There are various types of retirement communities older adults can choose from, and new types of retirement communities are being developed as the population ages. (As stated in another page on this website, by 2033, the population of persons over the age of 65 is projected to surpass the number of persons under the age of 18, for the first time in U.S. history.)
Examples of Senior Housing Include:
"Assisted Living Communities" - also known as "Assisted Living and Memory Care Assisted Living Communities", which provide all the daily services seniors need in an apartment or condominium style environment such as activities, dining, housekeeping, nursing and wellness, and usually in a locked and secured building.
"Congregate Housing" - Includes at least one shared meal per day with other residents.
"Continuing Care Retirement Communities" - Residential alternatives for adults that offer under one contract, an independent living unit, residential amenities and access to a continuum of long term health care services as residents health and social needs change over time.
"Elder/Senior Co Housing" - also known as "Senior Co Housing", is a living arrangement in which multiple individually owned housing units are oriented around a common open area and a common house.
"Independent Senior Living Facilities"- Also known as "Independent Living Communities" - they offer no personal care services.
"Leisure or Lifestyle Oriented Communities" - also known as "LORC's" - they include various amenities.
"Mobile Homes or RV's" - For active adults.
"Subsidized Housing" - For lower income older adults
"Niche Retirement Communities" - Retirees who share a common interest, hobby or trait. They are also known as "Affinity Retirement Communities" by retirement professionals, and have been one of the biggest trends in retirement living since about 2011.
Note: To be considered "Senior Housing" at least 80% of the units in a community must include an individual 55 years of age or older.
Information above provided courtesy of wikipedia.org under the Text of Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Please note for anyone who is either contemplating moving into senior housing for either themselves or a loved one, it can not be stressed enough to please check out any community in detail which you are considering BEFORE making a final decision.
Visit the facility, check online reviews, check state regulatory agencies where applicable, get references from the community itself, and/or from speaking to current residents, eat the food in their dining room where applicable, notice the interaction or lack of same between the employees, notice how the employees dress, walk the halls, grounds and units within the community, notice the level of or lack of cleanliness in the facility, find out exactly what they will do for either yourself or your loved one, and what is included, and what is available at an extra costs. (Note: The "extras" can add up quickly over and above the normal monthly costs.) In other words ask a lot of questions, be VERY OBSERVANT, take notes, and ask to see a copy of the contract before signing on the dotted line. The good communities will not mind. If they balk at your request, look elsewhere.
Although there are many sites available with online reviews of various communities there is one site here:
which offers one of the most comprehensive sources of information on senior housingthis author has seen to date. This link is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of the accuracy of the information contained on their website.
And as indicated above, online reviews are just one part of the equation, a tool to assist you in finding the best situation for either yourself or a loved one. It is up to YOU to do the work necessary that will ensure a good fit for all persons involved.
Best wishes in your search!
A senior's home is his or her castle. Choose wisely.