Independent Living Vs. Assisted Living

Senior citizens today are living longer lives and enjoying better health than any generation that came before them. Today's seniors don't automatically turn to nursing homes when they start to need extra assistance. They look to other, less restrictive options, like independent living and assisted living.

Independent Living

• Independent living centers provide small housing units or apartments for those 55 and older. Independent living centers provide maintenance in and outside the unit, assistance with laundry, maid services, community activities and one or two meals a day. Seniors usually pay for independent living out of their own assets, but some programs like Section 8 may offer assistance as well.

Transition

• Independent living is for seniors who do not need assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, managing medications and going to the bathroom. If a person in independent living becomes unable to manage his or her own ADLs, that person must usually transition to an assisted living facility.

Assisted Living Facility

• An assisted living facility (ALF) provides all the amenities of independent living, as well as three meals per day and assistance with ADLs. Again, most people pay privately to stay in an ALF, but some ALFs accept Medicaid for low-income individuals. When a person develops a condition that requires 24-hour nursing care or monitoring, he or she often must transfer from the ALF to a nursing home.