Senior Living 101

We understand it can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating to explore the many options in today’s senior housing. Before making your decision of where you want to live, it is important you understand all of your options and how they will impact your finances and quality of life long term.

Independent Living – An independent living community such as The Lodge of Northbrook provides residents with a maintenance-free lifestyle in a spacious residence of their choice. Residents have a menu of options to enhance their quality of life including dining, social programs, educational opportunities, transportation, and housekeeping.  Residents have the peace of mind knowing they can have any of their daily living needs cared for on an as needed basis through private home care providers.  All of the “what if’s” in life are taken care of for you at the Lodge through our menu of on-demand services.  These home care services put you in control of not only the quantity of care but most importantly the quality of care.

Assisted Living – If you are researching housing options that offer 24-hour assistance with one or more daily living tasks, assisted living might be a suitable option.  Assisted living communities typically provide assistance in daily tasks such as housekeeping, bathing, dressing, daily medication, and assistance in getting to the community dining room.   Often times an assisted living apartment home will be a modest one bedroom apartment featuring a wet bar in lieu of a full kitchen.    Because health care is not provided typically Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for assisted living monthly fees. The Lodge of Northbrook treasures boutique Assisted Living options. 

Nursing Home – This alternative is suitable for anyone who requires short-term nursing care, rehabilitation assistance or when 24- hour skilled care is required on a long term basis.

Life Plan – Life Plan Communities often times are much larger facilities and are often referred to as a campus.  On the campus you will typically find different buildings and/or wings that will house a variety of levels of care ranging from independent living to assisted living and nursing home care.

Specialized Options – As you search you will also find there are stand alone facilities that specialize in specific care such as alzheimer’s, memory care, respite, and hospice care.

Staying in your home – As you consider all the options and crunch all the numbers, at times it might seem simpler and easier to just do nothing!  The very fact that you are looking is the “little voice” in your head telling you it is time.  Time to make a move while you are independent enough to plan for your own future, make your own decision and allow you to remain independent, not having to rely on family and friends for assistance long term.