Independent or Assisted Living?

Have you or your senior loved one considered moving into an independent living or assisted living community? It’s never an easy decision to make, but there comes a time when it’s the safest and wisest option for everyone involved. Nowadays, you have several choices regarding types of communities and the different levels of care they provide. You may be wondering which is the more appropriate choice: assisted living or independent living? Our team has highlighted the main advantages of both senior living options to give you or your loved one better insight before coming to a final decision. 

Overview Of Independent Living

Independent living communities are for seniors who require very little to no assistance. Older adults who are empty nesters and have retired often find that they want to be around people their own age, or that they’d like to be in closer proximity to activities and hobbies like golf, swimming, tennis, fitness centers, and other outdoor activities. 

Some independent living communities offer help with light cleaning from time to time, but for the most part, seniors who live in these communities are 100% independent.  They enjoy their freedom as they would living anywhere else, and they take advantage of on-site amenities like a clubhouse, activity room, or fitness center to spend time with friends and stay active. 

Overview Of Assisted Living 

Assisted living communities provide a range of support for older adults, including help with medications, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, grooming, getting to and from appointments, and much more. There is no one-size-fits-all way to describe assisted living because it’s customized to the individual, and many assisted living communities offer many different levels of care. This is an advantage that assisted living has over independent living – the care is there if and when you need it. 

Assisted living is an ideal option for people who have limited mobility, people with complex or chronic health conditions that require monitoring, or people who are recovering from an injury or an operation. 

Assessing Your Needs

In order to decide which level of care is the best for you or your loved one, answering the following questions can help you choose:

• Do you require help bathing and getting dressed?
• Do you have any complex or chronic health conditions?
• Do you have limited mobility?
• Are you on multiple medications and do you need to see a doctor on a regular basis?
• Do you need help cooking, preparing food, or eating?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, assisted living might be the best choice. 

UMC Allows You to Adjust Your Care As Your Needs Change

At UMC we understand that your needs will change as you get older, whether it’s due to an injury, an illness, or simply the limited mobility that can come with aging. This is why our communities offer different levels of specialized care for you or your loved one. Perhaps you’ll start off in independent living at UMC at Bristol Glen, then after a few years you’ll feel that assisted living is more appropriate for your medical and personal needs. The best part about making this change, is there’s no need to uproot yourself and move to a totally different location. With UMC, a continuum of care is available under one roof. 

If you have any questions about the different levels of senior living and what each one includes at UMC, please contact our team today: https://umcommunities.org