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The Differences Between Independent Living and Assisted Living

March 6, 2020

Sometimes the search for senior living can leave an older adult and their family members questioning what type of community they really need. Is an Independent Living community, offering a wide variety of life enrichment programs and freedom from household chores, the best fit? Or does a loved one need the added support and care for activities of daily living (ADLs) provided by an Assisted Living community?

Although some senior living communities, including Five Star, offer both popular types of senior housing in one location, it can help to understand how they differ in meeting the unique needs of aging adults at different stages of life. Here’s a closer look.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living refers to a community for older adults who need a little extra help with activities of daily living to live their most independent life. This help may include:

Support with personal care needs, such as bathing, grooming and dressing
Medication reminders—coordination and supervision
Nutritious meals and healthy snacks, including the ability to accommodate special diets like low-salt, gluten-free and diabetes-related
Help with toileting and continence care
Housekeeping, laundry, trash removal and maintenance

Assisted Living Is Not a Nursing Home

Equally important is understanding what Assisted Living is not: It is not a skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing care center or nursing home. Nursing home residents usually have more complex medical needs. This generally means they require skilled care delivered by nurses, physical therapists and other medical professionals.

Some Assisted Living communities do offer the option to add additional services as needed. Within a Five Star community, you can scale Assisted Living services up or down as you or your loved one’s needs change.

Another type of Assisted Living community is called Memory Care. Memory Care communities support people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As with Assisted Living, Memory Care is not a nursing home; however, caregivers have undergone specialized training and there are targeted programs for residents, such as Five Star’s Bridge to Rediscovery.

Assisted Living Amenities

Assisted Living communities often provide transportation for residents to visit local attractions or to go shopping. The best Assisted Living communities also provide residents with a variety of educational, social and wellness programs, included as part of the monthly fee. Games, movie nights and exercise programs can be part of everyday life—just as they are in Independent Living communities.

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living communities, sometimes called retirement villages, are communities open to senior residents only. They are often a good fit for older adults seeking freedom from the burdens of homeownership. Because housekeeping tasks and maintenance chores are handled by team members, residents have more time to fully enjoy their retirement.

An Independent Living community nurtures an older adult’s interests and hobbies. These often include hosting travel groups, life-enrichment activities, continuing education classes and wellness programs. Many Independent Living residents spend time volunteering in the community or for area nonprofit organizations.

Independent Senior Living Amenities

Like Assisted Living, Independent Living communities typically provide a number of amenities and services for one monthly fee. For instance, electricity, climate control, television, phone and Internet access costs might all be included as part of the rental fee.

Some Independent Living communities, such as those within the Five Star family, provide many extras for residents. These includes housekeeping, laundry, on-site dining, and transportation as part of the monthly fee. Our Independent Living communities also provide the option of adding Assisted Living services as needed. All of this makes an Independent Living community a simple and cost-effective senior housing solution.

Comparing Independent Living and Assisted Living Communities

In short, an Assisted Living community may be the best choice if you or your loved one needs some help with daily activities but not continuous medical care or supervision. An Independent Living community may be best for those who don’t need extra help but are ready to move on from home ownership. Whether Assisted or Independent Living is the right solution for you or a family member, Five Star offers activities tailored to individual interests and ability levels—everything one could want to maintain a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

Learn More About Senior Living Options

To learn more, visit our Senior Living Options page. You’ll find additional information and resources to help determine what type of senior living best suits your needs. Meanwhile, why not learn which Five Star community options are near you?

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How to Build Relationships with Staff at a Loved One’s Assisted Living Community

If your senior loved one is preparing for a move to an assisted living community, you probably have many questions. And maybe even a few worries. Will they like the community? How long will it take them to feel at home? What will your new role be in their life? It can be a big transition for the senior and for their family members.

What’s good to remember is that family members are considered part of the community, too. Both staff and residents want to get to know the family members of their new neighbors.

What can you do to build a strong relationship with community staff members?

We have a few ideas you might find helpful.

Building Bonds with Caregivers at an Assisted Living Community

1. Help staff get to know your loved one.

The relationships between caregivers and residents are vital. When team members get to know a resident well, they are better equipped to care for the senior. They are more likely to notice changes in health and well-being earlier so the appropriate interventions can take place.

By visiting regularly, especially in the early days after the move, you have an opportunity to help the staff learn more about your senior loved one. You can encourage your loved one to share their family history, talk about their work lives, and discuss recreational activities. In this way, you can help the bonds begin to build.

2. Show interest in the team members.

Don’t make the conversations all about your senior loved one. Inquire about the staff members’ families and interests. Do they have children or grandchildren? Are they a part-time student at a local university? Showing a genuine interest in staff members will help to establish connections. This can enable both of you to work together toward your loved one’s best interests.

3. Get involved in the community.

Most assisted living communities welcome family involvement. You might be able to help host a community event on a holiday or tag along during an outing to an area restaurant.

If you play piano or another musical instrument, you could volunteer your time to teach residents. The same is true for other talents like computer skills, art, and exercise. Be assured that you don’t need any special skills to get involved at the community. Spending time talking with residents is all it takes.

4. Thank team members.

The team members at assisted living communities work hard to ensure residents live their best lives. These jobs can be emotionally and physically taxing. A few words of sincere gratitude when you visit the community can make a big difference in a team member’s day.

If you have questions about preparing for this transition, our guide to making the move and our moving checklist may be valuable resources. We also invite you to contact us to learn more about assisted living or to find a Five Star Senior Living community near you.

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Should You Take a Senior Loved One on an Assisted Living Tour Before You Visit It First?

June 28, 2019

As one of the nation’s leading providers of senior living, our team is often contacted by adult children for information and advice. A frequently asked question is if an adult child should visit assisted living communities alone first or if they should bring their parent along.

That’s a tough question for us to answer without learning a little more about the senior and their unique situation. When we talk with families by phone, we usually ask a few more questions to help them decide what is best.

Here are a few factors we encourage adult children to consider.

Should Adult Children Tour Assisted Living With or Without a Parent?

1. Is the senior on board with making this move?

If a parent is ready and willing to move to assisted living, they might want to be involved in all aspects of the process. They may welcome the opportunity to tour different communities, meet new people, and enjoy a tasty, chef-inspired meal at the community.

If the senior isn’t on board with this transition, it might be more advisable for family members to visit alone first. Loved ones can tour the community and decide if the culture and environment feel like a good match. Narrowing down the list to a few well-qualified communities can make it easier on a senior who isn’t excited about moving.

2. Is the older adult able to make their own decisions?

Some seniors feel a sense of pride in making this decision on their own even if you come along as their driver. Others might find the sheer number of choices and decisions paralyzing.

Think about your parent’s personality and personal situation. Does your parent become overwhelmed and anxious when making important decisions? Do they have some degree of memory loss that makes decision making more difficult? Or do they have a strong desire to make decisions on their own?

3. Does the senior have outdated stereotypes about senior housing?

It isn’t uncommon for older adults to harbor outdated ideas about what assisted living is. Misperceptions are often linked to old-fashioned nursing homes, not modern day assisted living communities. Visiting a variety of communities in person can help the senior get a true idea of the many benefits and services offered in assisted living.

How you answer these questions may help you decide whether to visit assisted living communities on your own first or with your aging parent.

Make the Most of Your Assisted Living Visit

At Five Star Senior Living, our door is always open to seniors and their families. We know that time spent visiting and touring assisted living communities helps families make an informed choice.

We invite you to schedule a personal tour and be our guest for lunch or dinner. Our chef-inspired meals showcase the best in senior living dining. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about our dining program. It’s designed to give residents more freedom and flexibility when it comes to dining!

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Engaging Activities When Grandkids Visit Assisted Living

If a senior you love lives in an assisted living community, you no doubt understand the importance of family visits. Of course, weekend trips to Grandma or Grandpa’s house might look a little different now that they live in an assisted living community. But it’s important to include grandchildren, even the youngest ones, in these visits.

This is why we’ve pulled together a few fun intergenerational activities your entire family can enjoy together.

Intergenerational Activities for Assisted Living Residents

Here are a few ways to enjoy an intergenerational family visit to an assisted living community:

Board games. Technology may have captured most kids’ attention in recent years, but board games can still be fun for families. Whether it’s a rollicking round of Monopoly or quiet, strategic moves made in a chess match, board game can make the hours fly by.
Coloring books. That’s right – coloring books aren’t just for kids anymore! Adult coloring books are quite popular. They not only encourage creativity, but can also be a relaxing activity for people of all ages. So grab some crayons, colored pencils, or markers and get to work. Staying in the lines not required!
Puzzles. Brain games are a great way to have fun and stimulate your gray matter. Jigsaw puzzles are always a crowd pleaser. If there’s room, set up a small table in the corner with a puzzle that you can work on together each visit.
Chapter books. Everyone loves a good cliffhanger, right? Choose an exciting book, perhaps one that features an adventure story, and have a family member read a chapter every visit. Young grandchildren will be intrigued by a good plot—and it’s yet another reason to look forward to a visit with Grandma or Grandpa!
Arts and crafts. Hands-on activities are a great way to keep minds and hands active during a family visit. Pick a simple craft idea that is easy for both little hands and senior hands to work on.
Nature walks. If the assisted living community has landscaped grounds, take a walk together. Fresh air and exercise are a wonderful combination. It also allows the family to meet and socialize with their senior loved one’s friends and neighbors.
Look at photo albums. Another enjoyable pastime for families is looking through old family photos. Seniors and young children alike will enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Treating You Like Family at Five Star Senior Living

Families gain peace of mind when a loved one makes a move to a Five Star Senior Living. That’s because we treat your loved ones just like they’re part of our family. Visit us online to learn more about assisted living options for your senior family member.

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Planning a Mother’s Day Celebration in an Assisted Living Community

In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May. In honor of the holiday, sons and daughters around the country will be treating their mothers and grandmothers to brunch, bringing them flowers, and generally doing whatever they can to make the day as special as possible.

But what if your mother or grandmother lives in an assisted living community and your celebration with her is limited to whatever plans you can come up with to host a gathering there?

No problem! Here’s a fun idea for celebrating the woman who raised you, made you feel better when you were down, and inspired you to become a better person.

Celebrating Mother’s Day in Assisted Living

First and foremost, you’ll want to include the right people in your planning. Since your event will be held at your mother’s assisted living community, be sure to talk with the staff in advance. Especially if you need to reserve a little extra space somewhere in the building. Staff can help you with those arrangements. In many senior living communities, they will even help with catering.

Try Hosting a Garden Tea Party

When cakes and tea are served in a pretty setting, something magical happens and a celebration comes alive. If the community where your mother lives has a garden or nice patio, it can be the perfect spot for a lovely afternoon tea celebration of Mother’s Day.

To transform a garden or patio space – or even an interior activities room- you’ll need a few props to set the scene:

a table set with a pretty tablecloth (pastel colors are the good for spring celebrations)
fancy cloth napkins in similar pastel shades – they don’t have to match
vintage china teacups and saucers – again, matching sets not required
a cake stand or two for added height at your table of treats
buckets of flowers

That last one is key, especially if you’re holding your party indoors. The idea is to create a garden setting so gather as many flowers as you can. Containers can be anything from galvanized buckets for a touch of country charm, or vintage milk pitchers in bright colors. And you guessed it: pastels are best.

Serve ‘Ladylike’ Food

This is not the time to bring out the wings and pizza. This is a ladylike celebration so light finger food is in order. Don’t be afraid to tap into the classics here: cucumber and mayo on crustless white bread, quiche, and fruit tarts all make wonderful Mother’s Day food.

Unless your senior loved one is on a restricted diet, sweets are an essential menu item, too. Cakes, pies, cookies – indulge every guest with sugary treats, preferably adorned in Spring’s pastel hues.

When your guests gather for your Mother’s Day celebration, it officially becomes a party! There are plenty of games you could play together, but all you really need is a beautiful setup and plenty of light food and desserts.

Celebrating Moms at Five Star Senior Living

Wondering how else you can help a senior you love thrive during retirement years? At Five Star Senior Living, we honor and celebrate mothers every day. Contact the assisted living community nearest you to learn more!

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9 Tips for Touring An Assisted Living Community

Finding an assisted living community to meet the needs of an aging loved one requires research, legwork, and lots of discussion. It’s not a choice you can make sight unseen. You’ll want to tour potential communities before you and your loved one make a decision.

And, oftentimes, a partner or an adult child finds it easier to visit a variety of communities without their spouse or parent. Because many have an idea of what their senior family member will and won’t like, they can eliminate those they don’t think are a good fit. Then the whole party can visit the top two or three communities together later.

Whatever approach you choose, preparing ahead is the key to making the most of each tour.

How to Make the Most of Your Assisted Living Community Tour

Here are 9 tips to help you know what to ask and what to look for:

1. Discuss preferences to narrow down the choices.

Would your loved one thrive in a more luxurious community? Or would they be more comfortable in a laidback environment? What types of activities do they enjoy and want to stay involved in?

Each assisted living community has its own unique personality, and you will want to find one where your loved one will feel at home.

2. Investigate the staff-to-resident ratio.

Does the staff seem stressed and overworked? Or are they smiling and pleasant? Does the community appear to have enough staff members to care for the residents?

These are all important observations to make.

3. Watch how the staff treats the residents.

More importantly, but definitely related to the ratio of staff to residents, is how the staff treats the residents.

Try to be an unobtrusive observer to see how staff behaves when they think no one is watching.

4. Take a formal tour, but also wander the community on your own.

The formal tour will introduce you to all the services and amenities of the community. But it’s only when you walk the halls, visit the cafeteria, and peek in on classes unchaperoned that will you really see what the community is like.

After your formal tour, ask the staff member for a few minutes to wander around on your own.

5. Share a meal in the community.

Assess the quality and nutritional value of the food in the community by eating a meal in the dining room with residents. Pay attention to how the residents and staff act.

Are they friendly and welcoming? Do people seem to be enjoying socializing over their meal? Will your loved one easily make friends here?

6. Chat with the residents.

Chances are the residents in an assisted living community will be happy to have company and more than willing to chat. AARP recommends the following questions:

How long have you lived here?
Do you like living here?
What do you like to do during the day?
Is the staff attentive without being intrusive?
Are caregivers friendly?
Do you feel it’s worth the cost?

7. Ask about day trips and transportation.

Ask the staff about what services and enrichment opportunities are located in the local area from shopping to cultural arts. What sort of transportation does the community offer to take advantage of these? Does the community schedule fun day trips for residents?

8. Ask about area doctors and hospitals.

Investigate the doctors, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals that are onsite. Explore physicians and hospitals in the area, too.

Check the licensing and credentials of on-staff doctors. Are your loved one’s regular doctors nearby or will your aging loved one have to switch healthcare providers?

9. Explore the facilitates and grounds.

The physical buildings and grounds can tell you a lot about a community. Is it warm and welcoming? Is it clean and well-kept? Or are walls, doors, and floors in disrepair? Is the landscaping well maintained?

Look for wide corridors, light colors, and well-lighted hallways, which can help reduce the risk of falls.

Making the Decision

A number of factors go into selecting an assisted living community for your aging loved one. And a personal tour is an important step in making an informed choice. Find a Five Star Senior Living community near you to schedule a tour today and see what sets us apart.