The decision to get married, the birth of your first child and transitioning to retirement, as a couple, you and your loved one have met every major life transition together. Now that you’re both thinking about moving into a senior living community, you want to embrace the change together as you always have. The only issue is that you might not be sure about the details of senior living options for couples. The good news is that there are plenty of options to choose from. Join us as we take an inside look at senior living for couples.
Health Assessments Are Essential
Before we delve into the various senior living options for couples, it’s important to note that you and your partner should each get health assessments before choosing a community. You and your significant other could have different healthcare needs, which could impact your option moving forward. Your primary care doctor will be able to conduct a detailed assessment of any health conditions that are present, as well as the physical abilities of you and your loved one.
Once each of you has gotten an assessment, your doctor will be able to help guide you toward the right decision. For example, if your significant other has a mobility issue and needs extra support with daily tasks like getting dressed and cooking meals, your doctor could recommend an assisted living community.
Independent Senior Living for Couples
Independent living is best suited for older adults who don’t need any extra assistance with the activities of daily living. This senior living option lets you and your significant other trade in the hassles of home maintenance for more time to follow your passions. Many independent living communities offer hospitality services, so you don’t have to worry about doing laundry, housekeeping, cooking or finding a ride to local attractions.
Couples can also look forward to a wide variety of activities, such as fitness and art classes, that are included in your monthly fee. You and your significant other will also have the opportunity to live together and share the same apartment. Plus, some independent living communities have a continuum of care that can help ensure couples stay together even if their needs change.
Assisted Living for Senior Couples
Are some of the activities of daily living preventing you and your significant other from enjoying your retirement? It’s common for senior couples living together to have struggles with tasks like medication management, getting dressed or bathing. A senior living community with assisted living services provides senior couples with basic care support to address those needs. One of the most helpful aspects of assisted living care is that the services can be adjusted even if only one person needs more attentive support.
It’s important to note that if one person doesn’t require assisted living care, the couple can still live in the same apartment. The costs associated with the care of each individual in a couple is customized to their needs. That way, you won’t have to worry about anyone paying for more care than they need.
CCRCs and Senior Living for Couples
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also known as Life Plan Communities, are a popular senior living option for couples who are looking to enjoy an active lifestyle while having peace of mind knowing that any future health needs will be covered. You and your significant other will also have the opportunity to age in place at a CCRC. Thanks to the various levels of senior care, you won’t have to worry about finding a new community should your needs change.
If you or your partner’s needs change, a professional staff member will be there to support both of you. They’ll take the time to talk with each member of the senior couple to look for opportunities where personalized care can help them reach a higher level of wellness.
The Cost of Senior Living for Couples
Now that you know more about the senior living options for couples, it’s natural to think about how much it will cost. The cost of senior living for couples is dependent on a variety of factors, which include:
- The level of senior care you and your partner each need
- Your preference in apartment locations and floor plans
- If the community you’re considering has an entrance fee or offers a rental option
The best way to get an accurate look at how much senior living costs for couples is to reach out to communities directly. A team of senior living experts will be able to learn more about you and your significant other while walking you through what to expect from a financial perspective. Senior living providers like Heritage Senior Living will even help you budget for the transition and ensure all your needs are met.
Explore Premier Senior Living for Couples
At Heritage Senior Living, we pride ourselves on offering expert and personalized care for senior couples looking to make the most out of their retirement. Many of our communities have a continuum of care ranging from giving older adults a maintenance free lifestyle to specialized care for anyone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Contact us today to learn more about how we help senior couples enjoy a more fulfilling lifestyle.
