Housing and long-term care
Making sense of all the senior housing and long-term care options can be overwhelming. But you don’t have to make the decision alone. There are several different avenues you can go for guidance.
Adult Family Homes (AFHs) are located in neighborhoods, usually licensed for six residents. They are common in Washington State, though not an option in every state. They provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and necessary help with activities of daily living, personal care, and social services.
CCRCs and Life Plan Communities (LPCs) are larger, high-end communities that typically include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and sometimes Skilled Nursing. Healthy, active adults move into a CCRC as an independent resident. If you need more support over time, there are various levels of care within that building or campus available to provide […]
Skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and rehab centers provide short-term, residential rehabilitation services to individuals recovering after a hospital stay following an illness, injury, or surgery, or long-term care for individuals who require more specialized medical support.
Memory Care is specifically designed to provide a safe, secure, supportive living environment, be it a stand-alone community or a separate unit within assisted living or a CCRC or Life Plan community. Memory care communities provide 24/7 care for individuals living with memory or other cognitive changes such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
A move to Assisted Living for someone who has been struggling with navigating living in their single-family home or condo can be transformative.
While “aging in place” has its benefits, such individualized care can be expensive. Additionally, it can be isolating. Senior housing and long-term care options require a move but can be cost effective. People move to assisted living when they are ready to stop cooking, cleaning, and maybe even driving. They enjoy social activities but need more help than an independent retirement community might offer.
Assisted living is a residential housing option for older adults needing help with daily tasks—such as bathing, dressing, medication management, and housekeeping—but who do not require 24/7 skilled nursing care. It provides a private, community-based setting that promotes independence, safety, and social engagement.
Understanding the differences between senior housing and long-term care options is essential to making the best choice to meet needs and goals while providing peace of mind.
You know your parents need help. It’s not working well at home. You understand the benefits of a retirement community. Now what? What are the next steps you should take to best meet their needs and preferences and get them aligned with the support they need?