Seniors want to be cared for and at the same time, they want their loved ones not to be burdened by their need for care and affection. On the other hand, some seniors who want to enjoy a stress-free and healthy life demand such quality service based on their needs.
There are many home living choices, each with its peculiarity and distinction. Senior home living is of great importance to the economy of the nation by efficiently utilizing the labor force. Those who are passionate to offer such services are easily employed and they happily assist those who need a boost in comfort, security, and quality of life. This article will guide you through making the right choice for yourself or your loved ones.
There are two distinguished categories of available home living choices for older adults.
- The Independent home living communities or facilities and
- Housing options with assistance or senior home living with assistance
The independent home living communities
choice allows older adults to live either in communities or in their residences with limited need for assistance. These types of adults are healthy and able to carry out their daily routine. They, however, will seldom need a healthcare professional to assist when needed.
Options under this category include:
- Aging in place
- 55+ retirement communities
- Continuing-care retirement communities
- Senior cohousing communities
- Senior home-sharing
Aging in place
An older person maintains their current residence or address rather than moving to a new retirement facility. They only have to modify their current residence to address their mobility issue. They often work with professional home caregivers. This option is best for older people who can handle home tasks on their own and who have a supportive community who can easily assist if there is any need. Aging in place provides the advantage of older people being able to retain their independence and lower cost in comparison with assisted living facilities. All services are rendered in the comfort of their home. The cost of aging in place only covers the need for a mobility modification of the house and that of hiring a qualified caregiver, nurse, or health expert. The mobility modification is usually not extensive and simply based on the need of the old adult.
The retirement communities
The retirement community offers an option to people with a specific age restriction. In other words, only people of a certain age, usually 55+ years, are allowed to reside in the community. Older adults who stay here need little to no assistance, but rather want to associate with other old adults in the same age group. A retirement community is also referred to as a niche retirement community, especially when people of common interest decide to stay together, such as retired professors. Seniors may either own their residence or rent one which is based on the community home living service provider. The residence may be a townhouse, single-family, or apartment. Older people in retirement communities are usually more active because they have people of common interest around them. They have a good opportunity to build friendships and influence people. Buildings in these communities are designed to suit limited mobility issues and exterior maintenance is always taken care of by maintenance staff. The cost of apartments in these communities is considerably lower than those in other residential areas. The major cost factors to living in these communities include the location, building arrangement, amenities, and available services.
Continue-care retirement communities (CCRC)
This is a form of independent senior housing option that allows older adults to transition from one care to another. It is best for seniors who do not want to move in with their families and friends and do not want to deal with the demand of owning their apartments. These options allow residents to receive care even if they change their location. It allows for the opportunity to live independently in senior communities and provides the opportunities to receive assistance if the need arises in the future. It simply allows a various combination of several housing options as the need arises. The most common combination is the senior apartments, assisted living, and nursing homes. The advantages of these housing options allow couples who need a different type of care to live near each other. It also allows residents to be active by engaging them in social activity.
Senior cohousing communities
This is a form of housing option hosted by a team of older adults themselves rather than by a home living service provider. The seniors design or purchase a housing complex and cohabit the house in separate private rooms but will share common areas. This allows seniors of very close interest, such as religion, to live close to one another. The shared resources help to cut down costs. It allows for independence and privacy while being able to depend on neighbors in so many ways. It also offers the advantage of companionship, tax benefits, and reduced housing cost.
Senior home sharing.
Senior home sharing involves any possible combinations in which a senior shares a living space with someone. An example of such an indepe7ndent combination is when an older adult gives a living space to a young adult or a college student at a very reduced price at the expense of offering some little assistance in chores like cooking and cleaning. It offers the advantage of companionship, tax benefits, and reduced housing cost.
Senior housing options with assistance
These include all forms of housing options that give intensive care and assistance to seniors. Such sensors are usually unable to carry out the essential daily activity usually due to old age, injury illness, or other challenges. Some of these options include:
- Assisted living
- Nursing Homes
- Memory Facilities
- Hospice
- Respite Care
Assisted living
Assisted living allows residents to receive help with instrumental daily activities such as laundry, cooking, and bathing among many others. They are also open to limited medical assistance. The residents have private or semi-private rooms and share all other areas. The offering in assisted living varies and covers laundry, meals, exercise, and transport to doctor’s appointments. In this type of option, residents are open to professional caregiver assistance and there are many assisted living services available so that you can make the best choice. The cost of an assisted living option varies with respect to the room size, the extent of care, social amenities, and the location.
Nursing Homes
This option is very similar to assisted living and the distinction is just that the resident receives intensive medical care with 24-hour supervision. People who need long-term medical care should opt-in for nursing homes. Quality services provided with licensed equipment are utilized by healthcare professionals in nursing homes.
Memory Facilities
This is the recommended option for clients suffering from dementia that is associated with loss of memory. Lots of staff are employed to give intensive care and watch over the patient. It is a specialized form of nursing home and combines the features of assisted living. They offer quality security facilities and make people suffering from dementia feel at ease.
Hospice
Hospice offers intensive care for residents who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. This service can be offered in nursing homes or senior residents. They offer services that manage the pain of the residents and give them emotional and spiritual care, making them able to enjoy the last moments of their lives.
Respite care
Respite care is a form of home living option that allows caregivers to take temporary breaks in the services that they offer to older adults. The break is short-term and is meant to give relief to the health caregivers or freedom to travel or to engage in other kinds of work. Respite care is very flexible and can take place in the seniors’ home, residential facility, or in adult care service center. Respite care is simply a modification of the assisted form of living with the opportunity of caregivers to take a break when necessary. The short-term break could be for just one hour at a time or for several weeks continually.
