Senior Independent Living: Independent Living Aids

Senior Independent Living



Senior independent living is basically a residential living setting for senior adults, that may or may not offer hospitality or supportive services. Here, the senior adult is allowed to lead an independent lifestyle with minimal or no extra assistance. Senior independent living also includes rental-assisted or market-rate apartments wherein the resident has a choice of whether or not to participate in the facility’s services or programs.

Most of the senior independent living communities are designed around activities. There are pools, bike and walking paths, and exercise facilities for the senior citizens. There are also services like spas, beauty shops, chapels and a library for the use of the senior residents. They have the option of cooking and dining in their own homes, or eating in community dining areas or restaurants. However, most of the senior independent living homes do not offer health services, but instead have some affiliation with health care facilities that provide minimal and necessary care whenever needed. Most of them are rental communities, but there are some condominiums or single-family communities where the resident has to purchase his own unit or home. The costs vary, with some communities calling for a monthly fee to cover many services, with others call for a fee-for-service system where payments are collected for the services rendered.


Senior independent living is, as the name implies, a means for senior citizens to enjoy living an independent life, without having to depend on others. There are various independent living aids like hearing aids, walkers, canes and improvised kitchen gadgets that make independent living for senior citizens something they can really enjoy. Security is provided in independent living communities for the senior citizens’ safety. Senior independent living has made the senior citizens looks at retired life with a renewed interest.


Independent Living Aids


Independent living aids are products that are used to help senior citizens or disabled people in their day-to-day activities. Some of the aids are talking products, writing guides, hearing aids, and low vision aids, among others.

For those who are visually impaired, there are independent living low-vision aids that help them lead a normal life. There are canes to help in walking, Braille products for them to enjoy reading, talking cooking gadgets to help in cooking, large-print books, and lots of other independent living aids. There are also baking gadgets and kitchen appliances, like a black-and-white cutting board that contrasts with the color of the food being cut, that help in making the kitchen safe for the visually impaired. These accessories are not only helpful for the visually impaired, but also for the elderly too. There are also independent living reaching aids like a pair of jaws controlled with a trigger mechanism that is useful for retrieving objects from the desk or kitchen counter, for people with a weak grip or limited range of motion.

The mobility of people can be impaired by pain or weakness in the legs or back, paralysis or uncertain balance. To help movement around the house, the house should be modified, with grab bars located in critical locations, and perhaps canes used for help while walking. The walker is another independent living aid that helps people with balance problems move about, by affording support through both arms at a fixed distance. All these independent aids and many more are available both online and at medical stores. All one has to do is to browse through the brochures they have and choose the appropriate independent living aid. Prices vary depending on the type of aid, its size and its features.


Independent Living Communities

Independent living communities are designed for those seniors who are active, healthy and able to live their lives without others’ assistance. These communities consist of homes, condominiums, apartments and mobile homes for residents to maintain an independent lifestyle. However, there are some communities that offer only minimal services like building and ground maintenance, plus security. These are no different from residential enclaves, except for the age restriction to those over 55 years of age.

Independent living communities generally provide safety and security, with easy access to a local community of banks, shops, theaters and doctors. There usually are medical services available on an as-needed basis, wherein the resident receives higher Medicare and insurance reimbursement. There is no minimal requirement for meals that are served here; you participate when desired and are billed according to actual participation. The monthly fees usually include utilities, appliance repair and replacement, concierge and 24-hour staff, and range from $500 to $1,500 per month. The rates depend on the location of the community. The communities have activity calendars, which range from plentiful to sparse, depending on the age and resources of its residents.

The criterion for enrollment in an independent living community is that the person should be over 55 years of age. The person should be healthy enough so that any medical or personal care provided by visiting nurses or home health aides is sufficient. He or she should also have the capacity to keep in touch with doctors, with the help of family and friends, and not with the assistance from trained staff. Of course, if the resident needs more amenities in the community, he or she should be able to pay for it. So if financial means are limited, he or she will have to accept the limitations and choose a subsidized facility instead.


Independent Living


Independent living is a way of helping senior citizens live on their own, or helping children in foster-care work toward self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities in life. Independent living is not defined as a means of living on one’s own; it has to mainly do with self-determination and the opportunity to pursue a stipulated course of action. They have the freedom to fail, and to learn from failure. To the people with mental impairments, independent living means has an opportunity to be self-sufficient.

There are many independent living communities that help people with disabilities establish independent lives. These independent living communities differ from other service organizations in that in these communities, the inhabitants are taught to become self-sufficient to earn money for their day-to-day life. As the name implies, they are taught to be independent, without having to depend on others. Senior independent living homes let senior citizens live life happily, without having to be dependent on their children or any other person for their daily meals and necessities. Children who have outgrown foster houses can learn trades in independent living communities, which they can use in their future lives to earn money. These children are born with no one to depend on, and so have to be taught to live an independent life without depending on others.


There are also many independent living aids available to let senior and disabled people carry on in life. Some of them are talking dictionaries to facilitate better reading, canes for the blind and for those with weak legs, and even hearing aids for those with hearing problems. The main purpose of independent living aids is to ensure that the user need not be dependent on others for their day-to-day activities.


Independent Living provides detailed information on Independent Living, Independent Living Communities, Senior Independent Living, Independent Living Aids and more. Independent Living is affiliated with Elder Care Attorneys.
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