You endure everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and laundry but you’re often tempted to throw your hands up in surrender to your current home. To make things worse, your social calendar looks as desolate as the Sahara Desert. Boredom has definitely set in!

Sure, you’re grateful for your good health and occasional help from your family, but those home maintenance tasks zap time and energy that you could otherwise devote to let’s say… more socially enriching opportunities!

Could living in a senior independent living community tilt the scales back in your favor? Designed for self-sufficient, healthy seniors like you, many carefully-planned independent senior living community programs simplify and improve their residents’ quality of life.

But does this type of community offer the right lifestyle solution for you? Let’s dive into ten common questions about independent senior living communities to learn more.

First, an independent living definition: 

1. What is Independent Senior Living?

It’s worth acknowledging that the term “independent living” is used to describe several different configurations of senior living communities. We’ll take a look at the distinct formats in a bit, but there’s a common thread among these communities:

Senior Independent Living Communities focus on providing convenience, safety,  security and minimal personal assistance for healthy seniors who live in separate apartments or homes in a grouped setting. 

• accessible amenities
• exclusive on-site services and
• targeted social activities.

Most communities include clubhouses, fitness centers or even swimming pools. Exclusive services offered might include meal preparation and delivery, local transportation, housekeeping, laundry, and hair and nail salons. Community social coordinators keep residents busy with special interest group meetings and planned social activities like movie night.   

Key Point #1: Senior Independent Living Communities are planned senior retirement communities that provide convenience and non-medical service to elderly residents.

Now that we’re familiar with the similarities of these communities, let’s drill down into the different types of senior independent living.

2. What are the Different Types of Senior Independent Living Communities?

Two basic types of senior independent living communities:

Retirement Communities is a broad term for communities with a variety of labels, ranging from low-income senior housing to congregate care housing to 55+ communities, senior apartments and retirement homes. Retirement communities typically offer residence for individuals or couples who are 55+ years of age.

Depending on the community, residents either rent or own their own home and pay for additional services like home maintenance, community meals, recreation and transportation.  

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also called Life Plan Communities, are designed to provide a breadth of health care services to their senior residents as they need them. Seniors typically live independently in their separate apartment, condominium or freestanding home when they enter the community.

Should their health status change, CCRC residents can optionally transfer into a different care facility within the same community, like assisted living or skilled nursing care. This option enables older adults to “age in place” in the same environment for as long as the community can fulfill their continued health care needs.  

Key Point #2: Regular retirement communities do not offer medical care but Continuing Care Retirement Communities includes residential options to advance to long term health care services if needed.

3. Who Can You Live in a Senior Independent Living Community? 

Asking yourself, “Will I fit in?” It’s common to wonder about compatibility with others who live in a specific community, so let’s take a broad look at common characteristics of seniors who live in independent living.

Most independent seniors find gratification and fulfillment in building new relationships with a diverse group of individuals in their age group. Seniors in these communities are active and in good health and continue to enrich their lives by developing common interests through social opportunities like volunteerism or hobbies. Depending on the community, lifestyle choices vary from location to location. 

Independent living community age requirements typically range from 55 or 62 years and older. This age requirement is based on determined based on senior living communities’ age requirements that comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Exceptions and requirements are provided to determine if a community qualifies but generally speaking, independent living communities will have a much younger population than communities like memory care residents where medical care needs are much higher.  And for residents in independent living communities, they typically live in their own home (apartment, condo, or free-standing home) by themselves or with their partner.

Key Point # 3: While exceptions exist, you must be 55 or 62 based on the U.S. housing requirements and not require extensive medical care services to live in an independent living community. 

4. What Are Some Unique Senior Lifestyle Options?

Seniors with unique interests are likely to find specific lifestyle retirement communities with residents who share the same interests. Catering to seniors’ distinct interests, special independent living communities are becoming increasingly popular.

Many retirement communities for senior golfers offer a vibrant lifestyle which bonds the joy of golfing with the convenience of a senior-focused community environment. There are more unique communities that embrace distinct hobbies or interests such as Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, RV’ers or artisans. Intellectuals now have a choice of about 50 senior communities in the U.S. that are affiliated with their local universities.

Key Point # 4. A variety of lifestyle-focused senior independent living communities are becoming popular in the United States such as RV’ers or artisans

5. What Are Some Services Offered in Senior Independent Living?

Convenience

In-home services offered for the convenience of their residents typically include linen changes, laundry, and other housekeeping. Conveniently located on-campus facilities like hair and nail salons, mini-marts and pharmacies provide safer alternatives to travel outside the community.

Transportation

Although residents may come and go as they please in their own vehicles, they may be apprehensive about driving.  Most communities offer transportation services that’ll get them to a scheduled doctor’s appointment or the grocery store.

Dining

Residents may cook for themselves in their own private homes, but some communities have common dining rooms, where daily nutritious meals are provided to residents through an organized dining plan. 

Security

Seniors in independent living communities find peace of mind simply by living around others and knowing that there is help close by should they need it. Communities may also offer monitored security, surveillance cameras in common areas, and employ security guards.

Fitness

In addition to amenities like swimming pools, walking paths or exercise rooms, communities may employ trained instructors who specialize in fitness for seniors. Organized, scheduled activities like yoga, stretching, dance, or aerobic classes are common.

Activities & Socialization

Community activity organizers arrange group social events to encourage on- and off-campus socialization. Film festivals, game nights, coffee socials, crafting clubs and book clubs are common, as well as scheduled day trips to tour local museums, sightsee, or volunteer.

Assistance

Even though most senior residents are healthy and active, they may need some assistance with everyday tasks like bathing and dressing. Some independent living communities offer such assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or daily well-being checks. In addition, most communities offer their residents access to an emergency call system.

Key Point #5: Seniors enjoy many conveniences of independent living including socialization, activities, transportation, meal plans, home maintenance and housekeeping assistance.

6. Are Medical Services Provided by Senior Independent Living Communities?

Literature for senior communities typically feature all the services that are included, but it’s also important to consider the potential incremental cost of desirable services that are not offered.

Senior independent living communities do not offer direct, “hands on” medical care , but residents may hire outside help if they need it. Independent living seniors who anticipate a future need for daily medical care can benefit from the flexibility of a CCRC, where they can transfer to a care facility (like assisted living) within the same community.  

Communities offer service packages to suit residents’ needs and budgets. While most utilities like water and garbage collection are covered with the basic monthly service fee, certain additional utilities like telephone or private internet service might be incremental and provided through an outside service provider.

Key Point #6: “Hands on” medical assistance is not a service provided by independent living communities, but residents may employ their own personal medical aides.

7. What Are Some Benefits of Senior Independent Living?

Services offered in independent living communities help to reduce the burden of everyday chores like house cleaning and cooking. Likewise, residents enjoy peace of mind by deferring the devilish details of home maintenance responsibilities to the community. Most senior needs are accommodated conveniently within the community, with limited need to travel off-site, keeping residents safe and secure.

Communities support their residents’ continued good health and happiness with indulgent amenities like swimming pools or fitness centers, nutritious meals served in a social setting and planned social activities.

Seniors in independent living renew their ability to thrive and enhance their quality of life.  Relieved of many responsibilities, residents benefit from a more socially active lifestyle while developing friendships and pursuing interests with their peers.

Key Point #7: Seniors benefit from independent living conveniences which free up time to lead more active lives and increase social interaction while reducing stress and worry.

8. How to Pay for Senior Independent Living?

Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance does not cover the cost of senior independent living communities due to the fact that these communities do not provide medical services.

The cost of senior independent living must be covered privately, typically through Social Security benefits, retirement savings, sale of a home, or other source of personal funds.

Monthly costs for independent living for seniors has a wide range, depending on location, amenities and services provided, averaging $1399 in South Dakota to $3499 in Connecticut. When looking for an independent living community, understand what is not covered in the monthly fees to estimate any additional monthly costs you may incur.

Key Point #8: Payment for independent living is typically sourced from personal funds and is generally the cheapest option for seniors since it doesn’t involve medical care services. 

9. How Do I Prepare For Moving to Independent Living?

Most senior apartments or free-standing homes in independent living communities have one bedroom with total square footage typically less than the home they lived in for many years prior. Prospective residents are advised to pare down their belongings months before moving in, which simplifies the move and reduces moving costs.

Before tossing everything though, seniors should plan their new decor around pieces from their family home that’ll make their new place feel more familiar, like familiar art, a favorite family quilt or cozy reading chair.

Many seniors sell their family home to fund their move to elderly independent living.  As this can be quite an emotional undertaking, seniors may find it helpful to talk to friends and family about their feelings.  Seek the advice of a friend or elder law attorney for clarification on contracts or agreements.

Key Point #9: Seniors typically sell their family home and downsize belongings prior to moving to independent living to help fund costs and minimize clutter.

10. What Are The Top Considerations For Choosing An Independent Living Community?

As we’ve seen, there are quite a variety and combination of amenities and services that senior independent living communities offer, so how do seniors find the community that’s right for them?

Consider selection based on these three major aspects:

Cost

Considering that payment for independent living will be sourced primarily from their private funds, seniors should understand the comprehensive living costs (including monthly fees and external costs) of a prospective community.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle - Seniors should visit communities of interest to get a feel for how compatible they’d be with the current residents. Each community has its own “vibe”, so seniors should find a community that suits their personal lifestyle.

Future Need for Medical Assistance

Of course, it’s difficult to fully predict future healthcare needs, but seniors who anticipate that they will need a higher level of medical care in a few years should consider entering independent living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community that’ll address their long-term needs.

If location is not a priority, seniors can choose from a variety of independent living communities that suit their budget, lifestyle and unique interests. Seniors can discover how to age in place gracefully in a suitable independent living community with like-minded neighbors that’ll support their lifestyle and ongoing needs.

Key Point #10: Top considerations for searching for a senior independent living community are the cost, the community’s lifestyle and the community’s ability to provide for future medical assistance.