4 Different Types of Senior Living Options

Discussing and ultimately, making the decision to move your older or elderly loved one into a senior living facility is an emotional and often conflicting undertaking for anyone.

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However, in the vast majority of cases, your loved one will be far happier and crucially, far better cared for, than if they remain living in their home when they are not capable of looking after themselves properly.

So, with that being said, continue reading to learn about four different types of senior living options that may be suitable. 

1. Independent Living Facilities

When you find out that your close friend, family member, or even your husband and wife is no longer comfortable or capable of living independently and moreover, has no desire for you or other loved ones to sacrifice their own lives to take care of them, it is time to discussing engaging senior living options. 

Independent living facilities are basically very similar to living in a normal home and consist of housing options that have been exclusively designed for older adults and the elderly who want to reside in a thriving, active community with like-minded people. 

2. Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities are, in effect, one step up from independent living communities in terms of the level of care offered by medical professionals on site.

One of the major advantages of choosing to move, or help your loved one move, to an assisted living community is that if their situation changes (in the context of their physical health and/or emotional wellbeing) their tailormade care and treatment schedule will evolve accordingly. 

This personalized approach is evident in the care provided at facilities specializing in assisted living in St. Louis, where residents receive individualized attention to meet their specific needs. These communities not only prioritize health and wellbeing but also foster a sense of belonging and community among residents. 

3. At-Home Senior Care Services

It may well be that your close friend or relative has absolutely no desire to leave their home (where they feel comfortable and relaxed) to move to a strange new place, and therefore in this instance, you may want to consider engaging in at-home senior care services instead. 

This way, you can arrange for a medical professional, or even a volunteer from an elderly care service, to visit your loved one on the days when you or other loved ones are unable to, to enact everything from physical care to providing conversation and company. 

Types of at-home senior care services for older adults and the elderly include, amongst a host of others, the following:

• Companionship throughout the day or evenings

• Preparing and serving meals 

• Cleaning the home

• Completing grocery shopping and other chores

• Fitting certain items of equipment to make the home safer and more secure

• Bathing, washing, cleaning, and dressing in the morning and evening 

4. Nursing and Care Homes

For elderly people who may or may not be living with a memory-based illness, such as Alzheimer's disease for example, moving to a reputable nursing or care home may well be the best decision. 

Primarily, nursing homes are specifically designed for older adults and elderly people who require more consistent and (in most cases) more intensive treatment and care schedules, and as such, they are staffed with nurses and other medical professionals.