Stepping Stones to Independence

Assisted living provides care for those in need of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), like medication management, bathing, dressing, and feeding. This type of care often provides residential care in a community-based environment, focusing on maintaining independence. This is ideal for those in need of ADL support, along with limited medical care, but not as much care as a nursing home provides. Amenities and services typically include recreational activities, housekeeping, and transportation services.

Home care is a type of care wherein qualified professionals assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), like personal hygiene, meal preparation, and dressing, at home. This type of care provides a wide range of services, including personal care, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and companionship. This is ideal for those looking to stay at home in retirement but needing care and support for ADLs and chronic conditions. Hourly care and live-in care are often provided for flexibility, ensuring older adults receive care tailored to their needs and preferences.

Skilled nursing care is a type of care provided by registered nurses in a medical setting under a physician’s supervision, focusing on intensive medical care and rehabilitation. It is typically provided in hospitals and purposely built skilled nursing communities and healthcare centers, usually aimed at short-term and transitional care.

Nursing care is usually provided in a nursing home environment by nursing aides and licensed practical nurses. This type of care focuses on helping older adults with activities of daily living (ADLs), like personal hygiene and medication, alongside medical care. Long-term residential care is provided, helping those with complex medical needs, chronic conditions, cognitive, functional, and behavioral issues.

Respite care, also known as short-term stay, allows primary caregivers to rest and have time for themselves by providing care for their loved ones. This type of care is temporary and may range from a few hours to weeks, provided either at home or in a senior care community.

Focusing on older adults with cognitive conditions, like Alzheimer’s and dementia, memory care is a type of retirement option that provides specially trained caregivers and enhanced supervision. Memory care communities can be a stand-alone community, a part of assisted living communities or nursing homes, or within a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Support with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, eating, and meal preparation, alongside programs on improving memory and specialized activities, are provided.

A type of living option that is typically offered for those 55 and over, and often includes senior housing, retirement homes, and active adult communities. This is ideal for those looking to live in an environment with people of the same age, without needing support for activities of daily living (ADLs) and medical care. Independent living communities focus on convenience and recreation without the hassles of housekeeping and maintenance, providing a variety of amenities and services. Depending on the level of luxury, amenities include a spa, concierge, and community gathering spaces.

Focusing on those with life-limiting conditions or terminal illness, hospice care provides physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support. This type of care aims to ease older adults’ discomfort and pain and does not focus on finding a cure. Typically provided with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and hospice aides, in older adults’ preferred setting, may it be at home, hospital, or senior living community. Hospice care provides care for those with a life expectancy estimated at six months or less.

This type of retirement option focuses on older adults who require advanced healthcare but do not necessarily require hospital care. Nursing homes often provide a wide range of personal care, health care, and skilled nursing, tailored to older adults’ healthcare needs. This is ideal for those who cannot stay at home due to complex healthcare needs but do not need to be in a hospital setting.

A senior living option that focuses on providing support with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene and medication management. However, unlike assisted living, this type of care provides a smaller and more intimate environment, catering to a smaller number of residents. This is ideal for those needing assistance with daily living without extensive medical care and preferring a smaller setting.

This type of care provides curated activities for older adults in a non-residential care setting, promoting holistic well-being with health, social, nutritional, and emotional support. Adult day care promotes social interactions in a supervised manner, allowing family caregivers to rest during the day. This is beneficial in terms of preventing loneliness in older adults and providing additional support for family caregivers.

This type of care focuses on providing comfort, pain relief, and emotional support for those with serious illness. Unlike hospice care, palliative care provides support at any stage of the illness, even alongside curative treatments. This can be provided at home, in nursing homes, in hospitals, and in other senior living communities.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is a type of senior living community that provides a wide range of care options in a residential setting. Also known as a life plan community, CCRC often provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, allowing older adults to age in place. Due to its comprehensive care, older adults do not have to transfer to communities when the level of care increases.