Moving house is often one of the most important and difficult decisions you have to make, with many often citing it as a stressful life event. When that decision is about moving from your long-term family home to a retirement community, that’s even more critical. You’ll want to get it right.
The first step is to think about the type of support and community that best suits your needs. In this guide, we’ll compare independent vs assisted living, explain what they offer, and guide you on the best option for your personal circumstances.
Elder Housing Decisions: What Is Senior Independent Living, Kansas City?
Independent living in Kansas City is all about freedom and convenience. It’s a community option perfect for self-sufficient seniors who can manage daily needs but crave a relaxed, maintenance-free retirement lifestyle.
These communities typically offer:
- Different senior living options for private residences
- Housekeeping and maintenance
- Prepared meals and dining areas
- Social activities
- On-site health and fitness
- Pet-friendly independent senior living
It’s a worry-free way of living and allows retirees to remove burdensome chores like cleaning and repairs from their daily task sheet.
Instead, they can focus on a day filled with fun and enriching activities, hobbies, or social events. Plus, they have access to a beautiful and vibrant community environment on their doorstep. Independent senior living in Kansas City is a balance that suits many seniors who want an active retirement.
Assisted Living: Personal Care and Support for Seniors
While many seniors love the advantages of independent, community living, some may worry that they need extra help with daily tasks like dressing or bathing. The answer is a care option called assisted living.
With assisted living, you have assistance from professional care gives that’s aligned with a personal care plan, so what you receive will depend on your needs. For some, that may only mean help with medication management. For others with limited mobility, it might be having a carer on hand to help them dress each morning.
The advantage of assisted living is that you still have all the features of an independent community lifestyle, including a private apartment and beautiful communal areas like a restaurant. You’ll also have access to on-site amenities and an exciting selection of social events.
Aging in Place Alternatives: Which Option Is Right for You?
The best way to determine which option is right for you is to assess your current and future needs. Here are some questions to help you think about your situation and priorities.
- Can you take care of your bathing and dressing routine without help?
- Do you need help with personal grooming?
- Are you mobile, and can you move around safely with extra assistance?
- Do you always remember to take your medication, or do you need reminders and support from loved ones?
- Do you need extra help if you want to attend social events?
Answering yes to any or all of these questions means assisted living is a better choice than independent living. However, if you are confident that you can manage these things and will still manage them for the foreseeable future, independent living in a community is your better option.
Social Activities in Senior Living Communities
One of the most common reasons for retirees moving to senior living in Kansas is being able to access the vast choice of activities and social events. It’s the perfect way to combat the risk of loneliness in old age, allowing you time to get involved in as much or as little as you desire. You might see activities such as:
- Reading clubs
- Music appreciation groups
- Games and quiz nights
- Movie nights
- Arts and crafts workshops
- Group outings
When choosing a senior living community, ask to see a copy of the current activities calendar. This is often a good way to get a feel for how active and sociable the community is and whether it’s the right fit for your needs.
Access to Health and Wellness Amenities
The best senior living communities put health and wellness at the heart of what they do. Living an independent and fulfilling life in retirement means looking after your body, mind, and soul so you may discover a range of amenities, services, and activities that will help you meet those needs. You may discover:
- An on-site fitness center
- Healthy and nutritious dining options
- Wellness programs like therapies or meditation classes
- Fitness classes like yoga or aerobics
- Outdoor fitness activities like walking groups
This is designed to help you to meet your personal health and fitness goals. The best communities like ours will also ensure there is a wide choice of activities to meet all mobility levels, making health and wellness as accessible as possible.
Making the Transition to Community Living
Moving into a senior living community in Kansas can be a big step for some, and many residents may be saying goodbye to somewhere that has been a family home for decades.
It can also be difficult transitioning to having support, particularly if you have taken care of household chores, cooking, and personal care.
Focus on trying to embrace the plus points of your transition, like freeing up your time to get involved in activities. Also, think about planning your day in your new community so that it’s busy.
Your family will also be crucial in supporting your move to senior living in Kansas City. They may want to help you with the practical side of the move, such as packing, and will be a valuable source of emotional support for you.
Remember to take your time with a move. There is no need to rush it, but don’t put it off out of fear.
Independent Vs Assisted Living: Retirement Community Choices for Your Needs
When comparing independent vs assisted living, it’s useful to remember that they both offer many of the same benefits, including private apartments, community amenities, and access to a social calendar. Your choice over what levels of senior care to opt for will rest on how much daily support you need from a professional.
Why not see for yourself by scheduling a tour of The Welstone at Mission Crossing? With a huge range of on-site amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities, our independent senior living community could offer your dream retirement.
