With time comes age, and as we continue to age many questions may arise in our minds. A couple of these questions might be "Where will I live as I get older?" or "How will I be able to take care of myself?" It is only natural that we may wonder about such things. Getting older over time is a fact of life, but who says we cannot age in comfort? After all, in this modern age we like to have choices and to have an option for living that best suits us. So as we approach our twilight years, what are our options for living? Well, there are quite a few and it depends on what kind of person you are and what your specific needs are.
Probably one the most well-known options for senior living is a nursing home. This is mainly for those of us who may need more active and immediate care which we cannot provide ourselves. Although, due to living at one of these facilities and the round-the-clock care, the cost of this kind of living can be relatively high compared to other options. For a semi-private room the U.S. average is about $6,844 per month and $7,698 per month for a private room (SeniorLiving). This kind of care can be given in one's own home (which is called assisted living), though costs are similar to retirement communities. Although there are more choices out there. Most of the other options revolve around aging in place. To age in place basically means that as a person gets older they can continue to stay in their own home. This can potentially be cost-effective since only what is needed is paid for. So what one pays depends on what they need. Another option that is similar to aging in place is what is known as the village concept. These are organizations which provide the necessary resources to those who wish to age in the comfort of their own home. In Oregon, one of the bigger organizations for this kind of assistance is Villages Northwest, but there are many of these villages across the U.S.
One other option (though certainly not the last) that I will mention here is independent living. This kind of housing is sort of in-between a retirement community and aging in place. With this option older individuals can live in a community with other people around the same age. This option makes it easier to have a social life. Usually residents in independent living communities also do not have to worry about things like home maintenance, cooking meals, essentially anything that might be strenuous. The cost of independent living is also not terribly expensive. It is far less than a nursing home, though somewhat more than aging in place. According to the website DailyCaring, "In 2012, the average cost of a one-bedroom in independent living or a retirement community in the U.S. was $2,750 a month."
Naturally, there are many more options for senior living, though the ones listed here are probably the most common. However, more information can be found in the links below. I think with all of these options, there is less reason to worry about getting older. We live in a time where we do not have to feel like our only option is a nursing home. While a nursing home can be a fine option for some, there is so much more out there to discover in the world. Just reach out and grab hold of your solution.
Sources Used:
DailyCaring editorial staff. “7 Senior Housing Options: Which One Fits Best?” DailyCaring, DailyCaring, LLC, 2018, https://dailycaring.com/senior-housing-options-overview/
Familydoctor.org editorial taff. “Housing Options for Seniors.” Familydoctor, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2 July 2017, https://familydoctor.org/housing-options-for-seniors/
“Nursing Home Costs.” SeniorLiving, SeniorLiving, 2018, https://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/nursing-homes/costs/
“Senior Living Options.” Holiday Retirement, Harvest Management Sub, LLC, 2018, https://www.holidaytouch.com/retirement-101/senior-living-options
Web reference: Senior Housing Minnesota
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