Updated on 2/12/2025
Exploring Senior Care Options
Are you beginning to explore senior living options for your older loved one, but are unfamiliar with what is available? Do you find yourself uncertain whether a particular community in your area would be the best fit?
If you do your research, you’re likely to find a variety of different senior care options and senior living options that meet your loved one’s needs and personal preferences. If you’re not aware of the different levels of senior care at today’s senior living communities, here is some guidance to get you started:
A Variety of Care Options in Senior Living Communities
Start by checking out the various levels of senior care below to discover what might be the best choice for your loved one:
1. Independent living
These communities are designed for older adults who are independent and interested in finding activities, social events and opportunities to meet new people and make friends. They are searching for a maintenance-free and more convenient lifestyle but do not need assistance or health services.
2. Assisted living
If your loved one needs a helping hand with the daily tasks of living, an assisted living community might be the perfect choice. Among the perks, they’ll have their own private residence, along with amenities and services, and assistance from compassionate staff including help with bathing, dressing, grooming or managing medications.
Explore Assisted Living in Wadsworth, Illinois here.
3. Memory care
Families with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia may turn to a memory care community when they can no longer safely provide the needed care at home. The community and residences are designed for safety and security while promoting freedom of movement. The staff is specially trained in memory care while activities and therapy programs are tailored to your loved one’s preferences and capabilities.
4. Skilled nursing
If individuals can no longer take care of themselves at home, a skilled nursing community might be the best solution. These residential communities offer medical care and personal attention 24/7 as well as activities, healthy dining, and opportunities to socialize.
5. Senior rehabilitation and respite care
Individuals recovering from an injury or illness or who are being discharged from a hospital may not yet be ready to return home. Short-term and long-term rehabilitation care can fill this gap and is often offered in assisted living or skilled nursing communities. Communities may also offer respite care to allow primary caregivers the opportunity to take a vacation or necessary break.
Download Your Family Decision Toolkit here!
Common Amenities of Senior Living Communities
Although communities vary in the levels of care and services they provide, you’ll also discover they have many features in common:
Accessible residences
All communities provide accessible residences. If your loved one’s current home requires renovations to create an age-friendly space, you’ll be happy to discover that senior living residences are move-in ready, including zero-step entrances, wide doorways and bathrooms with safety features.
Opportunities to make new friends
If your loved one has been living alone or is separated from family and companions, a great advantage of senior living is the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Community life lends itself to daily interactions, socializing, and participating in activities together.
Healthy dining
There are usually several dining options offering a selection of menu choices. Some communities also offer different dining venues for the resident’s choice, all serving chef-prepared meals that appeal to nutritional needs, dietary restrictions, and the palate.
Activities and social events
Boredom is almost impossible in today’s senior living communities! Your loved one will discover a wide variety of options in the monthly activities calendar. Whether or not to participate is always the individual’s choice, but most find it fun and a great way to engage with the other residents.
Scheduled transportation
Communities provide scheduled transportation for those who no longer drive so they can attend medical appointments, go shopping, or join the other residents in an off-site adventure. It can be a relief for residents not to have to worry about finding rides or missing out on enjoyable activities.
Safety and security features
It’s not uncommon to begin feeling less safe and secure as we grow older, and your loved one may be worried about living alone and becoming ill or injured. Senior living communities typically offer additional safety features, senior care options, and reassurance that someone is available if help is needed.
Are you seeking senior care options for your loved one? Galloway Senior Living offers quality assisted living and memory care in Wadsworth, Illinois. Our state-of-the-art senior living community was designed to provide residents and their families with an affordable luxury experience, compassionate, holistic care, and top-notch services and amenities.
For more resources to make your senior living decision, we invite you to download our complimentary informational guide, “Family Decision Toolkit: How to Choose the Right Senior Living Community.”
