Choosing the Right Retirement Community for Yourself

Being old brings about various changes and certain limitations. More so if the aged experiences

mobility and health problems and decides on spending gray hairs in the comfort of his own

home. Home is where most seniors choose to age but if they try keep their options open and

embrace the new world of seniors, they would find out that’s there’s more to life than aging at

home.

If you’re still active and can still decide for yourself, plan ahead for future aging

accommodations. Even if you’re diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s or any mental

disorders, planning early gives the advantage of a better life in the future, less of worries and

stress. Retirement communities could provide the best option for your aging life but the choice

may not be simple because there are various types of accommodations that are designed

according to the level of care seniors need. Common accommodations in a retirement

community include:

Independent living

This type of accommodation is designed for seniors who are still active and do not need

assistance in the areas of ADL or activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing,

toileting, walking and continence. As the name suggests, elderly individuals can still enjoy the

same independence they have while still at home. Independent living accommodation allows

you to spend more time engaging in activities and leisure because basic housekeeping and

cooking are done for the residents.

Assisted living

Unlike independent living, this accommodation requires the assistance with the ADLs. It

features a combination of housing and health-related care, where a 24-hour service is available

to meet the demand of senior needs. However, seniors allowed in assisted living are not

extended to those who need serious medical attention that other medical institutions could

provide. Apart from the ADL issues, seniors could enjoy the amenities afforded to individuals in

independent living.

Continuing care

There are retirement communities that only cater to active individuals and provide assistance

for ADLs but if you think of the future where there’s a great deal of chance that your health

diminishes, choose for one which offers continuing care. Continuing care retirement

community lets an active senior live from his independent living condition until such time that

he needs specialized services and medical support.

Senior cohousing

This is a special living accommodation wherein multiple owned units are housed together with

a common open area. The neighborhood serves as the socialization avenue and owners manage

their own activities and share common facilities.

Active Adult

This a relatively new concept in retirement communities designed for active seniors who enjoy

engaging in fun, leisure and sports activities. Most of these age-restricted living

accommodations include tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses and other attractions.

Choosing to live in a retirement community does not come cheap but there are also low-cost

housing programs for seniors and other options for subsidized housing. More so, there are

communities that offer specialized attention for other age-related diseases. Retiring at home, in

some cases, may not be the best option for seniors to age. This is why retirement communities

are the best alternative for seniors to live through their waning years.

Kristina Brown, a proficient provider of care for Senior Care Resources has been passionately

involved in the endeavor. She wants to share insightful information about it. You can learn

more about retirement communities by visiting us.