If you’ve been researching senior living for yourself or a loved one, by now you’ve discovered that the name actually encompasses several different types of care. This is really a great benefit because it means you’ll be able to select the option that’s more closely aligned with your needs and wants.  

The question is: how will you know which is best? We can help!  

Check out these senior living pros and cons by type of care.

Senior Living Pros and Cons

In senior living, you’ll typically find these three options from which to choose: independent living, assisted living and memory care. Here are the pros and cons of each.

Independent Living – This option is ideal for seniors who don’t yet need assistance, but who want to spend their days enjoying their interests and passions instead of managing chores and household responsibilities. As such, independent living focuses more on lifestyle than care.  

Pros:

• A wide range of accommodations from which to choose. For example, we feature 26 different floor plans in our community.
• Home upkeep and yard maintenance plus restaurant-style dining, housekeeping, and scheduled transportation are included in your monthly fee with us.
• Resort-like amenities which in our community includes beautifully landscaped grounds, stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, choice of dining venues, and even concierge services. Not to mention lovely common areas to host friends and family.
• Plenty of opportunity to stay connected and fulfilled. We feature a full calendar of social events, activities, and outings as well as clubs, classes, guest speakers, discussions on current events, plus volunteer opportunities.
• A focus on healthy aging. We offer a fitness program that includes strength, cardio, and balance components as well as health and wellbeing services and a state-of-the-art fitness center. In addition, chef-inspired menus are prepared in collaboration with a nutritionist or dietician to ensure they are healthy, well-balanced, and appropriately portioned.

Cons:

• Onsite medical care is typically not offered in independent living communities unless they also offer other levels of care on the same campus. Which we do!
• The stress of downsizing and moving.

Assisted Living – With this option, you’ll find amenities and social as well as enrichment opportunities similar to independent living. However, assisted living differs in that it also offers assistance with daily tasks like bathing and dressing as needed, while providing an environment that empowers residents to live as independently as possible.  

Pros:

• Personalized care to help with bathing, dressing, eating, and medication. We also offer 24-hour staffing in our community.
• Onsite medical care that can adapt to changing needs and our community features award-winning therapy services in addition to an onsite pharmacy.
• An elegant, homelike setting with the conveniences of housekeeping, restaurant-style dining, and scheduled transportation. Our community is also pet friendly.
• Daily opportunities to connect and engage through programs, classes, activities, and outings.
• For caregivers, less stress and more free time to be a daughter, son, husband, or wife again.

Cons:

• There’s less privacy than you would have in your own home.
• It can be challenging to adjust to a group environment.
• Intensive, round-the-clock care or specialized care is typically not available. However, we do have high levels of care on our campus.

Memory Care – This option is designed just for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and features staff specially trained in memory care, 24-hour support, and a safe, yet comfortable setting  

Pros:

• Staff training that includes a deeper understanding of dementia plus techniques for managing challenging behaviors and effective communication strategies.
• A lower staff to resident ratio for more individualized care.
• A safe environment with 24-hour supervision, an easy-to-navigate layout, and enclosed outdoor space.
• Structured daily routine and therapy, plus our memory care program offers enrichment activities as well as fitness and social opportunities that help residents to make the most of life as well.
• Dining options are designed to enhance nutrition and independence with assistance provided as needed.
• For caregivers, less stress and more free time to be a daughter, son, husband or wife again.

Cons:

• The stress of being in an unfamiliar setting.
• Challenges in adjusting to a group environment.
• Potentially limited availability.

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