Staying Together

Senior Living Options For Couples

With Americans living longer than ever, “in sickness and in health” can go decades beyond retirement age for many married couples. That means the majority of couples will face important decisions related to their changing and differing personal, health care and social needs as they age.

Whether a couple decides to age at home or move to a senior living community together, senior couples now have

options to find the right fit for their unique needs.

Aging In Place

Couples may decide to stay in their own home—or age in place—as they get older. Whether help comes from your spouse, an adult child or licensed professional, it’s important to have a plan in place as one—or both—spouse’s

needs can change over time.

While enlisting a family caregiver for support has many benefits, it can also place a significant strain on them over time—mentally, physically and financially. At-home care services may require home modifications and adaptations to ensure safety and mobility.

Choosing a Senior Living Community

As a couple exploring senior living options, you may have different care needs or want a variety of amenities in a community. Before making a decision, ask about licensing to determine the highest level of care a community can provide. You may want to consider a community that offers varying care levels within the same building to avoid another move if needs change.

Learn the differences between three common types of senior living communities:

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Independent living communities can be a good choice for healthy, active seniors who do not require assistance with activities of daily living or health care but want a lowmaintenance lifestyle. Independent living communities generally provide convenient daily meals, linen services and light housekeeping services that can make lives even easier. When exploring independent living options, ask about licensing. Learn if the community can accommodate care needs as they change, which can help prevent another future move.

ASSISTED LIVING

Assisted living communities provide services and amenities similar to independent living, but they are licensed to provide care. Residents have the opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life, with purposeful daily activities and socialization, while also receiving care from trained employees and prompt access to emergency or medical care when needed.

Assisted Living communities typically provide 24-hour support. A nurse will be able to administer injections, help with medication management, facilitate conversations with telemedicine doctors or other care providers and take doctor’s orders, reducing the number of unnecessary trips to the ER and hospital.

MEMORY CARE

Memory care is a more comprehensive form of senior living that provides specialized support for people with cognitive issues, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

While there are stand-alone memory care facilities, many assisted living residences also offer specialized memory care programs designed to provide an engaging, safe and secure environment for residents at every phase. This may be a better option for senior couples who want to continue to live together, even though their long-term care and cognitive support needs vary.

Belmont Village’s communities are licensed to provide the highest level of care across independent living, assisted living and memory care. This unique range of care allows couples with different care needs to stay together—like always. This also means you don’t have to worry about what to do if changes happen or you need more support.

To discover Belmont Village Fort Lauderdale’s luxurious apartments and amenities and award winning programming, visit

BelmontVillage.com/FortLauderdale or call 954-833-7978.