Presented by: Holli Willis, CEO of Legacy Heights and Memory Lane

Assisted living and independent living have many similarities. In both types of residences, the monthly fee usually includes the apartment, housekeeping services, meals, security, and social activities. Significant differences exist between the two, including levels of care provided, monthly costs, types of social engagement, and community design.

Levels of Care and Support

The primary difference between assisted living and independent living is the types of personal care services available to residents. One of the most important factors in deciding where to live as you age is the amount of care you will need. Here is a breakdown of how personal care services work for each kind of community.

Assisted Living Personal Care Services

In an assisted living facility, a certified staff member must assess each resident shortly before their move-in date. This assesment determines the level of care each resident needs.

The level of care assessment may determine that some residents need help with just medication reminders and one or two ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), such as bathing or dressing. Other residents may need assistance with several ADLs, including toileting or bed transferring. In some cases, when a person's needs are too great for the staff to manage, assisted living residents may be referred to a skilled nursing facility, where they can receive a higher level of support in addition to medical services.

Keep in mind that assisted living facilities are regulated on the state level, so the scope of care each facility must provide will vary depending on where you live. Each facility must follow licensure guidelines from their state health department.

Independent Living Personal Care Services

In independent living, residents needing additional support set them up on their own. The resident or family coordinates the care services through a home service or home health agency, just like when you are in your own home. Example of services you may want to set up for yourself or someone you care for in independent living include physical and occupational therapy or a home health aide for daily visits to administer medications and help with bathing and dressing.

Social Engagement

Social isolation can put older adults at risk for dementia, stroke, depression and anxiety, and even premature death. That is why a full social calendar is an important feature of both independent and assisted living communities, although the types of activities vary between the two types of facilities.

Know Your Budget

The high cost of long-term care can be a prohibitive for many low- and middle-income Americans. In most cases, the cost of independent living is less than the cost of assisted living. Before you decide about where to live, consider taking these steps:

• Find out if you qualify for the Medicaid waiver.
• If you have a long-term care insurance policy, find out the details of your policy. Specifically, know your deductibles and the specifics of your monthly benefits.
• Evaluate your assets, including your home, stocks, and savings accounts. Which, if any, can be used towards the cost of long-term care.
• Research other options such as VA Aide and Assistance.

Tour Communities and Ask Questions

Here are some questions to consider when touring assisted living or independent living communities:

• How does the place make you feel? Can you imagine yourself living there?
• Chat with residents and determine if their interests and activity levels are similar to your own. Would they make good peers? What do the residents have to say about the quality of care and their experiences with the staff?
• Does the staff seem helpful, attentive, and friendly? Do their qualifications enable them to offer the care you need?
• Are the facility administrators transparent about pricing? Can you realistically afford to live there?
• What are the criteria for exit and regulatory standards?

SCA is commited to further education.