If you’re looking at senior care for your loved one, by now you’ve likely realized there’s more to it than you initially thought, particularly if you’re looking at options outside the home. Those options include senior living and boutique senior living. But what on earth is the difference and how does it affect the senior care your loved one will receive? Let’s find out.
Senior Care in Senior Living
Senior living is actually a continuum with levels based on different care needs. It includes:
Independent Living – Typically the entry point in the continuum, residents in this setting neither require daily assistance nor do they have mobility challenges. As such, these communities are more focused on lifestyle than senior care and residents are seeking more social and enrichment opportunities than they may have at home as well as freedom from home maintenance, cooking, cleaning and laundry. Other amenities may include concierge services, a pool, fitness center and transportation.
Assisted Living – The next step in the continuum, assisted living offers housing and lifestyle opportunities too, but residents also have assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing along with 24-hour supervision and onsite care. These communities feature a comfortable setting that’s designed to be home-like. Amenities include three daily meals (often restaurant-style), housekeeping, laundry and transportation as well as daily social, fitness and enrichment opportunities.
Memory Care – This type of care in senior living is designed just for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Staff is specially-trained in dementia care as well as communication strategies and techniques for navigating challenging behaviors. These communities also feature 24-hour supervision and a secure environment, plus therapy, structured activities and social opportunities. Amenities include meals, housekeeping and laundry.
Boutique Senior Living as an Alternative for Senior Care
The downside of senior living as described above is that often these communities are on large campuses with potentially hundreds of residents and stretched-thin staffing. Many families also feel the environment is institutional and unwelcoming which is such a stark difference from home that the transition is difficult. Boutique senior living provides an alternative: senior care in a home setting.
Yes, an actual single-family home; and one that’s specially crafted for assisted living or memory care! What’s more, our homes have only 10 to 16 residents max and a nearly unheard of caregiver to resident ratio of 1 to 5 which means more personalized senior care and attention from staff that really knows your loved one.
But this doesn’t mean that your loved one will be sacrificing the amenities found in large senior living communities. In fact, our homes offer:
- At least 4,000 square feet of living space
- Both private and semi-private rooms
- Laundry and cleaning services
- Large, beautifully landscaped yards
- Transportation services
Plus, they’re located in charming, rural neighborhoods probably much like the one in which your loved one lives now.
And while large senior living communities try their best to feel home-like; they simply can’t compare to the comfort of a real home where everything from the décor to the layout to family-style meals on one of our signature homemade farm tables feels familiar and welcoming.
Much like in large communities, an additional aspect of our senior care includes fall alert pendants and keypad entry/exit access as well as state-of-the-art video monitoring outside and in common areas so you can rest assured in your loved one’s safety.
But we know that no senior care setting is complete without opportunities to connect, stay active and enjoy life which is why we also offer activity programs that feature daily exercises, socialization, cognitive stimulation and immersive activities as well as group outings and live entertainment.
For more information on senior care at Shepherd Premier, schedule a virtual tour today or call (224) 333-6247 to speak to a team member.
