What Is the Difference between Retirement Living and Long-Term Care?
Published on October 24, 2018
If you or your loved one is looking for senior care options, it can be difficult to navigate between all the options available. To make the best decision, it is important to understand the difference between long-term care homes and retirement living communities. Both types of senior living situations offer benefits to residents, however, there are significant benefits to choosing a retirement home. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between these two options, and why retirement homes may be the better option for you or your family member.
Retirement Living/Retirement Communities
Retirement communities, also referred to as retirement homes, are generally privately-run communities where the senior, pays rent to live there. There are different kinds of retirement communities:
Active Adult Communities: These types of living communities are intended for adults ages 55 and older, specifically those who are seeking a place to enjoy planned activities and socializing. These communities offer gated privacy for its detached, semi-detached, or condo-style buildings, and yard work, snow removal, grass cutting, and other property maintenance services are provided for the seniors.
Independent Living Communities: For seniors who are looking to remove the daily stresses of household chores like cooking and grocery shopping, independent living communities are a great option. These communities are intended for seniors who are self-sufficient and active, and only need a few services to help them continue to live independently. These services include meals, laundry, occasional healthcare, including nursing services and visiting doctor, and transportation. Some of these communities, like V!VA, offer Assisted Living suites and services, as well.
Assisted Living Communities: These types of living communities provide even more healthcare services when compared to independent living. Seniors will benefit from nursing staff on site, and a doctor that can perform routine visits to Community Members. If seniors need help with mobility, housekeeping, laundry, meals, taking medication, bathing, and/or dressing, team members on site can provide these services.
Long-Term Care Homes
Long-term care homes are designed for seniors who need care constantly. Unlike retirement living, these communities are funded by the province in terms of medical and support services. Residents will only need to pay for their room and board. Social service agencies perform assessments on interested seniors to determine eligibility. Long-term care homes focus more on providing heavier levels of healthcare services and less on daily activities and recreation.
How to Choose Between the Two?
If you are considering which option is the best for you or your loved one, it is important to consider what their individual needs are. Visit the location you are interested in and ask questions to Team Members and Community Members. Considering what it’s like to live there and hearing first-hand reviews is the best way to identify whether it is the right place for you or your relative.
Find Your Community at V!VA Retirement Communities
While there are many options to choose from, V!VA Retirement Communities strives to provide community living that goes above and beyond expectation. We provide more than a comfortable place to live; we provide our Community Members with a safe, trustworthy environment where they can build friendships and enjoy a vibrant, active lifestyle with care when they need it. Our communities are places where our Community Members thrive.
As one of the few strong and successful privately-owned and independent developers in the senior living field, V!VA Retirement Communities provides exceptional services to its Community Members. Our services include dining by Red Seal chefs, fitness and recreation, and much more. Our goal is to provide our Community Members with a relaxed, comfortable, and personal environment. Our retirement living options include independent living, assisted living, and respite care for seniors. We have six operating locations, including Barrhaven, Mississauga, Pickering, Thornhill Woods, Meadowlands in Ancaster, and Waterside in Carleton Place, with two others under construction in Oakville and Whitby.
To learn more about our retirement living options and to find out if V!VA Retirement Communities is right for you or your loved one, visit our web site, e-mail us at info@vivalife.ca or call us at 1-888-984-8482.
