Though senior living communities have been around for decades, there are still many misconceptions about them. Many older adults and their families don’t fully understand what a Life Plan Community offers, or what the continuum of care is. They also may not know how Independent Living   differs from Assisted Living  or Skilled Nursing, and what the benefits are of a Skilled Nursing facility versus a nursing home. Many people may think there are no differences between any of them — perhaps you’re even wondering if you know the differences.    Educating […]

If you’ve begun looking into your Independent Living  senior living options — or started visiting and comparing Independent Living communities — you’ve probably become familiar with this comparison: They’re like cruise ships that never leave port. While you might think that’s hyperbole, there’s actually a great deal of truth to the comparison. Like cruise ships, Independent Living communities have amenities and services very similar to what you might find on a high-quality cruise ship.  Multiple fine dining venues and menu options, a salon and spa, a calendar of entertainment options, fitness centers […]

It’s a fact: Human beings are hard-wired for social relationships.  A 2013 book written by a UCLA neuroscientist found social connection is as important to humans as food and shelter. In essence, connecting with others socially is our brain’s lifelong passion. This helps explain why single seniors who stay engaged socially as they age are happier and healthier overall than their more socially isolated single counterparts.  This isn’t a phenomenon limited to single older adults, of course. People at every age simply want to be connected to other people — and […]

If you’ve started to do any research into Life Plan communities, you’ve probably come across many terms: Life Care. Continuum of care. Levels of care. Benefits of Life Care. That’s a lot of care. Is “care” what this is all about? Well, not exactly, but you’d be forgiven if you think that. After all, one big benefit of choosing a Life Plan Community with Life Care is the guaranteed care. But let’s back up for a minute and take a look at the bigger picture. Because care isn’t the sole […]

For many older adults considering a move to independent living at a retirement community, the one thing that often gives them pause is living space. They simply can’t see themselves moving into a one-bedroom senior apartment.  They’ve lived most of their adult lives in larger homes — how could they manage with so much less space? Those seniors may be surprised to discover how easy it is, once they consider how much space they’re not even using in their current homes. They may live in multibedroom, multibathroom, two-car garage homes […]

It’s a reality of aging that older adults’ bodies constantly change — and that goes beyond gray hair and wrinkles. For example, older bodies lose muscle mass, bones become less dense, the brain’s neurons don’t fire as quickly and eyesight gets worse.  Unchecked, these physiological changes can lead to larger problems like injuries and chronic health conditions, which in turn may result in frequent trips to the emergency room. But this doesn’t have to be just another reality of aging.  For many seniors, living in Assisted Living can actually help prevent […]

It’s true: There are older adults who won’t consider moving to a Life Plan Community. Instead, they prefer to “age in place” in their homes, thinking a Life Plan Community can’t possibly provide them with all the comforts their current home can. However, this is also true: Those older adults should absolutely reconsider moving to a Life Plan Community. That’s because what they don’t realize is that aging in place doesn’t offer them nearly as many benefits. The truth is, choosing a Life Plan Community can provide seniors with far […]

Every stage of life has its unique living space needs.  As a kid, you shared a room with a sibling.  As a young adult, you had a private bedroom in a shared apartment. Once you’re married with kids, you need a house with rooms for cribs and sectional furniture and family-size dining tables, basements for toys, yards for swing sets, and driveways for basketball hoops (and eventually, teenagers’ cars). Now that you’re older and the kids have grown up and moved out, how much space do you really need? Maybe […]

Although in some ways similar, Assisted Living and Memory Care  aren’t  entirely the same. There’s a difference between needing help with the activities of daily living (ADL) — bathing, dressing, managing medicines — and needing Memory care. Assisted Living  is the level of care intended to help otherwise capable seniors with these ADLs. Memory Care is a form of Assisted Living that provides intensive, specialized care for people living with memory loss, age-related dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you’re trying to determine which level of care might be right for […]