You’ve probably heard the phrase “continuing care,” probably to refer to some type of center that allows for seniors to live out their retirement days in a location that has all the services they need to ensure their ongoing health and safety. These continuing care retirement communities tend to be all-inclusive, and that means they offer both assisted living and independent living in addition to nursing care provided by the most skilled medical professionals in the field. But with all these terms, it’s hard to understand what, exactly, is meant by what.
A large part of settling into some kinds of adult retirement communities is figuring out exactly the kinds of services you’re in need of. So when you’re planning for retirement, it’s important to understand what’s meant when you hear the term…
Independent living
Just as its name implies, independent living focuses on individuals not requiring round-the-clock care for their various health concerns. In fact, there might not be any particular health concerns to deal with, and it just might be a step for seniors or other retired people en route to some other kind of facility, such as assisted living. When you’re planning for retirement, think of assisted living centers as one viable option for continuing care.
Assisted living
You can think of assisted living as the next step up, or individuals who might need a little help with their daily activities. These centers are staffed with highly trained professionals (like nurses) in order to ensure its residents get the quality of care that their conditions — or even just their ages — demand. When you’re planning for retirement, think of assisted living is one peg up the ladder from independent living when it comes to the ladder of eldercare.
Retirement homes
Also called skilled nursing facilities, these centers are live-in homes where the maximum amount of assistance can be administered to the residents. For folks who need special care dealing with everyday tasks such as eating, drinking, bathing and other daily tasks, nursing homes can provide the appropriate amount of care to help them. Certain homes offer services for developmentally disabled individuals as well as those who need constant aid in dealing with Alzheimer’s or other illnesses. Learn more.