Making Informed Decisions for Senior Living

These broadly describe a lifestyle of living in an apartment home (without personal care services), 55+ townhome, condominium or cooperative building designed with the needs of adults 55 and older. 

Benefits of this type of living would include a maintenance-free lifestyle, socialization with like-minded neighbors and peace of mind with turn-key living to name a few. Extra security, wider doorways and other adapted-design elements are part of the overall features of the buildings. These communities are designed to create a lifestyle of convenience – while offering interaction with other residents to help avoid isolation.

Independent Living communities may also have amenities such as underground parking, beautician/barber shops and gift stores. Typically if you need extra help, you can contract services such as housekeeping, personal care or wellness services.

Assisted Living is rental apartment living for older adults. Age requirements differ in each community but is typically 55+ or 62+

Residents in Assisted Living enjoy full apartments with access to services when they need them. Many live very independently and just don’t want the bothers of cooking, housekeeping, driving and other little things. They also find peace of mind knowing that they can add services to their care plan (personal cares, wellness services, medication administration, etc.) when they are ready.  This is very different from a Nursing Home.

In most Assisted Living communities there is usually a base rental rate per month that you pay that includes a host of amenities (things like: meals, utilities, cable, transportation, housekeeping) and you can pay extra for nursing services. Assisted Living is more expensive than Independent Living but more affordable than Long Term Care in most cases.

Like Assisted Living, Memory Care is a rental apartment living in an environment with specialized personal care and defined health services that are offered for those with memory loss or dementia. 

These communities should have higher levels of staff to resident ratios, specially designed environments and specialized programs that are created to enhance the life of someone living with memory loss or dementia. 

Individuals that may benefit from a Memory Care community are those that are at risk of becoming disoriented, leaving the building and getting lost, or those who could benefit from frequent reassurance and redirection in a more supportive, structured environment and programming. 

It’s important to know that individuals living with memory loss or dementia need a lot more stimulation in order to live a better quality of life. Memory care is significantly more than assisted living in cost.

This is 24 hour health care within a home-like setting, for those needing advanced care – short term and long term. They usually charge by the day include 3 meals/day, housekeeping and a package of care services designed specifically for your needs. 

They are different from Assisted Living in that they typically have a higher staffing ratio and provide care comparable to a nursing home.

They have many different names but mean the same thing. They are licensed healthcare facilities that are inspected and regulated by the MN Dept. of Health. Skilled Nursing facilities offer long-term and short-term care for people who need rehabilitation services after illness or injury. Short-term care is also commonly known as Transitional Care (which we also have). Skilled Nursing Facilities offer long-term care for those who suffer from more serious or chronic health issues that are too complicated to be managed at home or in an assisted living setting. Nursing is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. Many Skilled Nursing Facilities will also accept Medical Assistance as complete payment.

Typically medically driven and provided by Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists or Social Workers in home. There is also Fairview Lifeline that can help.

Adult Day Clubs/Programs perform two important functions: first they provide socialization, services and programs for older adults needing more cognitive support; plus they offer caregivers a break during the work week.

• Adult day programs are designed for older adults who live at home but would benefit from:
• Scheduled activities during the workweek
• Supervision during the day
• Socialization and specialized programming
• Daily exercise program

To help ease the transition back into daily life after an illness, hospital stay or surgery; or to provide a short-term break for a caregiver, some communities offer Stay By The Day Apartments.

​These furnished apartments are available for rent for typically a minimum of 7 days to a maximum of 30 days. Some use it to “try it on for size,” and get to know what Assisted Living with no big commitments.