Independent Living vs. Assisted Living
Baby Boomers began hitting age 65 in 2011, which means over 76 million people have officially entered their retirement years. At the same time the Boomers are retiring, the average life expectancy is also gradually increasing. While your health, lifestyle and family history of course play a role in how long you will live, many seniors today are celebrating birthdays far beyond the age of 80. In fact, according to stats from CDC, just 20 years ago a person could expect to live to 79.4 years of age, while today that age has risen to 82.5 years old.
When these seniors are ready to downsize their homes—whether for convenience or health reasons—they now have a wide variety of to choose from. Two of the most popular options are independent living communities and assisted living communities, and we’re here today to explain the differences.
Independent Living Communities
If you’re looking for a carefree lifestyle without the burdens of home maintenance and more time to appreciate the activities you enjoy most, an independent living community could be the right choice for you. Healthy older adults who are still actively engaged with life can choose from living options like spacious patio homes or comfortable apartments where they can come and go as they please.
However, as part of the community’s continuum of care, residents also receive priority access to additional supportive services should their health needs change. Assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services are often conveniently provided on the same campus. This is especially beneficial to couples residing in the independent living community; if one spouse experiences a decline in health and needs those additional services, the other can remain close by.
As a resident of an independent living community, you’ll also enjoy a wide variety of amenities designed to keep you active and involved in life. Regularly scheduled activities, transportation to off-campus appointments and events, a full dining experience, help with housekeeping…these are all just a few of the perks community living offers.
Assisted Living Communities
Some seniors experience issues with mobility due to chronic conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis and may need some help with daily living activities. Assisted living communities can help with dressing, bathing, eating, medication management and more to ensure residents enjoy the highest quality of life possible. These communities make it a point to promote each resident’s independence while providing the right amount of care so they can truly thrive.
Like independent living communities, assisted living communities also provide amenities to keep residents engaged and as active as possible. Residents enjoy private or semi-private rooms that can be personalized with their finishing touches, plus around-the-clock care from a team of experienced professionals.
Comfortable Senior Living Options in OKC at Concordia Life Care Community
As a continuing care retirement community, or life plan community, Concordia offers a variety of senior living options and healthcare services in one convenient location in Oklahoma City. Discover the advantages of living in a life plan community by downloading our helpful guide today.
If you’d like to learn more about Concordia, contact us to schedule a visit to see all our beautiful community has to offer.
General Information
