If your aging parent is ready to let someone else take care of home maintenance, housekeeping, and so forth, or if you’ve noticed some changes in your parent that may indicate that they need a little help with daily activities, it might be time to look into senior housing options.
There are all kinds of housing options for seniors that can meet all kinds of needs – whether your parent wants to remain very independent, needs 24-hour supervised care, or needs something in between the two. It can be a little overwhelming to decide which senior housing option is best for your parent! That’s why we’ve compiled the information for you. This article will give you an overview of the different types of senior housing and care available, along with some tips for choosing the right one for your parent.
Understanding The Different Types of Senior Housing
Independent Living and Retirement Communities
You’ve probably heard of a retirement community before. It’s a community where seniors typically aged 55 years and older live. Retirement communities are focused on providing housing and a community. This is a good option when seniors are mainly focused on enjoying their Golden Years – by making new friends, participating in community activities, and more.
However, a retirement community typically doesn’t offer housekeeping or property maintenance services. Residents still have to buy their own home in the community and pay for the mortgage, property taxes, utilities, etc., as well as their other day-to-day expenses.
On the other hand, an independent living community typically offers a bit more than a retirement community – more amenities and recreational opportunities, as well as maintenance and housekeeping.
Assisted Living
Assisted living often offers the amenities and opportunities of independent living – housekeeping, laundry, home maintenance, social activities, and various on-site amenities – as well as assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like hygiene, grooming, dressing, etc., when needed.
Some assisted living communities are more like traditional care facilities, with shared or semi-private rooms. Some facilities also provide memory care for seniors who suffer from severe memory loss or cognitive problems due to dementia.
At Eagle Flats Village Senior Living Community in Vernon, Texas, we offer not only help with ADLs and medication management, but spacious private apartments with kitchenettes, fully equipped bathrooms, individual climate control, and all basic utilities, as well as chef-inspired and nutritious meals, served three times a day, 24/7 medical care, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, transportation into and around the Vernon, TX community, an on-site beauty salon and barbershop, and a calendar full of enriching programs and social events.
Eagle Flats Village is the only assisted living community in Vernon, TX, so if you’re looking for a community for a loved one in the Vernon or Wilbarger County area, we want to invite you in for a tour of the property, so you can see why our residents have chosen to call Eagle Flats Village home!
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities are sometimes also referred to as nursing homes. These types of facilities typically offer semi-private rooms and 24-hour supervised care. This is the best option for seniors or other adults who are unable to care for themselves due to severe or debilitating mental or physical illness or other limitations. If your parent falls frequently, has a lot of trouble getting around, or has specialized medical needs, a skilled nursing facility may be the best choice.
Skilled nursing facilities also provide meals, housekeeping, and activities.
Residential Care Facilities
Residential care facilities, also known as board and care homes, are small private facilities that offer private or shared rooms, meals, and personal care. Staff is typically available around the clock for anything residents may need, but nursing and medical care is not usually available on-site.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also called life care communities, offer different levels of service in one location. A resident may start out living in independent housing, but, as they age or their condition deteriorates, move to assisted living or an on-site skilled nursing facility. Healthcare, recreation, and other amenities are also provided.
This model is ideal for someone who is ready to move to a community now, but isn’t sure what the future might hold and wants to stay in the same place throughout their senior years. It is very convenient but at a price. The average monthly cost of this type of community is about $3,555 a month, typically rising about 2% per year, and they typically charge an entry fee – which is, on average, a whopping $402,000.
Questions to Ask When Looking for Senior Housing
Now that you know how the different types of senior communities compare to one another, you can begin to think about what’s right for your parent. To figure that out, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
What Are Your Parent’s Needs?
What are the basic needs your parent will need to be covered? Will they need help with the activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, grooming, etc.? Will they need specialized medical care or 24-hour medical care available on-site? Do they need someone else to cook for them or to maintain their home?
For example, if your parent needs extensive medical care or 24-hour supervision, a skilled nursing facility may be the best choice. If they only need a little assistance with ADLs and want to maintain a high level of independence and privacy, an assisted living community is best.
What Type of Environment Does Your Parent Want to Live In?
Do they want to live in a house? An apartment? A private or shared room in a facility?
Are they still fully independent, but simply looking for a community of people their own age? If they don’t mind paying for a mortgage, property taxes and other expenses of a home, a retirement community may be the way to go.
If they are mostly independent and want to continue to live an active and social life, but just need a little help with day-to-day activities, assisted living may be the best option.
What Activities or Other Amenities Do Your Parent Want Access To?
If your parent has always lived an active life or enjoys varied activities and lots of different options for socializing, then assisted living, independent living or a retirement community may be a fit for them, depending on their medical needs and other requirements.
Location, Location, Location
The #1 rule of real estate also applies to senior housing. When you’re looking for senior housing for a parent, location matters! Whether you want your parent to be situated in or close to their hometown, near you or another family member, or simply in a beautiful and charming place, location is an important part of the process of choosing a senior living community.
Eagle Flats Village is located in the beautiful town of Vernon, Texas and we pride ourselves on being a part of the local Vernon and Wilbarger County community. We also know that it’s important for our residents to have the opportunity to be a part of the overall community – that’s why we make it easy for them to travel around the surrounding area by providing reliable transportation.
Activities in Vernon include the Red River Valley Museum, the Wilbarger County Historical Museum, the Vernon Plaza movie theater, and many other local treasures.
Want to Learn More?
For decades, Eagle Flats Village has provided seniors in Wilbarger County the opportunity to live independently in a supportive environment. Our lifestyle-first approach inspires high-quality senior living grounded in independence, community connection, and endless opportunities to fuel the body, mind, and soul.
If you’re interested in assisted living care and senior housing in the Vernon, TX area, schedule a tour of Eagle Flats Village today. You can call us at 940-552-8181, email us at [email protected] or schedule your visit online by clicking here.
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