Independent Living or Assisted Living: Which is the Right Fit?

Independent and Assisted Living Tips

Life is about living, and that’s the main point to keep in mind when it comes to deciding how you will spend your senior years. If you are deciding between independent living or assisted living, for example, look at which type of residence experience will offer the right mix of services, facilities, and potential to keep you or the senior in question satisfied.

For loved ones who are still very active but find it difficult to keep up with chores and other demands, independent living might be a strong option. However, when they need more help with the day-to-day tasks and are finding it way too much, combined with having the occasional bouts of poor health, then assisted living could be perfect.

In this article, we consider which might be the right fit. Let’s dive in.

Independent Living: It Has the Right Ring to It

Not every home is easy to access. Sometimes, when it comes time to use a cane for added support, access is a bit cumbersome. And if you occasionally require a wheelchair to get back from a hospital operation and to support recovery, wheelchair access could be a problem too. Independent living facilities like Monarch Senior Living provide accessible, private residences that get around these kinds of difficulties. Their residences also include security and assistance when it’s required, so there’s help when it’s needed.

Stay Active for Longer While Remaining Independent

Staying in an independent living situation offers access to plentiful facilities to keep you occupied and not get bored. Certainly, an art studio is a real possibility. But also, to feel your best, yoga, Tai Chi, and even mediation can satisfy the soul and keep the body supple. 

Social events are important to people who are still young enough, active and want to make the best of their social opportunities while they still can. Sometimes new friends are developed through shared experiences like attending lectures or a good conversion while walking on a trail. It varies depending on how they wish to spend their time.

Assisted Living: Struggling to Maintain the Home?

When a senior finds that stooping down to pick items up from the floor or reaching to the top shelf of the wardrobe is becoming too much, that’s an issue. Trying to cook with heavy pots and pans can be problematic too. Cleaning can also become increasingly difficult due to reduced flexibility. Other potential issues from arthritic hands can make gripping and holding things harder too. This plays into maintaining a home and it begins to feel overwhelming.

With assisted living facilities, they do the cleaning. Also, they prepare delicious meals, so there’s no more shopping, putting items away, prepping, preparing meals, and fiddling with the dishwasher after. It removes the chores and leaves more time for more interesting activities instead.

Taking Care of Health Concerns

Another area that assisted living is useful for is taking care of minor health issues and medication requirements. Rather than need to see a doctor and fill a prescription, that can be organized on the resident’s behalf. This saves them time and worry. Also, medication can be supplied daily rather than risking forgetting to take their meds or taking them twice. Furthermore, small health concerns can be addressed there too.

Independent living is a terrific solution for older people who feel isolated and would prefer a managed residential arrangement with access to many facilities. Assisted living takes over many of the chores and helps provide additional care as a senior find they need more help. Each has its place depending on how the senior can manage their life today.