Senior Retirement Lifestyles

Senior Retirement Lifestyles & Senior Living Options

I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything till noon. That’s when it’s time for my nap—Bob Hope

You graduate from high school. You go to college, land a job, and have kids. Hit your 20-year reunion. Ride the career wave. Watch your body head south. Middle age. Your kids move out. Vacation! Grandkids come over. When can I retire?

In a blink of the eye, it seems, you’re a “senior.” If you’re thinking where and how you’ll live as a senior, welcome to Assisted Senior Living, one of the most comprehensive and unbiased senior retirement lifestyles directories on the web.

Before you begin your search, read our overview of the lifestyle choices that await you.

In-Home Care

For those not ready to leave their homes, in-home care is an option. In-home care agencies provide varied services to seniors in their home. The range of caregivers services vary depending on the need. Some are simply companions while others are nurses or physical therapists.

In general, you’ll find the following services:

• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, toileting, etc
• Medication management
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Running errands
• Companionship which includes activities, conversation, shopping, and others
• Meal planning and preparation
• Transportation to appointments, events, shopping, etc
• Bill paying
• Household organization
• Assistance with pets
• Exercising
• Physical therapy
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care
• Costs run between $15 and $25 an hour (the national average is $18/hr..) and can be considerably higher for a service such as physical therapy

Independent living communities serve healthy, primarily active seniors who do not need help with daily living. General features of an independent living community are:

• Housing options: single-family home, townhouse, apartment, mobile home or RV
• Rent or buy
• Marketed and designed for those 55 and older, some with age restriction laws
• Amenities like clubhouses, gyms, restaurants, maintenance, housekeeping and security, social activities such as field trips, clubs, etc
• On-site attendant
• 24-hour security
• Cost between $1,500 to $10,000 per month

Assisted Living Communities provide seniors as much independence as they want, while assisting them where help is needed. Help is usually needed with ADLs such as bathing, dressing, toileting, meals, medication and ambulation. The primary features of an assisted living community are:

• Condo or apartment in a building complex or a multi-unit home
• Single rooms, full apartments for singles or couples
• Three meals a day in a common dining area
• Staff assistance with ADLs
• Amenities like 24-hour security, housekeeping, on-site pharmacy, laundry service, exercise programs, social activities and transportation
• Emergency call systems in-house
• Specialized care for dementia/Alzheimer’s patients
• Median U.S. cost for private one-bedroom apartment is $3,261 a month

Nursing Homes are for seniors who need skilled nursing care but not the care level of a hospital. The main features of a nursing home:

• Nursing staff on-duty 24 hours a day
• Assistance with ADLs
• Dental, nutrition, labs, x-rays and pharmacies are among the services
• Occupational, speech and physical therapy available
• Social and spiritual services provided
• The average cost for a private room is $213 a day
• The average cost for a semi-private room is $193 a day

Special Care Units (SCUs) provide services to those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. SCUs are usually housed in nursing homes. Their main features are:

• Facilities specifically designed with patient safety in mind
• Staff are all trained in dementia-related therapy and behavioral management
• An environment that fosters patient independence
• Social activities

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are a combination independent living, assisted living and nursing home, all in one community. With the features and services these facilities provide, seniors are able to “age in place.” This concept can provide a greater peace of mind for residents and family members.

Many CCRCs are similar to life on a cruise ship or in an expensive resort. CCRCs have activities directors that organize daily activities  like yoga or a trip to the movies. In addition, the facilities design often resemble resorts with expensive art and lavish garden areas. Continuum Care is the ultimate senior living options.

However, CCRCs are the most expensive senior retirement lifestyles option with entry fees alone averaging nearly $250,000 but if you can afford it, you get care for life. Here are some common features of CCRCs:

• Home options: single family home, condo, apartment
• Three types of contracts—Life, Modified, Fee-for-Service--that specify health services and amenities
• Amenities such as meals, housekeeping, personal care, transportation
• Social activities to keep patients’ minds engaged
• Recreational activities
• One-time entrance fees range from $100,000 to $750,000
• Monthly fees range from $1,000 to $10,000

To find your ideal senior retirement lifestyle, use our advanced search option at the top right. And if you have questions, contact Assisted Senior Living using the fields at the top.

For more detailed information on many of these options, read these additional articles:

• 55 Plus Communities
  
• Active Senior Living Communities
  
• Religion Based Senior Care
• Respite Or Temporary Care