Assisted Living Options for Seniors

There are many assisted living options for seniors. The amount of assistance you need will determine whether you are able to stay in your own home or not. Many people only need a little assistance with cooking, cleaning and help with medications. In these instances a person may decide to stay home with help from a hired aide or nurse. In many cases, the "aging in place" option may be cheaper than other options.

Another assisted living option to consider, if you still wish to have some independence, is a continuing care retirement community. Residents live in their own private house despite the level of care required. There is usually a buy-in and monthly fees according to medical needs and services provided. Congregate housing is an option that allows you to live in your own apartment and share activities of daily living with neighbors.

If you have a lot of medical needs, an assisted living facility might be a good match. These facilities provide care in a room setting and residents at this level require much more assistance with activities of daily living. The facility provides meals in either in the resident's room or in a dining room setting. There is more assistance with things like laundry, cleaning and personal care. Health care professionals are close at hand in case of emergencies or to assist a resident with any concerns. As with any of these options, it will be necessary to compare the costs and find an affordable option that works for an individual’s situation.