When looking around for a senior living community in your area, it can be overwhelming to wrap your head around the various living options available, whether you’re searching for yourself or a loved one. Many families new to retirement living options tend to confuse assisted living and independent living programs with each other, which can make the process of picking a retirement community location a headache. When looking around for retirement living options, here’s how to figure out which option your family should be choosing between assisted living and independent living in Sandalfoot Cove, FL.
Care Received
One of the key differences that separate assisted living and independent living communities from each other lies in the care residents living in these communities receive. Residents in assisted living communities typically receive more intensive care compared to those living in independent living communities, due to their need for assistance in executing activities of daily living like ambulating and toileting. On the other hand, residents living in independent living usually don’t require such support, so independent living communities tend to prioritize lifestyle enhancement over services such as medical care.
Community Design
Another big difference between assisted living and independent living communities is the layout of the residential neighborhoods. Assisted living neighborhoods are usually designed with shared facilities and apartment homes sharing the same building. One of the biggest perks of living in an assisted living community is that residents can enjoy a more accessible lifestyle compared to living in a conventional neighborhood. Thanks to the various safety and accessibility features that are implemented in an assisted living neighborhood’s design, residents can enjoy a higher quality of life compared to aging in place. On the other hand, independent living communities tend to be designed with common areas and residential areas separated.
Cost
As a result of the difference between assisted living and independent living residents’ needs, there’s bound to be a difference in pricing when it comes to moving into assisted living and independent living neighborhoods. Assisted living provides a more intensive level of care that may include medical services and treatment, which is why moving into an assisted living neighborhood tends to cost more at an average of $4,500 a month. However, such services may also be covered by alternative financing options such as Medicare and Medicaid. Conversely, independent living caters to residents’ lifestyle preferences and is not considered a form of senior care. Hence, while moving into an independent living community is usually cheaper at an average of $2,500, the cost of living in one is unlikely to be covered by similar financing options.
Programming and Amenities
While assisted living communities and independent living communities may share certain amenities and programming in common, they’re also likely to have a few distinct differences. For example, residents in assisted living communities are usually provided with three meals a day, while independent living communities tend to only provide one or two meals a day and require added fees for additional meals.
Curious to learn more about both senior living options? Our community offers stellar Assisted Living as well as Independent Living options!
