pps-DUEditor 
With the passing of time, comes the inevitable aging process. As we advance with age, we gradually lose strength to carry on with daily routines and activities as we used to during our youth. These limitations posed by old age are nothing to be anxious about because it’s just a natural process – one that could only be prevented if the countless search for the mythical “fountain of youth” was successful!
In our old age, we will need support and assistance to perform our daily activities. But where and how we intend to get such support is something we really need to think about, especially if we don’t want to burden people around us. Common options to consider are checking into a nursing home for the elderly or opting for supportive living. There have been a lot of debates on whether supportive living and assisted living are the same. Well, it’s a matter of understanding and how you choose to look at it.
Supportive communities offer some form of assistance to seniors who require help with basic chores like housekeeping, cooking meals, getting to the bathroom, and getting medications. So, from this angle, both supportive living and assisted living are intertwined. However, one thing that’s certain, is that supportive and assisted living aren’t the same as nursing homes.
If you want to distinguish between assisted living and supportive living, this explanation will help clear the confusion. While supportive living may look and feel like assisted living, it’s quite different. Supportive living communities provide personal care, socialization and educational activities in home-like settings that offer both comfort and convenience.
All of these are provided at subsidized rates, and this is what sets them apart from assisted living homes. Also, unlike assisted living homes, residents who can’t afford to meet up with payments for the care are not kicked out of their apartments. Combined, these gestures and (financial) incentives make supportive living a viable and affordable option for seniors and their families.
Another relief seniors enjoy in supportive living communities is their freedom! Nobody is going to restrict your movement – you get to enjoy the support and your independence.
What services are provided at Supportive Living Communities?
Every supportive living community or facility offers a distinct and wide range of amenities and services that are beneficial to the well-being of seniors or the elderly.
However, there are basic services that are being provided. These include:
- Cooking meals
- Showering and grooming
- Administering prescriptions/ medications
- Planning and managing travels and appointments
- Housekeeping and
- Arranging social, educational, and wellness activities.
These are just the essential services and care you should expect in supportive living communities. These services are available and are provided round the clock (24/7), but unlike in nursing homes, your privacy and independence are not restricted or infringed upon, in any way.
Paying for Supportive Living
Depending on the kind of supportive living community you or your relative is planning on getting into, you have the option of paying with your personal money.
Otherwise, you could find suitable insurance that covers such programs. Financial assistance for supportive living programs can also be received through Medicaid and a host of other healthcare incentives.
So, while considering your choice of supportive living community/facility, either for the elderly with disabilities or just for seniors, you should consider the security and social perks that they offer and how it will impact your finances.
