8 - Senior housing / living / apartment

What is senior housing? 

Because of the health issues many seniors face, finding suitable senior housing can be a problem. Most accidents happen at home, and a senior living at home is more likely than other age groups to suffer a fall at home. Statistics indicate that one in three Americans sixty-five and over falls each year. The National safety Council (USA) reported in 2003 that over 15,000 senior citizens died from accidents that occurred in the home. Many seniors are faced with the difficult task of leaving their home of many years because of immobility issues. This is especially true if they have to move between floors to access bedrooms or the kitchen. 

Even if the decision is taken by a senior living at home to continue living in the same place, it may be necessary to renovate the home to make it into a suitable senior housing facility. This may call for installation of elevators and stair lifts or even deciding to move downstairs and stop accessing other floors.

In addition to changing your home to make it more conductive to senior living, seniors can opt to move into a special senior housing facility or apartment. These types of housing make it easier for seniors living there to keep safe, especially from falls. Plus, such facilities generally have twenty-four hour staff available in case of accidents or other emergencies. 

The main types of senior housing are:

* Senior apartments
These are generally independent senior living residences. Similar to regular apartments except only senior citizens live there. 
* Assisted senior living facilities
Residents in assisted living facilities have trained staff to help residents who cannot fully take care of their own needs. 
* Continuing care retirement communities
These facilities contain aspects of the other types of senior living accommodations on one property. That is, some senior apartments are for independent living, others are for assisted living etc.  
* Independent senior living facilities
This pretty much the same as a senior apartment. However, there may be more facilities available for use by residents of a senior apartment, such as safety or occupational facilities. 


Senior housing is one of the reasons why retirement communities are so popular; they provide seniors with living accommodations ideal for their needs. However, before deciding on the retirement or senior housing of your choice, make a checklist of things to be aware of. 

The good news about senior housing/a senior apartment is that even if you have to live in a retirement community many are nice and comfortable places to live. Some are more like five star hotels, offering golf greens and five-star chefs. 

In most states, possibly all, senior health insurance will help cover housing expenses based on certain criteria.  Before making a decision it is therefore good to explore these options as well before going out to look for a senior apartment or other accommodation. 
