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Why You Should Consider Independent Living For Your Aging Parent

12 February 2015 by Joann Dunn

As a child of an aging parent, you begin to wonder and worry about them more and more frequently. After all, they are living in a home all on their own, with nobody there to help them as daily living tasks that become more difficult with each passing day. And while you may wish you could, you cannot give up your work or personal life to become your parent's full-time caretaker. Rather than continuing to wait and worry, you should instead consider the various options available for assistance for your parent, particularly independent living. So before you broach the subject with your parent, get to know a few of the many benefits that independent living can offer your parent.

A Continued Sense Of Autonomy

Most aging adults insist on remaining in their homes for so long, because they do not want to move into a sterile, hospital-like nursing home where they will be babied, watched, and controlled. This sentiment is quite understandable as adults need to feel a sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency. 

Luckily, independent living communities offer just that. Independent living is very much like moving your parent into their own apartment, just in a building with people of similar age. These apartment homes come complete with their own kitchens, laundry rooms (in many cases), appliances, bathrooms, and everything you could expect from an apartment. 

There is, of course, staff on hand at the independent living center to assist your parent should they have a medical emergency, but they will not hover and will not enter the apartment uninvited (unless an emergency situation is suspected). Your parent will still be able to live on their own terms, and can keep their car if they are still fit to drive.

Access To Services And Amenities

While your parent can choose to keep to their normal routine and act as though there are no additional perks available to them in the independent living community, there will be added benefits to their new living situation. If, for example, they do not want to cook for themselves all the time, there are food services available where they can go get meals that are prepared for them. While your parent is not required to eat the food offered to them at food services, it is a convenience on days when they just do not feel up to cooking or going to the store. 

Additional services and amenities can include an on-site gym with personal trainers or assistants, a pool, a church, bank, and/or store onsite, and various other perks are featured. As they age further, they may wish to partake in more of the services offered by staff to help them with daily living tasks.

They Will Not Need To Leave The Community Once They Move In

Independent living communities are often built as a part of a collaborative senior care center that includes independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care. Once your loved one moves into the community, unless they want to, they will be able to remain with that community indefinitely.

In other words, when your parent can no longer handle independent living, the community and staff will help them transition to assisted living, and then to nursing care when that becomes necessary. The familiarity of the community will help them as they transition through the various stages of their life, and you will have the peace of mind knowing that your parent will always be well taken care of.

As you can see, there are many benefits to independent living communities, such as Mayfair Village Retirement Community, for seniors. Talk to your parent about the possibility and the benefits, and make sure that your parent receives the best care possible as they age.  

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