What’s the Difference Between
Independent Living and Assisted Living?
Evaluate Your Care Needs
Independent Living vs. Assisted Living
Independent living suits older adults seeking an active lifestyle and the convenience of onsite amenities in a maintenance-free community, while assisted living supports seniors needing help with daily activities, allowing them to maintain independence in a community setting.
- Independent living – designed for active lifestyles and provides maintenance-free living, amenities, activities and outings, dining options, and access to continuing care (if needed)
- Assisted living – appropriate for individuals who need help with some of life’s daily activities, like meals, bathing, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation; usually includes the same amenities as independent living
Take the Quiz
What is the best choice?
If you’re thinking about a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, you may be wondering which level of care is best. Take our interactive quiz to help determine whether independent or assisted living is right for you. Just remember — only you, along with the advice of a medical or senior care professional, can decide which option is best.
Is Independent Living or Assisted Living Right For Your Loved One?
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What to Expect
Independent Living vs Assisted Living
Free Guide to Understanding Independent Living and Assisted Living
Download this free guide to learn about independent and assisted living, including the typical services offered and how to assess your loved one’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Independent Living and Assisted Living
First, if you haven’t taken the quiz above, please do so, as this may help you identify your concerns. Next, consider your loved one’s current lifestyle and needs. How often do you feel you need to check in on them to ensure their safety? Is it every day, every week, or just occasionally?
What do they seem to need the most help with? Do they require assistance with household maintenance, such as fixing broken items or mowing the lawn? Or are they having difficulty moving around or maintaining their personal hygiene?
If your concerns about their lifestyle are mostly minor — related to maintenance and upkeep — independent living might be a suitable option to give them more freedom and convenience.
However, if you are worried about their safety as well as their physical and mental health, assisted living could be a better choice.
If you find yourself in this situation, one of the best things you can do is bring your loved one to visit one of our Otterbein communities. Make sure to communicate that you are not trying to pressure them into anything that isn’t right for them; rather, you want to explore the options together.
During your visit, our lifestyle counselors can help showcase what life could be like for them in assisted living. Seeing our community in person and meeting our residents might open their minds to the possibilities and benefits of assisted living.
Rest assured, we will do everything possible to make reasonable accommodations to meet your loved one’s needs. We will keep you updated on their progress and make adjustments as necessary.
If it turns out that your loved one requires assisted living, there is no need to panic. We have successfully helped many residents make this transition with minimal disruption to their lifestyles, and we can do the same for you and your loved one. One of the benefits of living in a life plan community is that moving from one level of care to another is much easier for both residents and their families.
The answer is different for everyone and every situation. Be sure to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options, and have discussions with your loved one about them early and often. There are lots of resources you can use as you make your decision, such as:
- Get started with these helpful resources designed for family members and loved ones to begin their senior living search.
- Read blog articles or ask friends/family members who’ve been through this before.
- Set up a visit to one of our Otterbein communities.
- Check out this Ultimate Guide to Life at Otterbein for more questions and answers to common questions.
- Download this free guide to independent living vs. assisted living.
Contact us at Otterbein SeniorLife for more information or to simply ask questions.
Guide to Selecting an Assisted Living Community
Download our free assisted living guide to find answers to 10 common questions about this type of care.
