There are different levels of senior living (or senior care). Each level provides care and appropriate environments that support the different seniors’ needs and preferences. There are many different options offered, however, some options are more affordable than others.
The most preferred option by seniors is the In-Home Senior Care. This is because most seniors want to stay home for as long as possible. They are so accustomed to their homes and their daily routine that they tend to avoid changing their way of living. Some of the benefits of this level of care are that it allows seniors to remain independent, be surrounded by their belongings, and get assistance in the comfort of their home when needed. In fact, it has also been proven that seniors recover faster when they can get back to their homes (Elderly Home Care & In-Home Caregiving, 2018).
Adult Day Care is a type of care that allows seniors to be cared for in a daytime facility. This type of care provides a professionally managed environment for the elderly. Some of the advantages of this type of senior care are that it provides seniors with medical services, it promotes social and cognitive function, promotes social interaction, and improves senior health and quality of life (Senior Day Care Centers & Facilities, 2018).
Abramson Center’s Medical Adult Day Care Center, Philadelphia.
Active Adult (AA) /Senior Apartment is housing designed for seniors 55 and older. This type of community offers independent living for active and mobile seniors. Walking, swimming, yoga, and dancing are some of the physical activities available in this type of community. As a result, seniors enjoy social activities while they retain their independence (Communities & Active Retirement Communities, 2018).
Independent Living (IL) provides housing in a form of apartments, congregate living, or retirement communities. The independent living apartments have access to some amenities and services such as dining room, salon, housekeeping, laundry, gym, or transportation. Independent living is usually universally designed homes that as the name implies, it encourages independence (Senior Care Options, 2018).
This picture shows an example of an independent living lifestyle. Seniors are at the gym maintaining their full independence while they socialize and perform physical activities.
Eagan Pointe Senior Living, Eagan, Minnesota.
According to the book “Design Details for Health” by Cynthia Leibrock, Assisted Living (AL) offers amenities that promote the independence and dignity of home while residents receive their individual assistance with daily activities. The type of care received in an assisted living community supports physical and medical needs for life in the same apartment. In other words, this type of community is designed for seniors who need help with taking medicine or with other daily activities (Assisted Living vs Independent Living, 2018).
Similarly to Assisted Living, Memory Care (MC) provides programs and activities designed to cultivate cognitive skills. However, it provides special and specialized care for residents with Alzheimer's and dementia. This type of home creates a safe and healthy environment for seniors with dementia and serves their needs (Leibrock, 2011).
Noah Homes Memory Care Community, California.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is a healthcare institution that provides different types of services such as therapies, physical care, medical assistance, or Parkinson’s disease Care. This type of community usually has a full-time registered nurse as well as a doctor available 24 hours a day. Physical activity and social interaction are some of the benefits available in this type of community (Skilled Nursing Facility for Senior Citizens, 2018).
Hospice provides special care for individuals who received a terminal diagnosis. This type of facility offers comfort for the residents rather than treatment for their illness. This type of care addresses the resident’s physical, emotional, and social needs. The two main types of hospice are Nursing Home Hospice Care and In-Home Hospice Care (Hospice Care for Elderly Seniors, 2018).
The last type of care on this list is the Continue Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This type of community provides rooms and apartments in a campus setting. They offer services that include independent living, assisted living, or skilled nursing care. The continued care retirement community is typically designed for seniors with financial means (Continuing Care Retirement Community, 2019).
Greyhawk, Scottsdale, Arizona.
In conclusion, there are many different types of care available for senior living. They can perform different activities including Activities of Daily Living (ADL) which are activities seniors can perform without assistance. These basic activities include eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. Most of these types of activities are the basic self-care tasks that people initially learn as very young children (What are ADLs & IADLs, 2019).
Sources
Senior Home Care Services | Elderly Home Care & In-Home Caregiving. (2018, September 12). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/home-care/
Adult Day Care for Seniors | Senior Day Care Centers & Facilities. (2018, August 30). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/adult-day-care/
Active Senior Living | Communities & Active Retirement Communities. (2018, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/active-senior/
Leibrock, C. A., & Harris, D. D. (2011). Design details for health: Making the most of designs healing potential. Hoboken: Wiley.
Net, B. S. (2018, October 03). Navigating the Maze of Senior Care Options. Retrieved from https://www.seniorhousingnet.com/senioradvice/navigating-the-maze-of-senior-care-options/
Hospice Care for Elderly Seniors | Is There Hospice Care Near Me? (2018, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/healthcare/hospice-care/#
Skilled Nursing Facility for Senior Citizens | What is Skilled Nursing? (2018, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/skilled-nursing/
Assisted Living vs Independent Living | What's the Difference? (2018, August 31). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.org/compare/assisted-living-vs-independent-living/
Continuing Care Retirement Community. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.seniorliving.com/continuing-care-retirement-community
What are ADLs & IADLs? (2019). Retrieved from https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/what-are-adls-and-iadls/