Retirement communities, senior living communities or senior retirement communities – different names, what is the difference?
Learn how to locate affordable retirement communities and retirement homes in this article. Many senior citizens of retirement age decide to reside in senior retirement community rather than in a single family home. While some of these communities can be expensive, it is possible to find affordable retirement communities with a little smart shopping. The first thing you should do is figure out what kind of living arrangement you need. There are different kinds of communities based on different needs. They include active, active and supportive, and supportive. The differences between these types of communities is the amount of on site assistance and care provided.
Active communities are for seniors who don’t require on site medical care. They don’t have nurses, doctors or medical facilities on site but they may be located close to such facilities for the convenience of the residents.
Active and supportive communities, also called continuing care retirement communities, do have medical facilities on the grounds but also have residential housing where seniors live independently.
Supportive communities are sometimes referred to as long term health care communities because they provide assistance and medical care to residents around the clock. You may also hear these communities referred to as assisted living communities or nursing homes.
Senior Living Communities
Choosing the right facility based on your needs is easy, while choosing one based on your budget is a bit more difficult. The fact of the matter is that no senior living communities is going to be cheap. One expense you will be required to pay is an entry fee which can range from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000. And that’s not all, because there are also monthly fees that usually cost somewhere between $1000 and $3000 on average. In some communities services like assisted living cost (learn more here) even more and can range up to an extra $200 per day. The best thing to do when considering any senior living communities is compare your available options to see what you can afford.
Senior Living Communities and Retirement Communities
One way to find affordable retirement communities is to look for those that are nonprofit. Some of these facilities will try to help residents who are unable to pay the full amount. Of course this may not always be an option. You will find that some senior retirement communities offer rental properties while others offer sale properties. Choosing retirement communities is a big decision and one that should not be done lightly. Always make sure the senior living communities you are considering are accredited and do your research before signing on the dotted line.
