Stop 2: What’s New in Senior Housing
LivOn shows you the whole continuum, from the lowest level of care provided–such as a senior apartment–to the highest level of care–a skilled nursing facility. Your first step is to pick the right level of care. If you’re not sure, go to Find aFacility: Search by Health Status and fill in our interactive medical checklist. While some seniors do need nursing care,unnecessary care can make a healthy older adult more dependent.
Senior apartments have safety features like shower handrails and elevators that make life easier for older adults.
Independent living communities offer further residential services, such as meals, transportation, and group activities.
Retirement communities offer a range of services and amenities like property upkeep, recreation, and social events.
Assisted Living. A growing option for care is an assisted living facility. By far the broadest category, assisted living facilities offer a homelike residential setting and trained staff to help with bathing, eating, dressing, and other daily personal care. They range from small board-and-care homes to large, hotel-like facilities, and may be called custodial care, residential care, sheltered care, or other names depending on your region.
Nursing Care. For people who need high-tech nursing care24 hours a day, skilled nursing facilities are often the best choice. SNFs deliver specialized medical care, such as IVs and catheterization, for those with serious illness or injury.One type of nursing facility, an intermediate care facility,offers rehabilitation for patients with less acute illnesses.
Continuing Care Retirement Community/Life Care. Another relatively new option offers all three levels of care on one “campus.” Continuing care retirement communities let residents buy a condo or cottage, and then to a nursing facility, as medical needs arise.
Senior Care Services. Home health care bring a range of nursing care and personal care services to those living independently at home. Adult day care offers a safe setting where caregivers can drop an older family member at a care site for the day.
On to Stop 3:Financial Realities: What Can You Afford?
Back to: Take Our Guided Tour
If you already know the category of community you're looking for--independent, assisted living, or nursing care--jump below to the 'Ad Categories' box, and then simply click the category of care to use LivOn's tools to choose a community based on your desired location and price.
