Alternatives to assisted living include respite and adult day care, monitoring devices, home care, living with family, and continuing care retirement communities, depending on your loved one’s level of independence. Their needs, your needs, and those of other family members will determine the most appropriate option. Some families find that combining multiple options, such as adult day care plus assistance from family members, is a good solution. Others choose to move directly to continuing care communities, where seniors are supported as their care needs change.
Is assisted living the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
While monitoring devices can’t replace the care and supervision offered in an assisted living community, they can provide some peace of mind for seniors who are living independently or with family, and who have a low level of care needs. Thanks to advancing technology, these wearable devices can help caregivers monitor their loved one remotely. In addition to the ability to track vital signs, many devices are also equipped with GPS tracking and alert systems that can notify loved ones or medical professionals of an emergency.
Combined with services such as respite care, adult day care, or home care, these devices can be an integral part of a loved one’s care plan and together can form another potential alternative to assisted living.
Adult day care won’t replace the around-the-clock support of assisted living, but when paired with other services, such as home care, it may be part of a solution that fulfills the needs of family caregivers and their loved one.
Similar to adult day care, respite care can be ideal option for seniors who live with or are cared for by family members. A respite stay in an assisted living community offers an opportunity to experience what it’s like to live there without committing to making the move.
Is assisted living the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
Moving in with family is another alternative to assisted living that provides familiarity, security, and companionship. Family members can offer support with activities of daily living, transportation, and social interaction.
If everyone in your family works or has other obligations outside the home, there’s a risk that your loved one will feel isolated and lone. However, there are ways to organize and configure care for a senior loved one who shares your home. Incorporating social opportunities or additional care options — through home care services, respite care, or adult day care — may create healthy boundaries and help meet the needs of the entire family.
Home care is easy to customize based on a senior’s needs and lifestyle. For example, if your loved one is social, regular transportation to events and activities can be organized as part of the caregiver’s routine. For individuals who prefer to stay in, caregivers can offer companionship by having conversations, playing games, or helping to cook meals.
It’s important to note that home care and home health care are different. Home health care must be ordered by a doctor and is a different service from home care.
Independent living isn’t ideal for someone who requires a high level of care, but it could be paired with another service, like home care or adult day care, to provide an additional layer of support for someone who needs just a little bit of help throughout the day.
Assisted living questions? Get expert help
Tell us your care needs to receive personalized guidance from our advisors.
Residential care homes provide many of the same services as assisted living communities, but in a home setting rather than a larger campus. It’s a good fit for seniors who enjoy a more intimate environment and who have higher levels of care needs. However, most care homes aren’t wheelchair accessible. Because care homes are often houses, it’s rare to find one that’s modified for a wheelchair user.
Continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs, offer the full range of living options and are designed for seniors who want to stay in one place as they age. Keep in mind, compared to the cost of most assisted living communities, the cost of CCRCs may be prohibitive for families on a tight budget.
There are several factors to consider before choosing an alternative to assisted living:
Taking the time to research all senior living options will help you create a plan that works for you and your loved one. When it comes to exploring the best fit for you and your family, Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom are available to help you navigate the various options for support.
Some of the most impactful home modifications for aging in place include:
The more thorough the plan, the smoother the transition. Discuss care changes, plan logistics, and tour facilities. Involve your loved one, highlight benefits, and personalize the new space. Expect to feel grief and even guilt in some cases. Seek support and stay involved after the move.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.