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Types of Senior Care

Five Types of Senior Care Communities

In this article, we cover the following types of senior care:
  1. Independent Living
  2. Assisted Living
  3. Memory Care
  4. Respite Care
  5. Skilled Nursing
If you have been concerned about your elderly parent or loved one living on their own, your family may be considering senior living options for their care and safety. Researching this type of care is often a new concept for many families. When we are talking about senior care, typically, we are referring to five distinct types of care that may be suitable for your loved one. You may be wondering what each option entails and how they are different. Understanding these senior living options will help you determine what your parent may currently need and what to consider as their needs may change over time. Multiple moves can be stressful on an elderly loved one, so ensuring they live somewhere that can accommodate their needs is essential.

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1. Independent Living

An independent community, often referred to as a retirement community, usually appeals most to an older crowd. Independent communities offer social opportunities, easy-to-manage accommodations, senior-friendly surroundings, transportation options, and living in a community with peers, typically 55 and older. Care services and personal assistance are usually not offered. The focus of this option is on the amenities that might attract retirees like a golf course, tennis courts, clubhouse, beauty salon, barbershop, fitness center, or restaurants. This option is best suited for fit and active seniors, who may be looking to downsize after retirement or snowbirds who want to travel frequently.
Seniors enjoying coffee and conversation on patio.

2. Assisted Living

If your parent or loved one is no longer safe or healthy living on their own, an assisted living community is a long-term care solution. An assisted living community offers around-the-clock care services by trained care managers in a home-like environment. The care staff can assist a resident with the activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, toileting, personal hygiene, grooming, bathing, eating, and transferring. Most assisted living communities employ an on-staff nurse to oversee the care of each resident and address any changes in their care. Also, an assisted living community handles the everyday chores for the residents like cooking three meals per day, providing snacks and beverages, housekeeping, laundry services, and transportation to appointments.

In addition to expert care and support, assisted living communities are built on a social model. Although residents live in private apartments, they are encouraged to engage and interact with their neighbors, staff members, and new friends throughout the day. These communities typically offer various entertainment options, daily activities, exercise classes, excursions, and events to promote friendships and comradery. In our Aegis Living communities, we have a staff of Life Enrichment directors who schedule a full calendar of rotating activities based on the interests, hobbies, and passions of the residents who live there.

3. Memory Care

Although some assisted living communities offer memory care wings within their building or on their campus, memory care is a distinct care option for a parent or loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Memory care communities meet the specific needs of residents with memory loss by specially trained staff who can manage the unique conditions associated with memory loss. The care staff provides personalized care to meet the resident wherever they are in the progression of their memory loss.

Apartments are modified to meet the residents’ needs and keep them safe. Also, activities, meals, and décor cater to the unique care needs of people living with memory loss. Most communities provide additional security measures such as exterior doors that are locked or use a delayed egress, motion sensors, emergency call buttons, and camouflaged exits for those who may wander. The goal is to offer a safe, calm, healthy, and comfortable environment while encouraging the residents to be as independent as possible throughout the day.

4. Respite Care

Two men exercising with dumbbells in gym.
Whether your loved one stays in the neighborhood where they have lived for the past 40+ years, or they are moving to a new state to be closer to family, finding the perfect location is an important factor. If a community is nowhere near your normal routine or convenient for you or your siblings, it may be more difficult to visit regularly. Consider your entire family and where they live and work before determining the best community location.

Once you have selected the city or neighborhood, you can start to research for an assisted living community. The first and most convenient place to start is searching on the internet. Researching online first allows you to review a company to determine their care philosophy, culture, and background. You can request marketing materials, schedule a tour, and check their reviews. The internet is also a good place to start to determine the number of communities near your search area and how they differ from each other.

Another great referral is to ask friends and family whom you trust and live in the area. Their personal experience can be invaluable. Send an email or post a message to friends. You may be surprised by the responses that you receive with either recommendations or helpful tips based on their experience.

Also, there are referral services for assisted living communities that can help narrow your selection based on your personal and location criteria. Typically, these services are free to the family, but they will pass along your personal information to the assisted living communities. Often these communities will contact you quickly. So, if you are making a casual inquiry or not ready to move yet, a referral service may not be the recommended first step in your search.

5. Skilled Nursing Facility

Next to a hospital, a skilled nursing facility offers the highest level of care. A skilled nursing facility is best suited for your parent or loved one if they need a higher level of medical care or supervision for a short period of time (on average most stay for three months). It’s an appropriate choice if they are suffering from a complex medical condition, recuperating after surgery or a stroke, need daily therapy services, or require around-the-clock medical care. In a skilled nursing facility, a licensed physician oversees each patient’s care. Healthcare medical professionals, such as doctors, registered nurses, and therapists, are always on the premises. A skilled nursing facility is a more appropriate fit if your parent or loved one needs a higher level of medical attention.

Other Specialized Care Options

Seniors also have the opportunity to experience Aegis Living communities first-hand in a variety of different ways. Our specialized care options include:

Day stays: When an at-home caregiver is at work or needs time during the day to care for their family, seniors can spend the day enjoying the activities, delicious food, and delightful company at an Aegis Living community. Day stays include daily living assistance, medication management, and other care services. Aegis Living only offers the day stay option at our Washington communities.

Companion living program: This option lets seniors share a living space with another resident. Many assisted living communities simply pair roommates based on gender. At Aegis Living, we make the extra effort to pair based on personalities and interests as well as their sleeping and eating habits. The program also provides therapeutic activities that can help roommates form a lasting and fulfilling bond.

Hospice care: When a senior has limited options for medical intervention, hospice care through Aegis Living can provide them with a nurturing and compassionate environment in their last days. Hospice services are provided in addition to basic care, and staff will meet with a hospice provider chosen by the resident to create a coordinated care plan for the senior.

Researching care options for your parent or loved one may feel overwhelming. Having a clear understanding of the different services available to your family will help you make the right choice. If you have any questions, consult with your parent or loved one’s physician to help you better identify their care needs and medical condition. Our Aegis Living staff is always available to help answer your questions or provide resources to help you navigate your options. We have years of experience and are always happy to help!
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Aegis Living Difference

CEO and founder, Dwayne Clark, built Aegis Living with the determination of creating an alternative to the current senior housing options available. With more than 35 senior housing communities and growing, he has set new standards in the senior housing industry. Dwayne realized there was a better way to care for and serve our aging population. While working his way up in the assisted living industry as a young professional, he kept a box of dreams, ideas, and innovations that would later form the foundation of Aegis Living. Today, each community has a similar “black box” to collect these ideas from our staff and continue to revolutionize the senior housing industry.
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Did you know we offer short-term stays for seniors? Whether you are heading off on a much-needed vacation, need temporary support for a few days, or just need a break for a few hours a day, your loved one can enjoy everything our vibrant communities offer. You can relax knowing they are being safely cared for by an experienced and dedicated team.

We’re here when you need a break.
In the final stages of life, when a cure is beyond reach, Aegis Living’s hospice program offers dignified End-of-Life Care. We join forces with a trusted local hospice provider, either chosen by the family or recommended by the community, to offer comforting care and supportive services to your loved one during this challenging time. Through a coordinated care plan, hospice services complement and layer on top of our daily basic care offerings, delivering comprehensive support tailored to the resident’s specific requirements.
If your loved one is experiencing mild or early signs of memory loss, you may assume that designated Memory Care is their only choice. It’s not. At Aegis Living, we offer an alternative approach through Transitional Care. Unlike most senior housing providers, we defy the assumption that early signs of memory loss mandate a move into dedicated Memory Care. Our program supports residents who are not ready to move full-time into our Life’s Neighborhood Memory Care. Our communities are designed to safely maintain a sense of independence, enabling those with mild to moderate memory loss to remain in assisted living if that is where they feel most comfortable. Our supportive team members are specially trained to help them tackle memory loss challenges while keeping their independence.
Known for our expertise in Memory Care, we offer a spectrum of options for seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. For those with mild to moderate memory loss, we offer transitional Assisted Living. For those with more advanced memory loss, we have a dedicated Memory Care section of our community, called Life’s Neighborhood. Our around-the-clock, compassionate team provides personalized care to meet our residents wherever they are, and our rich programming includes recreational and social activities to keep residents active, engaged, and making new friends. Our team is here to support our residents’ families too; over the decades, we have supported and educated thousands of families through the journey.
If you or your loved one are no longer safe or thriving living independently, Assisted Living offers flexible levels of support and a true community. Our Assisted Living communities are staffed by kind and skilled caregivers, available around the clock for whatever residents need. This may be very little for now but we are also able to accommodate a very high level of care. Meanwhile, with cooking, transportation, housekeeping, and laundry taken care of, residents can relax and enjoy all life has to offer.
In Light Assisted Living, we celebrate the spirit of independence and inspire you or your loved one to live life to the fullest. With a focus on providing the right balance of assistance and autonomy, our dedicated team is committed to helping residents thrive in their warm and welcoming new home. From a robust calendar of engaging activities to a community full of new neighbors and friends to meet, we are here to make life easier and more enjoyable.