Understanding Differences in Senior Living Communities

While aging in place, in the home they have lived in for years, is a goal for some older adults, it is not the only option. Today's seniors can live at home alone, with in-home support, or in a senior living community with amenities and services that make life and wellness a bit more convenient.

If you or your loved one are considering the options available for the future, don't miss out on exploring different senior living solutions. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised that senior living communities today look nothing like your grandparent's nursing home. Today's communities are vibrant and lively, full of friendly neighbors and helpful team members.

Senior living communities are unique, with each designed to serve a specific type of older adult who needs varying levels of care. The most common types of senior living communities include independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities. Let's learn a bit about each type so you have the information you need to research options that best suit your needs and situation.

Independent Living

An independent living community is a senior living community that caters to active adults, typically older than age 60, who can care for themselves. These communities feel more like luxury hotels than senior living communities, with amenities that often include swimming pools, outdoor walking paths, gathering spaces, fitness centers, and multiple restaurants.

Depending on the community's location and amenities, independent living communities can cost around $3,000 per month¹. This monthly cost typically includes an apartment, utilities, security services, and access to amenities. Services like weekly housekeeping, laundry, and transportation are often included in this base price, but they might be offered at an additional charge. Other expenses might consist of meals in the dining room or costs associated with attending activities, events, and excursions.

Residents in independent living communities still take care of themselves without support. These communities do not have onsite caregivers around the clock. Instead, they typically have a nurse on site a few days per week to help with questions or conduct screenings. There is usually a security staff member on site 24 hours a day who can respond to emergencies by contacting first responders.

You might thrive in independent living if you'd like a maintenance-free lifestyle, are lonely at home, or want to downsize and enjoy amenities right down the hall.

Assisted Living

Assisted living communities are designed for older adults who might benefit from extra support and peace of mind. These communities cater to seniors who need verbal or hands-on support with no more than two activities of daily living. They are active and feature amenities such as gardens and other landscaped shared spaces, fitness programs, and group activities.

Assisted living communities vary in cost based on location, with an average monthly cost of about $4,800². This monthly cost typically includes an apartment, utilities, three meals a day, events and activities, and access to amenities. In addition, residents benefit from having caregivers onsite for personalized assistance 24 hours a day, transportation, housekeeping, and laundry services. Additional care or support might require an additional payment each month, depending on the community.

These communities have caregivers on staff and a team of nurses and employees in leadership roles. Caregivers and nurses help with activities of daily living, medication management, and emergency response.

You might thrive in assisted living if you feel nervous or lonely at home alone, especially at night, or if showering, dressing, or other activities of daily living make you feel exhausted or overwhelmed.

Memory Care

Memory care communities are specially designed for adults living with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia. They have features that meet the challenges of cognitive impairment. These communities can be licensed as either an assisted living community (which is the most common) or a nursing home, and they employ staff members who take hours of specialized training about dementia care best practices.

Memory care communities typically cost more than an assisted living community but less than a nursing home. Monthly costs include room and board, utilities, three meals per day, activities and events, transportation, housekeeping, and laundry. Residents also enjoy nurses and caregivers on staff around the clock to assist with activities of daily living and maintain the natural rhythms and routines of the day that help to build confidence and comfort.

Nursing Home

A nursing home is a licensed facility that provides access to 24-hour-a-day nursing care and maintenance or personal care by a trained or certified staff member under nurse supervision. Nursing homes also provide medical care, therapy, and other health-related services. Nursing homes (sometimes called skilled nursing facilities or SNFs) can also be a good fit for adults who need more clinical medical interventions. Skilled care can include wound care, catheter or feeding tube care, IV care, pain management, or complex disease management.

A semiprivate room in a nursing home costs about $276 per day², or $8,200 per month, on average. Medicare may cover the first 100 days of skilled care in a nursing home after a hospital stay of at least three days as long as you enter a nursing home within 30 days of leaving the hospital. It is not intended to cover ongoing care to assist you with everyday tasks for long periods. Medicaid, veterans benefits, and long term care insurance can also help offset the costs of a nursing home.

You might consider a nursing home environment if you have had a recent surgery, procedure, or hospital stay and need inpatient therapy and medical monitoring to recover successfully before heading back home.

Continuing Care Retirement Community

Finally, a continuing care retirement community, sometimes called a CCRC or life plan community, is a senior living community that offers every senior living solution on one sprawling campus. This means you will find independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing home care in a CCRC. Having all senior living options on one campus can help reduce transition trauma if the senior needs to move to another level of care.

CCRCs offer multiple ways to pay for services. Some ask residents to buy into the community, which is typically at a rate that matches home rates in the area. This cost is in addition to a monthly fee. Other CCRCs only bill a monthly fee, which varies based on what type of care the older adult needs.

You might thrive in a CCRC if you are looking for a housing plan for many years in the future or if you have a progressive condition that requires additional support as you age. .

Which Option Is Best for Me?

We are fortunate to have so many senior living options today! However, many choices can make some decisions feel intimidating. If you aren't sure what type of senior living community would suit your needs, consider having a discussion with your physician or trusted family members. They can offer recommendations that will help point you in the right direction.