Today, there are a host of facilities for seniors that offer the right balance of independent living and support. Independent living usually involves housing arrangements where older adults above 55 years of age reside in apartment-style accommodations. Sometimes, these can also be single-family detached homes located within housing communities. Picking a suitable type of senior independent living nearby involves carefully considering several factors, such as types, amenities, services, and cost.
1. Look into the types of senior independent living apartments
There are three types of senior living apartments. They differ in terms of amenities offered, their size, and how much they cost.
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Affordable senior apartments
There are affordable senior apartments for independent living for those with limited income. These include subsidized housing options and low-income apartments. They are located in communities and are part of several federal programs designed to offer affordable living options to seniors. Although the amenities are often quite basic and minimal, the pricing is reasonable.
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Market-rate apartments
These independent living options are equivalent to the specific area’s market rental pricing. When compared to traditional apartments, market-rate options offer competitive rents. Amenities include dining, transportation, maintenance, and cleaning services. Sometimes, additional amenities such as swimming pools are also included. For those who are looking for more than basic amenities and can afford a higher rent, market-rate apartments are good options to consider.
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Luxury apartments
These apartments have exclusive amenities and are considered one of the most expensive accommodations. They generally include wellness and health centers, spas, pools, fine dining, game rooms, and fitness classes. The overall prices of luxury apartments usually vary based on their location, size, and amenities.
2. Consider amenities, activities, and services
Different types of senior independent living apartments offer different activities, services, and amenities. While looking into any senior living communities nearby, ensure they have all the basic amenities available. Some of the common basic amenities include shared or private apartments such as studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and suites, laundry rooms, community pools, walk-in tubs, and patio areas or balconies.
A few other amenities include transportation services, wheelchair accessibility units, grab bars in bathrooms, easy-to-reach light switches and outlets, secure entrance and exit, 24-hour security or staff presence, access to emergency call systems to summon help, and housekeeping.
In addition, it is also useful to check if they cater to one’s interests and hobbies. For example, some may like to do light workouts daily. In such cases, it is helpful to have a fitness center located within the community. Sometimes, it is also useful to have access to activities that one has never explored before. For instance, some retirement homes and independent living communities have partnerships with local universities and community centers. Through these partnerships, the residents have access to various academic classes and cultural events in which they can participate.
Some other luxury amenities that many senior independent living communities offer include wellness centers, chapels and worship centers, computer rooms, private theaters, sports courts, group exercise classes, meal preparations, and beauty and personal care salons.
3. Check the cost
Senior living apartments can be quite expensive, depending on what they offer. Even if one looks at two senior independent living communities nearby and in the same area, their prices may vastly differ. For example, a senior living community that offers more amenities might be more expensive. In contrast, another community that offers basic amenities in the same area will be more affordable. Thus, with such price variations, it is important to consider long-term affordability. This means the apartment should not only fit into one’s present budget but also be sustainable for the future. If a community does not seem affordable enough to live in for the long term, it is not the right fit.
Also, it is important to check whether the senior living community allows members to opt in or out of certain activities, services, or amenities. For example, some services and amenities might not be included in the basic rent that one is paying. These may end up becoming additional expenses. In such situations, it is helpful to opt out of such services if one wishes to save some money.
The cost of senior independent living apartments can start from as low as $800 and go over $6,000. The price generally depends on the type of apartment. Usually, a luxury apartment can start from about $5,300 per apartment unit. The state where the community is located also plays a crucial role in the price points. For instance, some states have a high cost of living, so independent living apartments here can be quite expensive.
