Senior Living Blog by UMH

What is Independent Living?

By: Tracey Haughton November 15th, 2024

The world of senior living offers a wide assortment of living arrangements for older adults and their loved ones to consider, such as 55+ communities, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and independent living. With ever-growing options and plenty of ambiguous terms, taking the first step into your family’s senior living journey can often feel intimidating. Moving into any senior living community is a deeply personal decision, so it makes sense that families would want to carefully weigh their choices and consider what will work best for their loved one’s unique wants and needs. They may find themselves asking a lot of questions, like “What is the difference between independent living and assisted living?” or “How much will this cost?” To help older adults and their families navigate some of these questions, we are breaking down what seniors and their loved ones can expect from one of the more popular senior living options: independent living communities. Read on to learn more about what they are, what features they provide, and who benefits the most from moving into them. What is independent living? At its core, independent senior living is community living for older adults who want to minimize the stress and labor of daily tasks while still maintaining the independence and privacy of an individual home. For an inclusive monthly fee, seniors can rent an apartment, townhouse, cottage, or similar residence, with the added benefit of certain services and amenities as well as opportunities to easily socialize and engage with others. Independent living differs from other senior living options like assisted living communities and memory care. While independence is encouraged at every level of senior living, “independent living communities” are designed for seniors who are generally in good health and self-reliant. Assisted living and memory care communities are designed to meet the needs of seniors facing challenges with daily tasks or experiencing cognitive change.

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