Independence is one of the most important parts of life and as you age you may need assistance to continue living much as you had in the past. Using independent living in Chicago services allows you to continue living an independent life while still having the support you need due to age. Independent living supports common daily activities you may need help with, such as household cleaning, laundry, and other tasks. In addition, home upkeep and maintenance can be quite time-consuming, even for a younger person. With independent living services, you don’t have to worry about maintenance and home care as it is handled by professionals.
There are also community and social aspects to keep in mind. As you get older, it’s not uncommon to become more socially isolated. This is due to a multitude of factors such as people moving away, retiring, passing on, or relationships coming to an end naturally. With an independent living facility, you are among other older people in a community where others are likely to look to become more social and form new relationships.
What To Look for In An Independent Living Facility
- Amenities: having a wide selection of amenities makes a living facility a place that provides the support you’re looking for. Common amenities include maintenance, yard care, and management of common services such as electrical and water. Other amenities to look for include a library, gardens, a hot tub, a fitness center, entertainment options, and other such amenities.
- Community: as independent living facilities are for those without extreme medical issues, a focus should be based on the overall community. A selection of social activities you find interesting, community groups, and groups of interests such as religious organizations are all signs the facility could be a good fit.
- Automotive Options: even when living in an independent facility, you may still want the freedom of owning and driving your automobile. Check for options such as keeping and storing your automobile, associated costs, parking options, and does the community offers any transportation options of its own.
- Dining: one of the daily activities independent living facilities help manage is food. Most such places provide home-cooked meals three times a day with easy access to beverages and snacks. Be sure to check the food options, access to a dietician, specialty diet options, and how meals are served. Also, cooking your meal may be an option if you want to.
- Safety: even when you are in good health, when you are older you want to remain as safe as possible. Features such as alert systems, evacuation plans, emergency services, and security services help keep a community a safe and enjoyable place to live.
- Speak With The Staff: be sure to talk with staff and management of a facility before agreeing to move there. You will interact with them regularly, so it’s very important to get an idea of their personality and how they will work with you. Ask about involvement, communication, hiring processes, and do they know the other residents well.
Moving to an independent living facility is a big step in life. However, it can take some of the stress off of daily life and allow you to continue to enjoy your independence as you age.
