Retirement Home Options
Senior Retirement Programs & Services
Senior living covers a spectrum of services and programs for older adults, from completely independent retirement homes to 24-hour medical care from a certified nurse. As you determine your needs, it’s important to look at your current lifestyle and anticipate what services you will potentially need in the future.
Explanation of Services
The type of community that is best for you will depend on your financial, medical, and personal situation. Below is an explanation of the various levels of service. These are general explanations, and communities may offer slightly differing variations on the services described.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC):
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) provide multiple levels of service allowing residents to move around the spectrum of care as needed. Care options typically available at a CCRC are: independent living, assisted living, 24-hour nursing care and memory support. This option provides residents the ability to plan for the future, both financially and for services needed. The minimum age requirement to enter a CCRC generally ranges from 55 – 62, and passing a medical and financial evaluation is often required.
All the services and benefits of the category explanations listed below may be available in a CCRC.
Independent Living:
Seniors who are self-sufficient and can take care of their daily needs without support are candidates for Independent Living communities. Reasons to move to an Independent Living retirement community include wanting to downsize to a smaller home while maintaining complete freedom to live as you wish in a private apartment. The benefits include little to no home/yard maintenance, access to a wide variety of programs and services geared toward healthy living, and a community of peers. The minimum age requirement to enter an Independent Living community generally ranges from 55 – 62, and passing a medical and financial evaluation is often required.
Assisted Living:
Seniors who find they need support to perform some of their day-to-day needs are candidates for Assisted Living communities. The support services can include dressing, bathing, ambulating, administering medications, meals, etc. The levels and types of support vary between individuals, and a unique plan is designed to meet the person’s specific needs. There is often 24-hour care provided by trained care staff.
Nursing Care:
Often referred to as Skilled Nursing, seniors who require 24-hour nursing care have options for both short-term and long-term stays in a nursing care center. This is the highest level of care that a senior can have without entering a hospital. Licensed nurses, overseen by a Medical Director, provide 24-hour care assisted by certified nursing assistants. Many people will only need Skilled Nursing for a short time for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, procedure, or illness, and then can move back to their Assisted Living or Independent Living homes.
Memory Support:
When memory impairment makes life difficult or unsafe in a current living situation, secured memory support may be necessary. Dementia may be caused by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, strokes or other illnesses. Memory support staff members receive specific training, and programs designed to promote mental and physical health also help residents and their families. Many Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing communities provide onsite care for people with memory loss.
