Independent Living is considered the first progression step of several in Retirement Living. Independent Living does not mean that individuals want to do everything by themselves or want to live in isolation. In Retirement Living, they can make choices about the level of services they choose, including having three meals a day provided for them. Depending on if the community offers multiple levels of care, the community’s services can adapt to their own progression of aging.
Services
Services include:
- Lunch or dinner daily in our professionally managed dining room.
- Weekly housekeeping is sometimes an option.
- Transportation can be scheduled for shopping, medical and dental appointments, banking, etc.
- Many times access to a wide variety of classes, trips, and fitness opportunities can be arranged.
- 24 hour staffing and a security and emergency response system.
- Pets are sometimes welcomed as most Independent Retirement Communities. Weight limit and residents will need to provide for their own pet needs in designated areas of our grounds. There is a one-time fee collected.
Some Independent Retirement Communities maintains guest apartments for friends and family. There is a reasonable charge for the accommodations.
Specialization
There are several factors that should go into the decision-making process of the right assisted living community for your loved one. You should have a clear understanding in the long term of your their needs and financial capacity to finance. This includes:
Preparation
If you are seeking out Independent Retirement Living for your senior loved one you are best suited to finding a community where they will not have to move, should they need a higher elevation of service. These communities are often called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CRCCs) Other considerations in choosing the right place for your senior loved one should be accessibility to the right medical center if your parent has a choice. Be prepared to have the following information available upon move-in:
- Name of medical doctor and preferred hospital in case of emergencies
- Copy of a Durable Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive- should situations arise that these need to be activated
- If you’re planning on having them provide laundry service make sure you label all clothes
- If your parent has a pet, be prepared to provide a pet deposit
Evaluation
- Are you a CRCC? If not, what levels of care do you provide?
- What qualifications do your staff members have? Are they background-checked?
- How are you equipped to handle medical emergencies?
- How do you handle the emotional needs of your residents?
- Other than housing, what services do you offer? How are these priced?
- After visiting, did residents appear to be taken care of? Did they look happy?
- Was the space clean, pleasant smelling, and cheerful?
- How did the staff members interact with the residents?
- What kinds of activities do they offer the residents?
- How often will my loved one be evaluated?
- How often will you schedule care conferences with the family?
- What is your method and policy of communicating with immediate family?
- What medical facilities do you serve to? Is your elder loved one within range of their primary physician?