Senior Living Options
Understanding the Options
When it is time to start looking at senior living for yourself, or your loved one, you may be surprised at all of the options available! it can be hard to understand the differences in communities from a simple web page. We want to help you by giving you the facts, all in one place.
Independent Senior Living Communities
Typically called Retirement Homes, Senior Housing or Senior Apartments, these housing communities are ideal for seniors looking to downsize and socialize and who do not need any type of assistance in their day-to-day life.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted Living Facilities are designed to provide assistance with all Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) while providing ongoing supervision if needed. ADLs can include bathing, transferring, mobility, dressing, eating, continence and toileting. Although medication assistance is not considered an ADL, it is often the primary reason a family would choose to seek out an Assisted Living community. In general, the Assisted Living environment allows seniors to live as independently as possible, in a highly social atmosphere, while having access to assistance with the ADL
Memory Care Communities
Memory Care is Assisted Living with an additional license for Memory Care. This additional license requires specialized training for all staff as it relates to the care of individuals with memory impairment. Regular Assisted Living focuses on the needs of residents that are more cognitively intact, may need some help with some ADLs, and it can provide a dynamic activities program and more socialization for the residents. If you or your loved one has a diagnoses of dementia, Memory Care is your best option when the time comes.
In-Home Care
In-home care is simply when a caregiver comes into the home so that you or your loved one can remain in the family home. Care is provided intermittently by a nurse, therapist or social worker. Non-medical care is often provided by an unlicensed staff/caregiver, usually for four hours or more at a time and is not covered by health insurance.
Respite Care
Respite care is care in a community that is proved on a short-term basis. Also known as short-term care, this is ideal for caregivers who need a break, who are taking a planned vacation, after a hospital stay or in other instances similar to these. Sundara Senior LIving offers short-term stays when we have openings in our houses.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes typically accommodate the highest level of care (without dementia) in the senior housing types. Nursing homes are for those who require 24 hour skilled assistance with things like feeding and lifts in and out of bed. Nursing homes are also for people recovering from an illness who may not have other supports at home to care for themselves.