Today’s seniors have so many more options for retirement living than their parents did. As you start thinking about retirement plans, it may seem difficult to decipher which retirement community is the best fit, but it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each lifestyle. We recently reviewed the benefits of independent living communities.
In this post, we want to focus on assisted living communities. Assisted living communities differ from independent living communities by offering more help with daily activities. The goal of an assisted living arrangement is to offer residents day-to-day assistance without jeopardizing their independence.
Whether you’re actively seeking an assisted living community for a family member or just considering the idea, below are the amenities you can expect.
Daily Assistance
While the amenities listed below are certainly a plus, the most important service you’ll enjoy in assisted living is help with daily activities. Professionally trained staff is available around the clock to assist with daily activities like medication management, bathing, dressing, etc. How does weekly housekeeping sound? What about weekly laundry services? We take care of all of this and more at Melrose Meadows, but will never take over more of your daily activities than you want us to. Living in an assisted living community means having access to any necessary assistance you may need while maintaining as much independence as possible. We call this “self-directed care”.
At Melrose Meadows, assistance with daily living activities is included in your rent. This is not the norm among all assisted living communities, so as you shop for you or a family member’s new residence, be sure to confirm what assistance is included and what is extra.
Meals, Housekeeping & Laundry
As you think about retirement, chores like cooking and cleaning are likely far from mind. Most assisted living communities offer regular housekeeping and laundry services for all residents. You also won’t have to worry about answering the question “What’s for dinner?” since meals are provided daily. Some communities, like Melrose Meadows, even have restaurant-style dining with esteemed chefs in the kitchen.
Entertainment, Activities, & Wellness
Another amenity you’ll enjoy in an assisted living community is a variety of customized programming that caters to the body, mind and soul. From customized health and wellness programming to a slew of social activities, assisted living residents can enjoy an active social life. In addition to programmed activities, assisted living community members often enjoy recreational facilities such as a gyms, pools, libraries and game/social rooms. At Melrose Meadows, both independent and assisted living residents enjoy all of our activities and events, as well as the use of our Wellness Center with our heated indoor pool.
Transportation
Moving into an assisted living community can mean saying goodbye to traffic and parking woes. Although many communities offer parking spots and garages for residents, Melrose Meadows also offers free scheduled transportation – you tell us when and where, and we’ll do our best to get you there.
As you narrow your list of options, the most important amenity to look for is the preservation of independence. Assisted living communities should ease your lifestyle without placing any constraints on your freedom.
Melrose Meadows is a certified assisted and independent living community in Iowa City, Iowa. We pride ourselves in providing a senior living community that supports an independent lifestyle in a vibrant all-inclusive setting. Schedule a tour today and let us help you navigate the options for your future.