Independent Living - What is Independent Living?

Independent Living for seniors is also known as; Retirement Communities, Retirement Homes, Senior Apartments and Independent Living Communities.

Independent Living is having the ability to maintain one's residence and lifestyle without any custodial or medical assistance. If custodial or medical care becomes necessary, residents in Independent Living situations are sometimes able to bring in outside services. Independent Living for seniors refers to residences that are usually located in a private communities with apartment style living. They can be resort style or a basic apartment within a complex. They are easy-to-maintain and designed exclusively for seniors generally 55+ or 62+.

What services do Independent Living Communities offer?

Independent Living communities often include a number services that can be a part of a community/association due or are included in the rental price. They include:

• Social activities such as shopping trips
• Educational Seminars
• Housekeeping
• Pools and spas
• Libraries
• Beauty Shops
• Golf courses
• Exercise rooms
• Beauty shops
• Small convenient stores
• Tennis courts

Some communities may offer more or less activities. You may even find an activities director on site. Another added plus is that many offer security guards 24- hours.

Who is an appropriate candidate for Independent Living?

Independent Living is ideal for seniors who require no assistance with any of their daily activities. They might also want to move into a more social environment or want to get rid of the work of the up keep of a home.

What types of Independent Living options are available?

The physical structure of Independent Living communities is quite diverse. As noted above, any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors qualifies as senior Independent Living.

The available communal space depends upon the Independent Living community. Some provide only a small communal sitting room. Others have entire community centers that include dining rooms and recreational communities. Most Independent Living units include small kitchens, and some communities also offer meals in a communal dining area. The cost of the facility reflects the amount of community space and its designated use.

Independent Living Community Types:

• Senior apartments
• Retirement communities
• Low-income housing

Senior Apartments

Senior apartments are apartment complexes restricted by age, usually 55+. Some senior apartments are converted private homes or converted apartment complexes. When senior complexes are constructed or remodeled from existing structures, assistive technologies such as handrails and pull cords are often built in as an added value for seniors.

Some senior apartment complexes provide community services such as recreational programs, transportation services, and meals in a communal dining room.

Retirement Communities

Retirement communities are groups of homes or condominiums that are restricted to seniors age 55 and over (or in some cases, 62+). Retirement communities may be:

• Single-family or attached homes
• Mobile or manufactured homes
• Cluster housing
• Standard subdivisions

Depending on the particular community, residents may lease or buy their housing unit. Some senior communities are enormous, with residents numbering in the thousands. Others have only a few hundred residents. Again, the services and shared communities vary.

Low-Income Housing

Many senior apartment complexes are subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Because these apartments are usually rented at below-market rates, waiting lists can take years to turn over. For details see Congregate Housing for Seniors.

What should I look for in an Independent Living for seniors unit?

Regardless of the type of Independent Living situation you choose, you may want to keep some or all of the following considerations in mind in order to find the community that best suits your needs:

• Is parking convenient to your living unit, and is the parking area well lit?
• Is there a security guard or a gated entrance to the facility?
• Is public transportation available?
• Do you want a unit that is built all on one floor, or are stairs OK?
• How close is the Independent Living community to a medical facility and/or your doctor?
• Do amenities such as cabinets and storage space meet your present and possible future needs?
• Is the shower/bathtub adaptable to your needs as you age? (e.g., can grab bars be installed?)
• Are the community services that are provided what you want and need?

What services are typically provided?

The built-in benefits of senior-only communities are:

• Many peers living nearby with whom to socialize
• Features designed into the housing to provide comfort, security, and safety for seniors

Independent Living communities often include a number of optional services, including:

• Recreational, educational, and social activities such as shopping trips and cultural outings
• Communal Meals
• Housekeeping
• Local transportation
• Exercise communities, such as pools, saunas and exercise machines
• Libraries
• Beauty shops
• Gardens
• Activity rooms or clubhouses
• Golf courses
• Tennis and shuffleboard courts

Some communities include full-time directors for social or recreational services, while others offer only informal activities. Some communities even have a social worker on staff to assist in contacting agencies that provide medical or personal care. Many also are gated communities with their own security guards.

What is the cost of Independent Living Communities ?

Because Independent Living options for seniors vary so widely, and given the ongoing market fluctuations in real estate throughout the U.S., there is no way to predict what your particular Independent Living situation might cost. However, there are some guidelines that correlate with the Independent Living options described earlier.

Low End
The lowest cost Independent Living communities are those that are subsidized by public or private charities, or through HUD. The cost of the subsidized housing is a percentage of the senior resident's income. Note that Medicare and Medicaid will not cover any portion of your housing payment since they are forms of health insurance, and no healthcare is provided in an Independent Living arrangement.

Mid-range
The next level of Independent Living for seniors is rental communities. Rental fees are indexed to the cost of luxury housing in your geographic area. In addition to rent, you'll also incur a monthly charge for services. Depending upon the services used, the monthly fee can be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

High End
The highest cost Independent Living communities are planned retirement communities that require buying a home or living unit. The cost of a home is indexed to the cost of other luxury housing in your geographic area. In addition, the shared amenities of the retirement community are figured into a monthly fee of $1000 to $2000. This fee covers taxes, common utilities, and community services