Moving to senior living is a big decision. Understand each type of community, compare your options and make the transition smooth and safe.
Senior living is an umbrella term for housing and care options for older adults, from active communities with few services to settings with round-the-clock nursing. The right choice depends on health, daily needs, budget and personal preferences, and it often changes over time. Moving yourself or a loved one is rarely simple, so it helps to understand the options before a crisis forces a quick decision.
Many families also use in-home care to delay or avoid a move, then transition to senior living when needs outgrow what home can safely offer.
Each type of senior living serves a different set of needs.
Active, low-maintenance living with meals, housekeeping and social activities.
Help with bathing, dressing and medications in a residential setting.
Secure, structured settings with staff trained in dementia care.
24-hour nursing and rehabilitation for complex medical needs.
Independent living, assisted living and nursing on one campus, so residents can move between levels as needs change.
Non-medical help at home that can delay or complement a move to senior living.
Explore each option in more detail: independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.
Answers to the questions that come up when families start exploring a move.
It depends on how much help is needed with daily activities, medical needs, safety and personal preferences. An advisor can help you assess needs and match them to the right type of care.
Costs depend on the type of care, location and size of the living space, and most communities charge a monthly fee. Ask for a full breakdown, and an advisor can help you compare options within your budget.
Some communities offer short respite stays, which let your loved one experience daily life there before deciding. Ask what is available.
A CCRC offers independent living, assisted living and nursing care on one campus, so residents can move between levels of care as needs change without leaving a familiar community.
Listen to their concerns, involve them in decisions, visit together and focus on what they will gain, such as safety, social connection and support. Take it one step at a time.
Share a few details and a Senior Care Navigator advisor will reach out to talk through your situation. It’s private and completely no-pressure.
