Senior Housing Options

Seniors often move into senior housing because of health care needs, life changes, limited income and other reasons. Once you make the decision to move into a senior housing rental, how are you supposed to track down the housing option that offers everything you need? First off, it's important that you understand the different types of senior rentals that are available on the market.

Types of Senior Housing Options

In an age-restricted retirement community, only people of a certain age are allowed to rent property. The age restrictions will vary from complex to complex, so be sure to ask what the rules are when you first consider a retirement community. Many of these communities offer recreational amenities like golf, swimming, exercise classes and other fun activities. Some apartment buildings are also organized as senior housing communities.

In some cases, there are opportunities to rent space from a family that has separate living quarters, often designated in real estate listings as "mother-in-law living quarters." In other cases, seniors may choose not to move out of their homes, and simply offer some extra space to another senior on a rental basis. In some areas, there are professional organizations that help senior renters find other senior roommates.
 
Healthcare Senior Housing Options

In other cases, seniors need more proactive health care, and that's when continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and nursing homes come into play. A continuing care retirement community is usually populated by active seniors who need medical care on an ongoing basis. An assisted living facility provides private living space for seniors, but also comes with daily assistance with various activities, particularly medical care. In a nursing home, seniors can get short-term care for illnesses they expect to recover from quickly, or they can get long-term medical care. There are specialized nursing facilities designated specifically for seniors with certain ailments, such as Alzheimer's.