According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), 70% of Americans ages 65+ require long-term care services. 20% of them will even need help for longer than five years, making senior care communities an essential part of daily life.
Here, we’re going to talk about independent vs. assisted living options for your older loved ones. Read on to learn the differences between these senior living types and get some insight into which option is best for your family.
What Is Assisted Living?
Many people first imagine assisted living when they think about a community for aging adults. This common type of senior living community offers residents help with daily tasks like:
- Getting into and out of bed
- Moving around the community
- Bathing and showering
- Getting dressed
- Using the restroom
- Maintaining personal hygiene
- Managing medication
Compassionate assisted living caregivers also:
- Help schedule senior socialization activities
- Ensure that residents eat healthy meals
- Offer laundry and housekeeping services
In an assisted living community, seniors who struggle to care for themselves get the tools and assistance needed to live as autonomously as possible. However, they require more care than their independent living counterparts.
Some benefits of assisted living include:
- Constant access to compassionate caregivers who are ready to help
- Personalized care plans to meet individual needs
- Increased social engagement with other residents
- Chef-prepared meals made for nutrition and senior wellness
- Cognitive exercises that build cognition and boost memory
- Accessible amenities for heightened mobility
- Respite and peace of mind for would-be familial caregivers
An assisted living community can be a saving grace for families that need professional help for their loved ones. However, not all seniors need the kind of help that assisted living provides, which is where independent living communities come in.
What Is Independent Living?
Seniors in independent living do not usually need the same help with personal care tasks that those in assisted living do. Residents can generally maintain their own hygiene and care for their own physical needs.
However, there are several reasons that older adults still opt for independent living in Sun City Center. Residents gain access to:
- Clubhouse space for spending time together
- An on-site bar and lounge
- Weekly linen and laundry services
- Fitness centers and tracks
- Daily gourmet meals
- Daily concierge assistance
- Utilities that come for free with rent
- Compassionate care professionals ready to answer questions
- Housekeeping services
They also can enjoy resort-style amenities like:
- Well-appointed apartments with comfortable furniture
- Several different apartment floor plans for comfort and safety
- Large windows for natural lighting
- A heated pool and sun deck
- Air-conditioned storage space
- Well-stocked diverse libraries
- Business centers with top-notch computers
- Recreation centers
- Sitting areas
- A large ballroom for special events
If your loved one needs minimal care but wants somewhere comfortable to live and socialize, an independent senior living community may be the right choice.
Independent Living Benefits for Seniors
But why should older adults not age in place if they live independently?
Safety is one reason that an independent living community is better than remaining at home. Communities made for seniors have accessible amenities like:
- Easy-to-navigate open spaces
- Wide hallways for heightened mobility
- Wide doorways for wheelchair access
- Easily-reachable low countertops
- Grab bars and railings to prevent falls
- Smoke detectors and fire alarms
Additionally, seniors in independent living communities stave off senior isolation and loneliness.
They’re less likely to develop depression and anxiety as a result of this. Senior socialization also can help prevent dementia and physical health issues like heart disease.
At the best senior living community in Sun City Center, autonomous adults can enjoy activities and events like:
- Themed parties and dances
- Live musical performances
- Academic lectures from esteemed guests
- Professionally-led crafting workshops
- Book clubs for seniors
- Writing groups
- Drawing and sketching groups
- Movie screenings
- Game nights
- Walks around the courtyard
- Stretching and yoga
- Meditation and therapy
This gives residents something to look forward to when they get up in the morning!
Independent vs. Assisted Living: Which Does Your Loved One Need?
When choosing between independent vs. assisted living, independent communities should be the default for those who don’t need assistance with daily care tasks.
Senior independence is critical for a wide range of reasons, including:
- A sense of purpose
- Feelings of control over life choices
- Enhanced cognitive function through decision-making
- The ability to choose social clubs and activities they’re interested in
- Fostering stronger social connections
- Making meaningful decisions about daily life
- Better physical strength and mobility
If your loved one is capable of autonomous decision-making and has a full range of mobility, they should choose an independent living community in Sun City Center.
Doing so ensures that they can retain a strong sense of self and identity. Losing their independence may make them forget what it was like to make decisions about their own wellness and activities, which can bring this sense of self into question. They may no longer feel autonomous or like who they used to be.
Independent senior living doesn’t force those who can perform most tasks alone into a daily care box that they don’t need.
However, some older adults do need assisted living! There’s no shame in needing help, but families should make sure that their loved ones actually require assistance before moving them into a community that will create unnecessary care plans for them.
The best way to evaluate senior needs is to talk with care experts at a Sun City Center senior community. We’ll sit down with potential residents and families and use our extensive experience to make informed suggestions. Then, our team will work with your family to come up with an individually tailored care plan for your loved one.
Boost Senior Wellness With Florida Senior Living
Now that you know the differences between independent vs. assisted living, it’s time to find a great senior living community in Sun City Center.
Our community is committed to offering great independent living solutions for older adults. We offer a resort lifestyle to seniors who can live autonomously on their own terms.
We offer up to $10,000 on move-in savings, so contact professionals at Aston Gardens at Sun City Center to learn more about our offerings!
