Senior Living Communities have become a growing trend and a beneficial one. Senior communities can offer a sense of companionship and help maintain a certain level of activeness. However, you can’t lump all senior communities into one category. While some communities may be understated and restricted to a fixed income clientele, other communities may be geared towards posh luxury and cater to a more upscale lifestyle. Most of these communities welcome adults 55 years of age and up.

No two communities are the same and most are centered around their home city amenities like climate, lifestyle, and scenery.  Each community can be restrictive and offer different levels of service.

Sometimes when people think of senior living communities they think of retirement homes, assisted living and or a nursing home.  That is a big misconception, while those types of homes exist and are beneficial to a degree, senior communities are designed to promote comrade among seniors, relaxation, activities, and a free-spirited retirement lifestyle.

The retirement years should be rewarding, fun, and filled with enjoyment for the seniors.  In fact, it should be the best and most carefree years of their life since there are no more stresses from mortgages, raising kids, and working.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

When a senior chooses an independent styled living community, he or she is of sound mind, good mental capacity and is physically capable to live independently.  However, they want companionship from other seniors his/her age.  Independent senior living provides not only social interactions but it also provides stimulation through activity.

Independent living communities offer specialized services and amenities that cater specifically to senior citizens wanting an active, healthy lifestyle recommended for the golden years. This is a sampling of a few activities that independent living offers:

• Community socialization and interaction

• Health & exercise for specific needs

• Amenity-filled, recreational, planned activities and maintenance-free living

• Stress-free and worry-free environment

• Specified care and attention and flexible care provider

Many of the independent living communities offer a carefree and responsibility-free lifestyle but again it depends on the type of home or plan you have. They can handle many of the everyday living responsibilities such as meal preparation or cooking, housekeeping, laundry, and general home maintenance.  Independent living costs are determined per retirement community and are based on:

• The size of the property/room

• Location of the community

• Level of service desired

• Amenities

• Type of care provider (if any) desired.

Some of these communities may offer a room, apartment/condo, or even a full-sized home. Specific communities even go a step further and offer reverse mortgage plans for retirees. It is all customized to the wants and needs of the prospective resident senior.

CCRC

Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRC is another option for a senior living community.  It can also be defined as “aging in place” where seniors receive various levels of care throughout the remaining years of life.  To be classified as a CCRC, the community must offer multiple stages of service that include:

• Independent living

• Assisted living

• Nursing home care all in one location.

Senior adults move into a CCRC when they are still healthy. Although designs and scenes vary, most venues have a common dining room, activity/amenities, work-out centers, outdoor areas, and swimming/therapy pools.  These places always have weekly social events and outings to special events, concerts, or restaurants. Depending on the community and pricing living quarters can include homes, townhouses, duplexes, bungalows, and apartments, or rooms.

This type of community allows the senior to gracefully age in place at one location. Services and care increase as the senior needs arise and as they age.  Seniors can go from independent living and then transition into assisted care and more elevated care as the needs arise.

55+ Communities

Most of these communities are geared towards more active adults who are not yet in their retirement age but want a more carefree and stress-free lifestyle.  These communities are usually elaborate and have a more resort typesetting.  The activities and amenities are much more adventurous. These communities usually offer ownership, membership, or rentals but all offer a wide range of options and perks. Many of these communities are centered around water, nature, or inner-city for convenience.

Assisted Living

Assisted living styled communities provide a special combination of residential housing and personalized supportive services combined with care.  This type of living is designed to help the needs of seniors who still maintain some independence, but need assistance with certain tasks or aspects of life.  This is also beneficial for people who want or need nursing care or additional medical care. Various housing styles differ but are usually smaller apartments or centralized rooms in one large complex.

So as you can see all of the above types and styles of senior living communities differ greatly from standard nursing care or basic home care.  This style of living really offers and promotes some form of independence for seniors and allows them to maintain as much or as little of an active lifestyle as they wish.  All communities provide interaction, social activities, and specialized communities that will be designed to fit the specifications of the senior's individual needs.

The common theme is stress-free living, maintaining activeness, good nutrition, and overall enjoyment of life.  Keeping and maintaining independence is important to a senior's self-esteem and influences the quality and longevity of life.