Senior living is a term used to describe the range of housing and care options for older adults. Many types of senior living facilities provide a maintenance-free lifestyle — from 55+ communities for active seniors to fully staffed communities for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. This guide details each senior living option to help you find the best community for your needs.
Senior living options range from senior apartments and other 55+ communities to nursing homes. The biggest difference between each option is the level of care they provide to residents.
For independent seniors who don’t need assistance, senior apartments or independent living may be the right fit. Active seniors who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) may strike a balance of independence and support in assisted living communities or board and care homes. However, seniors with complex health conditions or a form of dementia may benefit more from memory care communities or nursing homes.
Depending on the needs of the senior, home care or home health care may be a good fit. Home care services can provide companionship and daily support, while home health care services can offer prescribed in-home skilled nursing care.
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Understand the amenities and costs associated with senior apartments, with tips on how to know if it's the right fit.
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Learn everything you need to know about nursing homes, include costs, services, amenities, and payment options.
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Senior home care services can include help with ADLs, housekeeping, and skilled nursing services, and costs are usually based...
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Senior living communities empower seniors to remain as independent as possible while supporting their unique needs, enhancing their quality of life, and providing peace of mind to their loved ones. The benefits of residing in a senior living community may include the following:
There are a variety of reasons someone may choose to move to senior living or employ a home care provider. For independent seniors, the desire to downsize or simplify expenses may indicate that it’s time to consider senior living. If a senior begins to have a decline in activities of daily living (ADLs), receives a dementia diagnosis, or has a complex medical condition requiring regular care, it may be time to consider more involved senior care. Look for options that provide health services, such as assisted living, memory care, nursing homes, and home health care.
Typically, the more specialized a senior living option is, the more it will cost. For example, nursing homes remain the most expensive senior living option while offering the highest level of care possible outside of a hospital setting. Other features like location, care type, floor plan, services and amenities, and pricing model will affect the monthly cost of senior care.
Knowing what real families paid for care options can help you better plan for care and understand your budget. Below, you’ll see the monthly median senior living costs across the nation based on data from A Place for Mom’s 2024 Cost of Long-Term Care and Senior Living Report.
When it comes time to cover the costs of senior care, families use both private and public pay options. Private payment methods include using funds from personal accounts, retirement savings, social security, and insurance. Some families may use public pay options, like Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits.
Finding the right senior living option comes down to three questions: What are your needs, what are your retirement goals, and what is your budget? Knowing the answer to these questions should help you narrow down which option will fit your family’s needs best. For example, if your loved one doesn’t require care services, but wants to pursue new hobbies and make new friendships, independent living might be a better option than a senior apartment or assisted living environment.
Above all else, the best way to determine which senior living option is best is to tour. Touring allows families to meet community staff and residents, ask questions, evaluate floor plans, and truly get a sense of what life in that community would look like. According to our data, 97% of families tour before making a final decision about their senior living options.
Moving can be a big adjustment, which is why it’s best to plan ahead. Consider the significant change you or a senior loved one will go through. A successful move is key for a positive transition into a new environment and lifestyle.
Below are some top tips for an easy senior living move:
CHOOSING CARE
10 Surprising Facts About Senior Living
CAREGIVER SUPPORT
Overcome the Guilt of Moving a Parent to Senior Living
CAREGIVER SUPPORT
5 Ways to Find Meaning and Happiness as You Age
AGING PARENTS
7 Reasons Why Visiting Elderly Parents is Important After a Move to a Senior Living Community
MOVING
The Benefits of Shared Housing for Seniors in Senior Living Communities
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
How Care Coordination Promotes Senior Health and Longevity
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