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ABC7 – Montgomery Place staff members show residents just how much they are cared about.

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When you or your loved one start looking into different senior housing alternatives, you’ll realize that there are a lot of them to choose from.

Questions like, “Is a nursing home the best option? What services do senior living communities offer? What’s the difference between independent living and nursing homes?” may arise. Whichever option you choose will depend on your needs or the needs of your senior loved one.

At Montgomery Place in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, we are ready and happy to welcome seniors looking for a welcoming and fulfilling place to call home. Our purpose is to improve the quality of life for individuals who choose to live here.

This article will explore the key aspects that set apart independent living from nursing homes.

Differences Between Nursing Homes and Independent Living Communities

When looking for a future home, it’s crucial to understand the distinctions between nursing facilities and independent living communities. Below is a list highlighting the key differences:

1. Daily Amenities and Services

In nursing homes, help is available 24/7 for seniors for basic life tasks like bathing, grooming, remembering to take medication, meal preparation, etc.

Medical care or nursing assistance is not part of independent living. Instead, convenience and an active lifestyle are the main focus for independent living communities.

2. Medical and Supportive Care

Nursing homes offer medical support to people who can no longer tend to their basic needs or make good decisions on their own, or function without the help of a loved one.

Independent living communities primarily focus on serving residents’ social needs and lifestyle aspects, as many can live independently without much support.

3. Access to and Contact with Staff

Staff in nursing homes are there to keep an eye on residents and check in on them. They will stay in touch with elders to ensure they are doing well. Staff may intervene if the senior looks to require further assistance.

Seniors in an independent living complex may not have regular contact with the personnel. The resident is the one to determine the level of interaction with the staff in these communities.

4. Family Involvement

Nursing homes provide skilled nursing care and relieve family members of additional caring duties. When the requirements of seniors evolve, the personnel are there to anticipate and satisfy those needs. Visitation schedules may need to be set up at many nursing homes as well.

Families can have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are not alone or unseen in an independent living community. They can visit as able and don’t have to set up visitation with staff.

5. Continuum of Care

Most seniors who opt for nursing homes deal with health conditions. These types of seniors will eventually need extensive care. For this reason, nursing homes are the most idyllic.

But, many older adults in independent living communities will enjoy long and healthy lives without any extra assistance.

Similarities between Senior Independent Living and Nursing Homes?

Senior living communities and nursing facilities provide support with everyday tasks. This service includes help with personal hygiene duties, including washing, grooming, clothing, etc. Nursing homes and senior living communities have the following in common:

• Care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Transportation services are available.

• Medical and drug administration.

• They both assist with mobility.

• Protocols for security and safety, and much more.

• Dining options and meal plans are available in both types of communities to guarantee optimal nourishment.

• Nursing facilities and senior living communities both provide opportunities to mingle and assemble.

Who Can Benefit From Independent Living Communities?

Independent living communities are ideal for:

• Adults who are searching for a lifestyle that allows them to focus on social activities rather than worrying about house care and repairs.

• Older adults may become increasingly isolated from society and want to be around people within their age group and enjoy the activities of a community.

Which One Is Right for Me?

You don’t have to be terminally sick to choose to live in a senior living community. The passage of time and the onset of health concerns should not decrease your quality of life.

Learn more and tour Montgomery Place in Chicago, IL

At Montgomery Place, we can assist you no matter what your ideal retirement looks like or what obstacles you experience in obtaining it. We provide a variety of senior living alternatives with beautiful spacious apartments that overlook Lake Michigan and the Museum of Science and Industry. Contact us today to take advantage of our many attractive senior living options. We’re excited to assist you in writing the next chapter of your life.

Image Source: Paul Vasarhelyi / Shutterstock

An independent living facility allows retirees to share life and create a community in a friendly and peaceful environment. Moving into an independent living community is an excellent way for physically independent seniors to trade living alone and chores for a healthy, stress-free lifestyle.

Have you been wondering about independent living communities, who should live in this type of community, and what it is like to live in this environment? Montgomery Place is one of Chicago’s best independent living communities and offers a vibrant urban lifestyle that engages the heart and enriches the mind’ by upholding the following values:

• Integrity

• Dignity

• Engagement

• Caring

• Quality

What Is Independent Living?

Montgomery Place Retirement Community is a residential independent living community mainly for older adults who can live without the aid of personal or medical staff. Independent living allows the resident to maintain complete independence while benefiting from the social and recreational provided by the community.

There is a difference between independent living communities and assisted living facilities. The main difference is that independent living is primarily for younger retirees who seek housing for socialization purposes. Assisted living is for seniors who need long-term care in their daily activities such as cleaning, taking medication, etc.

Is Independent Living Right for You?

As your age advances, you might think of getting into a living community for retirees. However, losing independence might not sit well with you. An independent living location allows you to enjoy the convenience of a vibrant, active community and retain your freedom.

Anyone aged 62 or more who requires no assistance with their daily activities is an excellent candidate for a senior living community.

Independent living provides social and recreational amenities for the following types of groups:

1. Working Seniors

An independent living community is a splendid choice for any senior working full-time or part-time to plan ahead of retirement. Your new home will give you a platform to interact and form bonds with other seniors as you prepare to transition from working to retirement.

Some independent living communities are Continuing Care Retirement Communities that accept working seniors and see them through the office-retirement transition without the need to change locations.

2. Younger Retirees

Younger retirees might not welcome the idea of a senior living community for fear of losing their independence. An independent living community nullifies the myth that you lose your freedom once you move into a retirement community. Instead, you get to enjoy life as usual in an independent living community through the following offered features:

• Bringing your pets

• A private apartment that you can redesign and decorate according to your preferences

• Privacy by choosing shared or private apartment

• Having free time

• Being in charge of everything except the household chores

3. Seniors Looking for New Friends

Independent living communities offer a variety of social and recreational activities where you interact with other residents within the community. You can still explore your hobbies and associate with residents with similar interests.

There is no chance of getting bored since you have access to many resources, and peers, family members, and friends are allowed to visit you. The community staff is always available to help you in case of anything.

Benefits of an Independent Living Community

The benefits of independent living communities are diverse, and here are some that might encourage you to make a move:

• Maintaining your freedom as someone else takes care of the daily chores.

• Enhanced safety and security from crime, at-home injuries and accidents, and even natural disasters

• Access to high-quality care, services, and amenities in the same location

• Opportunity to new experiences and daily enrichment

• Chance to make and interact with new friends in the same age group

Why Choose Montgomery Place at Hyde Park

Montgomery Place is one of Chicago’s best independent living communities that offers an exceptional quality of life for seniors through the following benefits and amenities:

• A well-rounded assortment of activities and events

• Various residence options to choose from, including apartments, condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, and freestanding villas

• Fitness classes

• Group outings

• Special interest clubs

• Chef-prepared meals in community dining spaces

We offer a reputable independent living community for physically capable seniors. Our location is nestled in Hyde Park, Chicago, near all the urban amenities you might need.

We also offer other community living options, including skilled nursing care and assisted living communities. Contact us today for suitable senior living for you or your loved one.

Image Source: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock