Choosing between independent and assisted senior living in Gilbert, AZ, depends on how much assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs) an older adult needs. Independent living is for active seniors who are generally in good health and want a maintenance-free lifestyle. Conversely, assisted living is for seniors who need assistance with one or more ADLs.
ADLs measure one's independence; they're self-care tasks a person must be able to do on their own to stay happy and healthy. Not all seniors will need help in performing them, but many will. According to CBS News, almost 70% of Americans 65+ will require some level of long-term care within their lifetime.
Pebble Ranch -- our senior living community in Gilbert, AZ, a thriving suburb known for its excellent healthcare system and many activities -- will share insights into Arizona retirement options in this independent vs. assisted living guide.
Before choosing senior care and deciding between independent and assisted living, it's wise to know more about what makes Gilbert an excellent retirement destination. Equally crucial is understanding the potential drawbacks of living here.
Gilbert, AZ, is a premier choice for retirees because of its:
With those perks, it's unsurprising that Gilbert has many senior residents. Data from Neilsberg shows older adults aged 65 to 84 account for nearly 10% of the city's population. With this rate, retirees will find it easy to meet other retirees.
There's the summer heat, which could be too intense for seniors to engage in outdoor activity. However, they can counter this by staying in their air-conditioned residences and getting some indoor walking workouts instead.
Another consideration is traffic. Still, congestion is more common during morning and evening rush hours.
Finally, Gilbert's overall living costs are about 20% higher than the U.S. average, according to Payscale. Fortunately, healthcare expenses here are 3% lower than the national average.
Senior living refers to a diverse range of housing options for older adults. Most have age requirements (e.g., 55 and above).
Such retirement villages offer varying levels of senior care, supportive services, or both.
Independent living communities, for instance, deliver maintenance-free lifestyles with many amenities (e.g., meals, activities, housekeeping, and maintenance).
Assisted living also offers all these, but with the addition of personal care and support for ADLs.
Determining the level of care you require (or don't) is the first step to choosing between independent living and assisted living in Gilbert, AZ. Just as vital is to assess your current and future health needs and your personal preference.
Transitioning to an independent living community may be the right choice if you're active and healthy but already experience homeownership "overload."
You may, for instance, feel overwhelmed by yard work, grocery shopping, cleaning, or home repairs. You can say goodbye to these tedious chores by moving to an independent living community, as they'll take care of these tasks for you.
There's also the added perk of having convenient access to many on-site amenities. Pebble Ranch services and amenities, for instance, include but aren't limited to the following:
Another good time to consider independent living is if you live alone and are experiencing social isolation and loneliness. In an independent living community, you'll have many opportunities to socialize, including with fellow seniors, their families, and the community's staff.
Highly reliable and reputable assisted living communities offer many of the same amenities and services that independent living communities do (from meals to housekeeping and activities). At the same time, they provide residents access to personal care providers.
If you (or your older loved one) need help with one or more ADLs, be it showering, continence, or meal preparation, consider assisted living.
Pebble Ranch is also proud to offer seniors in Gilbert, AZ, top-notch assisted living. Our personal care team is available 24/7, ready to help seniors who need an extra hand with ADLs if and when required. Furthermore, we have proactive fall monitoring.
Seniors should reconsider living alone if they've become socially isolated (little to no contact with others) or are experiencing loneliness. According to the U.S. CDC, social isolation and loneliness can raise a person's risk for various health conditions, from heart disease to diabetes and depression.
It's also unsafe for older adults who face challenges with ADLs to live alone. Problems with cooking, for instance, may result in more health and safety risks, such as undernutrition, overnutrition, or fire hazards.
Some types of insurance policies do, such as long-term care insurance (LTCI). In some cases, LTCI providers have a clause stating they'll cover part of the policyholder's expenses in a senior living community.
Life insurance policies with a cash value component can also help cover some of the costs of independent or assisted living. Older adults who've built up enough funds in their policies' savings account can use the money to pay for their monthly or annual community fees.
Remember: Independent living is primarily for active seniors who want autonomy, convenience, and maintenance-free lifestyles. Assisted living, on the other hand, is for older adults who desire all that, plus extra help for ADLs.
At Pebble Ranch, we've made senior living in Gilbert, AZ, even more enriching by offering assisted living complete with numerous on-site amenities such as a theater, a putting green, and a yoga studio.
Seniors and their loved ones can also rest easy knowing our personal care associates undergo continuous training and education. They stay up-to-date with the best practices and strategies to deliver high-quality, compassionate care and support.
Call us today to book a tour and see for yourself what makes our pet-friendly community stand out!