. These homes are staffed by certified nurse assistants overseen by registered nurses, and there may be a physician on call. In addition to meals, housekeeping, and help with personal care and mobility, nursing homes provide ongoing management for residents\u2019 chronic health problems such as diabetes or heart disease.<\/p>\n Not everyone who moves into a nursing home is there for the long term, though. Many people spend a few days or weeks in a nursing home for rehabilitative care after a hospital stay. During this time, their medication and daily healthcare needs are taken care of while they get physical therapy, speech therapy, or other treatments to help recover from a serious illness, fall, or stroke. For seniors in a continuum of care community, the move to rehab and back is often just a matter of moving across the campus or to another wing of the facility.<\/p>\nResidential options for seniors<\/h2>\n
Independent living<\/h2>\n
Also called senior apartments, retirement communities, active adult communities, age-restricted communities<\/h3>\n
Assisted living communities and private care homes<\/h2>\n
Also called personal care homes and private care homes<\/h3>\n
Skilled nursing homes<\/h2>\n
Also called long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers<\/h3>\n