When you hit a certain age, you start having to make some big decisions about how you want to spend your time. Do you want to stay independent in your home or prefer assisted living? There are many types of independent living available nowadays, but they all have different levels of care and costs associated with them.
Independent living is one option perfect for individuals who want the freedom to be on their own but still need help with daily tasks. To get started down this path, here are four types of independent living:
Assisted Living Facilities (ALFS)
Assisted living facilities (ALFs) are typically licensed by the state and offer a wide range of services, from help with daily activities to around-the-clock care. But they don’t require the same medical care level as nursing homes, so they tend to be less expensive than the latter. Residents may have apartments or private rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms, but ALFs usually don’t offer meals. Instead, residents join in for group meals in a common dining area—or, if you prefer, family members can bring food from home for you to enjoy at your own pace.
Independent Living Communities
Independent living communities are for residents who can take care of themselves but need help with transportation or medication management. Independent living communities provide a range of services to residents, including meals, housekeeping, and transportation.
There are two types of independent living facilities: congregate and non-congregate. In congregate settings, residents live together in the same building; it’s more like an apartment building than anything else. Non-congregate settings are scattered throughout the community—you might share a street with people who live in different buildings from you!
Memory Care Facilities
Memory care centers are designed specifically to meet their needs if you have a loved one with dementia who needs more support than they can get in an assisted living community.
Memory care communities provide a safe, comfortable environment for people with dementia. They’re staffed 24/7 and provide medical supervision as necessary. Patients may also be able to take part in social events such as movie nights or trips to local restaurants.
Because memory loss is often progressive, it may be hard for patients to remember things at first if they don’t receive proper care — but this doesn’t mean they can’t still be active! Many residents with dementia enjoy staying active by taking part in physical therapy sessions or going on walks outdoors (if possible). Memory care centers offer plenty of opportunities for residents to exercise by walking around their hallways or participating in activities like bingo games or yoga classes, where staff members guide them through each activity step-by-step so that there are no mistakes made along the way.
Nursing Homes
If you have a large family, it’s likely that you’ll need to think about nursing homes. Nursing homes are for people who need help with daily activities and have 24-hour nursing care. They usually prepare meals for their residents and provide therapy options such as physical therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, and more. Many activities are available at most nursing homes, including arts & crafts programs where residents can create items like paintings or jewelry to take home with them!
Many facilities are available within this category: long-term care hospitals offer short-term stays, while rehabilitation centers offer longer-term stays (usually upwards of 90 days). In addition to these two types, there are also assisted living facilities that offer supervised care on an hourly basis rather than 24 hours per day like other places do; these places make sure that residents stay hydrated throughout each day by providing beverages every hour or so during meal times; overall this type is suitable because it allows people who don’t need around-the-clock care but still require assistance from time-to-time throughout their lives live independently without worrying about having someone check up on them multiple times per day.
