Senior Apartments
Senior apartments are common options for individuals of a certain age. All senior living communities offer residents accommodations and features specifically designed for their aging populations. For example, some communities have easily accessible emergency call systems, step-in showers to decrease slip risks and elevators to access different floors without the burden of stairs. However, each type of living facility has different perks and interested residents should learn about them to find which meets their needs.
Types of Senior Living Communities
A senior citizen apartment or another housing type has many benefits for residents including maintenance, price and care. 55+ senior apartments are less tedious than owning or renting a house, as the facility’s management handles landscaping and other concerns. About 40 percent of individuals 60 years of age and older fall into the category of low- or moderate-income. This is because seniors typically stop working when they are able to collect retirement benefits. As a result, older individuals need affordable housing. Personal care in senior living communities varies by type. Some places provide extensive medical services while others assist with routine daily tasks.
Active Adult Communities
55+ senior apartments, condos and town-homes are available to singles and couples. Active adult communities are no different from similar housing structures for all ages with the exception being that individuals must meet the minimum age requirement.Many senior citizen apartment conditions only need one resident of a unit to meet the age requirements. To give an example, one spouse may be 55 years of age while the other is only 50 and they will still be able to join the community.
Unlike some other senior living housing, age-qualified residents must be able to live on their own without additional assistance. This means that they are able to take care of themselves as well as their unit.
The benefits of 55+ senior apartments include:
- Being around comparably aged neighbors. Older individuals don’t need to worry about youngsters running around or other inconveniences that come with living in close proximity with younger families, couples and singles.
- An active lifestyle. Many senior apartments set up social activities so residents can enjoy new interests while getting to know their neighbors. This is especially useful when older residents have more time on their hands and fewer acquaintances to spend time with.
- A sense of community. Since senior living communities are exclusive for those of a certain age and they offer new social opportunities for residents, individuals are able to start new friendships.
- Affordability. Most active adult communities are less expensive than similar housing options in the same area.
Independent Living Communities & Assisted Living Residences
Senior living communities offer varying levels of care for residents. Independent living communities are for individuals who need a little extra help with select tasks like housekeeping and cooking.Assisted living residences are similar but include more care such as assistance with bathing, dressing and taking medication. These senior apartments are perfect for those who need more help daily but are still fairly active.
Benefits of independent living communities include:
- Freedom. Residents can enjoy life on their terms. Unlike nursing homes, individuals living in these retirement communities can come and go as they please.
- Safety. A senior citizen apartment in a retirement community is typically designed to accommodate elderly people. They often have security or alarm systems as well as keep residents on one floor.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Some senior living communities continue to meet the needs of their residents as they age. These communities are usually on a large campus and allow seniors to transition to more care as needed.For instance, residents may start by living independently with select assistance such as meal and laundry service. Then, they may shift to assisted living and receive more assistance with daily tasks like bathing or dressing.
Unlike a senior citizen apartment, residents of continuing care communities can also receive 24-hour care, similar to a nursing home. Some facilities may even provide additional support for memory issues or other care needed before end-of-life.
Benefits of continuing care retirement communities include:
- Staying in one place. Although care needs, residents can stay in the same community with little upheaval to their lives.
- Insurance coverage. Depending on the facility and the type of long-term care insurance individuals have, insurance coverage can pay for a portion of care costs.