What is an Independent Living Facility?
Trying to find an independent living facility for yourself or a loved one can seem like a daunting task; so many questions pop up such as: what is an independent living facility, how do you choose between independent and assisted living, and even more questions surrounding costing, facilities, and location will also crop up.
We’ll be answering the question ‘what is an independent living facility’ and more in this blog, so hopefully you’ll find the process of finding and choosing an independent living facility a lot easier, ensuring you’re investing in the best option for you or your family.
- What is an Independent Living Facility?
- Independent Living vs. Assisted Living
- How to Choose an Independent Living Facility
- Linc’s Independent Living Facilities and Schemes
What is an Independent Living Facility?
Firstly, we’ll begin by answering the question: ‘what is an independent living facility?’ Well, an independent living facility is a home for older or vulnerable individuals that want to keep their independence by living in their own personal space, while also having the peace of mind that 24-hour care is available.
Independent living facilities can often be tailored to suit the person’s needs, such as buying or renting, sharing a communal dining area, or additional care services and schemes. Additional activities and events are also often held at independent living facilities so the residents are entertained, stimulated, and can have a fun time with one another.
Independent Living vs. Assisted Living
While independent living facilities are a great option for some, assisted living is also another option to consider. Independent living is different from assisted living and it’s important to know the differences so you can further understand ‘what is an independent living facility.’
Although independent living and assisted living have similar characteristics there are some noticeable differences. For example, independent living facilities are set up like a small apartment or townhouse, and although assisted living facilities can also be laid out like an apartment, they will often include limited facilities and appliances, so the resident does not accidentally hurt themselves.
Assisted living facilities will often have extra care services compared to independent living facilities, and this may be something you want if you need round the clock help, but if you are looking for more independence an independent living facility is often a better fit. Assisted living includes 24-hour care and residents and families can have the peace of mind extra security, surveillance, and supervision.
Another difference is the amount of help the residents will receive on a daily basis in each of the different facilities. Independent living facilities aim to help with taking pressure off the resident with tasks such as maintenance, cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc., minimising their daily responsibilities. Yet assisted living facilities provide more assistance such as medical care, bathing and washing, and dressing.
‘What is an independent living facility?’ To summarise what we already know, independent living facilities allow residents to have the freedom to live independently while also having access to care services 24 hours a day should they need it and have the benefit of having any maintenance tasks taken care of for them. Assisted living is similar toindependent living, except that residents in assisted living facilities will typically need more help with daily activities than those in independent living facilities.
How to Choose an Independent Living Facility
Now that we completely know ‘what is an independent living facility’ and the services they provide compared to an assisted living facility we’ll move on to what you need to look for in an independent living facility.
There are a few factors to consider when looking for an independent facility that best suits your needs, would you need additional support, extra care services, or special facilities such as a walk-in shower? You’ll need to carefully consider your needs and think about the services and facilities an independent living facility can provide.
Another element to consider is the location, is it near family, is there close access to a train or bus station so you can have your own days out or easily visit friends and family. Although it’s useful to have these amenities nearby, it’s also beneficial to be in a pleasant location in the first place; is the neighbourhood nice, are the people friendly, is there any noise from traffic or is there a heavy footfall? All these questions and more need to be considered when choosing an independent living facility as it could be the best facility in the area, but if the surrounding location and people aren’t to your taste, then you find yourself becoming unhappy.
Finally, and most importantly, the cost of the independent living facility must be taken into consideration. As previously mentioned, most facilities are flexible in that you can rent or buy, but this is a decision that will vary from person to person depending on your circumstances and financial situation. Some facilities may offer bills included so residents don’t have to worry about paying bills on time, others will incur extra costs from joining clubs or signing up for memberships; so, residents can make their stay in independent living facilities as cost-effective as they wish.
Linc’s Independent Living Facilities and Schemes
If you are considering independent living for yourself or a family member, Linc Cymru provide older and vulnerable people the opportunity to live independently in a number of our independent living facilities across South East Wales. All our facilities are high quality, flexible, provide exceptional value for money, and allow residents to live independently in a friendly and welcoming mixed community.
All of our independent living facilities are mixed communities and offer a wide range of services and care that help residents to make the most out of every day. Our extra care schemes benefit from a dedicated staff team who liaise with care providers and ensure that the housing, care, resident needs are met. In all schemes, a care provider is also based on-site 24-hours a day and all apartments are self-contained, including a walk-in shower, fitted kitchen, and space for personal equipment and additional support if needed.
Telecare technology is an integral feature of all the apartments and communal areas, with emergency pull cords fitted and alarm pendants for each tenant, which alert staff in an emergency. We want our residents to feel safe and happy at our homes, and these extra services and care will ensure all their needs are met.
Linc has several independent living facilities, and we’re sure that at least one of them will best suit your needs and expectations. Our homes include:
- Capel Court in Pillgwenlly
- Wellwood House in Ringland
- Glyn Anwen in St. Juliens
- Llys Glyncoed in Blaenau Gwent
- Willowbrook in Bettws
- Plas Bryn in Fairwater
- Llys Enfys in Llanishen
As you can see, we’re the largest provider of extra care housing in Wales and all our schemes provide the opportunity for people to live as active and independent as possible, living in their own homes with support tailored to their individual needs, providing a real alternative to residential care.
For more information on our independent living facilities, schemes, and other Linc Cymru services, get in touch todayfor a chat.