As your loved one gets older, it might be time to start looking into a different living arrangement for her or looking to find some assistance to help her with daily living chores and activities. You might have to have this conversation whether your aging loved one is living alone or still living with their spouse. If their quality of life is declining because they cannot take care of themselves or their home, you have several senior housing options you can discuss with them.
It helps to start by explaining that senior housing doesn’t necessarily mean a nursing home, as many seniors are familiar with. Sometimes senior housing can even entail living in their own home and aging in place, but with a little help. Other times, it may involve moving to a place that has the health and social resources they need.
Here are seven different types of senior housing that you might consider looking into for your aging loved ones.
Aging in Place. This form of senior living means your loved one stay where they are, but agrees to have home care services come in for help with personal care, home care, or meal care as needed. It might also involve recruiting family and friends to commit to helping with driving, doing the yard work, or simply calling once a week to check in.
Living in a Village. In this concept, a large neighborhood considers itself a village and helps each other out. While there are no professionals in the area to connect to, they have resources readily available and can lend a hand to a neighbor that might need them.
Living Independently. If your loved ones are still pretty active but maybe miss having a community around them, this can be a great option for them. Senior housing for those who want to live independently can include apartment complexes and retirement communities. Your loved one is surrounded by people their age, and the communities often have plenty of social activities, as well as services to help with yard and maintenance tasks.
Moving into a Residential Home Care Location. In residential home care, your senior will live with a few other seniors in a home that will provide meals and help with daily living chores, such as bathing, hair and nail care, and laundry. This can often be a more affordable option than nursing homes.
Joining a Continuing Care Community. These larger communities are great if your loved one wants to move into a place and be able to stay there as her needs progress. There are often different levels of care within the community and individuals move into the level of care they need.
Assisted Living. These apartment complexes allow each person to have their own space but often have community eating and social areas along with 24-hour staff on site to help with daily living.
Staying in a Nursing Home or Skilled Nursing Facility. If your loved one needs 24-hour care and supervision, this might be the best place for her. It’s a safe and caring place for older adults with severe physical and mental disabilities who cannot live alone anymore.
Each of the above usually has multiple options in various price ranges, so do your research on senior housing in your area to help your loved one find the best place to live.
If you or an aging loved one are considering your Senior Housing Services please contact the caring staff at Connect Our Elders today! (858) 222-9241
Connect Our Elders provides free advisory and senior care planning across the U.S.
She is an experienced business development and sales professional in the non-medical home care industry and nonprofit sector.
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