The difference between Assisted Living and Independent Living

When nursing facilities are out of the question and home care is never possible, you are met with the decision on whether to move an elderly loved one to an assisted living facility or an independent living facility.  But is there a difference?  While both facilities foster independence and provide their residents their much needed privacy, the difference lies in the elder care needs they can address.

Independent living facilities are ideal for seniors who are still able to take care of themselves, but will require some assistance in doing house chores or meal preparations.  These facilities function like regular communities, but with the convenient access to medical care, dining and entertainment.  Some of these facilities and communities may even provide 5-star accommodations to give their residents the feel of being in a permanent vacation.  What independent living facilities provide primarily is a relaxing environment where seniors can enjoy their golden years.

Assisted living facilities, on the other hand, cater to seniors with physical disabilities or mental conditions.  In addition to assistance with chores and meal preparations, these facilities may also aid their residents in daily activities such as taking medication, bathing, dressing and eating.  They also offer programs and activities aimed at encouraging socialization between residents.

Most facilities under this category may provide specialized programs for those suffering from a form of dementia.

Choosing between the two facilities will depend on the type of care your loved one will require, as well as the tasks he or she can no longer accomplish independently.  

But matters get even more complicated when both aging parents will require different needs.  What if either parent is suffering from a debilitating condition, such as Alzheimer’s? 

Fortunately, both needs can be addressed by a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

Continuing Care Retirement Communities are campuses which provide a wide spectrum of elder care services.  By combining both facilities mentioned above with access to skilled-nursing care, elderly couples with different needs may live within the same vicinity.

These facilities offer two contract types:  an all-inclusive “Life Care” plan where a resident can have access to all health care services, and “fee for a service”, where a resident can select health care services a la carte.

Whether you choose an assisted living facility, an independent living community, or a continuing care retirement community, rest assured that your senior loved one can enjoy their golden years in a safe and secure environment. 

What will be the future of elder care services be like?

The growing elderly population and the aging baby boomer generation have brought about many developments in the elderly care service industry.  And with the expectations and demands of the coming senior generation coupled with our current economic situation, what directions will the senior care and senior living industry be heading?

Here are a few trends you might be seeing in the future of senior care:

1. Say good bye to sterile, nursing home facilities.  Years from now, you’ll be seeing a massive shift from the traditional and hospital-like setting of the nursing home model to more personalized senior living options like assisted living and independent living, where active seniors can live a rich life with little or no assistance in everyday activities.  Factors like rising costs of skilled nursing facilities and cuts in Medicare may propel this change to a nearer future date. 

Some facilities have, in fact, taken assisted living to a whole new level.  Now there are a great number of niche senior communities, ranging from culture-based to lifestyle-based retirement housing options, where residents can enjoy being around like-minded individuals, or other elderly people from the same culture.

2. Increase and improvements in the in-home care industry.  As more and more seniors prefer to age in place than move out, increase in the demands for in-home care services could result to improvement of the in-home care technology and a massive employment growth in the in-home care sector.  Trends like “senior-friendly” communities and multigenerational homes may also become the norm in the future for the in-home care industry.

3. “Senior-friendly” technology – The wireless technology that has revolutionized the way we live will definitely transform senior care.  While we certainly won’t be seeing care giver robots in the near future yet, there are already a plethora of options we can choose from to improve the quality of life of our senior loved ones, right at our fingertips (no puns intended).  “Connected Home” computer systems and mobile device applications are already in-use in many senior-care facilities to track medication intake and vital signs of their residents. 

4. “Aging green” – The “Going Green” movement has definitely entered the senior care territory.  Eco-friendly assisted living facilities are now becoming one of the trends du jour in the senior living industry, and they offer long term benefits, too!  While it may require a sky-high initial investment for the building of eco-friendly infrastructures and getting an LEEED certification, the “green” amenities can save a great deal of money in the long run.  Plus, their residents get to have an opportunity to be environmentally minded as they reach their golden years. 

Some of these trends may still be in development while others are already in existence.  And as expected, not everyone may be too happy with the trends in the senior care industry.  But whatever the consensus is, you will always have the last say in which elder care option you choose.

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