Retirement Living Options Assisted and Independent Living Communities

Have you been exploring different types of retirement homes? Whether it’s for someone with a medical condition that requires monitoring and daily assistance or an active retiree that enjoys going on outings, there are different retirement living options available.

Assisted Living Communities

Over 75% of the individuals who live in assisted living communities experience at least two chronic conditions. High blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias are the most common, however.

Roughly four out of every ten residents require some assistance with daily living activities. While some residents receive assistance with three or more activities, bathing and dressing are two of the more common.

Most assisted living communities either provide or coordinate a variety of services that assist residents with being as independent as possible. This includes these are other helpful services and resources:

• 24-hour supervision
• Three meals a day in a group dining room
• Snacks in a group dining room
• Personal care services
• Health care services
• Medication management
• Social services
• Transportation arrangements
• Laundry service
• Housekeeping
• Maintenance

Independent Living Communities

The ProMatura Group, LLC’s “2009 Independent Living Report” showed that residents in independent living retirement communities were more likely to create friendships and explore new activities. Furthermore, most of the residents indicated that they had a more positive experience than they had expected they would.

When retirees engage in a variety of activities, they tend to be more happy than retirees that do not. According to a recent survey, retirees were happiest when they participated in three or four activities on a regular basis. It’s interesting to note that a recent Money readership survey showed that nearly half, or 48%, of the retirees responded that they were happier than expected. One of the major reasons for this with 81% of the retirees was due to experiencing good health.

Choosing a Retirement Home

Since there are different types of retirement homes, it’s important to visit them. When you take a tour of the grounds, apartments, and other facilities, then you will have a better sense of what these communities have to offer. You can also ask questions about the various types of on-site and organized outings as well as learn about the other amenities that are available. Having the opportunity to meet other residents would also be beneficial when making a decision.