What is the Difference Between Independent and Assisted Living?

When it comes to senior care, more often than not the first thing that jumps to mind is a nursing home. And, most of the time, these facilities bring to mind images of living arrangements that are cold, sterile, and lack any sense of home or comfort. But there is another avenue of senior care that helps the elderly maintain an active, engaged lifestyle with the autonomy and sense of self to which they’re accustomed. Independent and assisted living facilities are not only a more homey alternative to conventional nursing homes, but they’ve also become the care model of choice for seniors and families alike.  

The trick is understanding the difference between independent and assisted living models. With this in mind, let’s briefly walk through each model to determine the right choice for you and your needs.

What is independent living?

Independent living facilities are designed for seniors who do not require high levels of assistance with everyday tasks such as personal care, grooming, or other activities of daily living (ADLs), but do require some support with tasks such as cleaning, laundry, food preparation, and basic residence upkeep. 

The residence options at most common independent living facilities can range from large suites to individual apartments. Independent living facilities often provide regular meal programs and dining options. Plus, they can offer a variety of educational, social, and recreational activities to help residents remain engaged, active, and connected to their community. 

Transitioning to an independent living facility has a couple of key benefits: 

• Independent living facilities help reduce the financial stress and physical duress of maintaining a home 
• Independent living facilities help seniors retain a largely autonomous lifestyle while providing a safety net based on their specific needs
  
  

What is assisted living?

Assisted living facilities are an ideal option for seniors who have difficulty with a larger number of ADLs — in addition, assisted living facilities are also well-suited for seniors who need a slightly elevated level of health and wellness care, including things like increased safety precautions, frequent check-ins or regular supervision, medication assistance, and increased levels of daily medical care. 

Much like independent living facilities, assisted living facilities provide a variety of critical daily services such as food preparation and service, personal care, chores, and upkeep and maintenance of a personal residence. Assisted living facilities most commonly take the form of apartment-style residences in order to provide more seamless access to things like medical assistance, food service, and personal care. 

With an assisted living model, seniors experience: 

• Personalized levels of more focused care based on specific needs or challenges
• Greater peace of mind that comes with a 24/7 level of individualized support
  
  

What makes TLC a unique senior care facility?

Whereas some senior care facilities offer either independent or assisted living models, the TLC Living Community provides both kinds of senior care in order to accommodate almost any level of individualized support. Our philosophy of care is designed to help residents continue leading vibrant, active lifestyles with a sense of wellbeing that comes from having the comforts of home under one roof. 

Our independent and assisted living models include services and amenities such as our world-class restaurant-style or casual dining options, full-service salon, movie theater, library and media center, and 24/7 access to in-house medical care

Opened in 2020, our 62-apartment campus features studio, one, and two-bedroom floorplans,  and has its own unique energy due in part to the dedication of our hardworking staff in helping seniors get the most out of life at every turn. 

Our commitment to providing a superior independent and assisted living facility earned TLC the Best of Senior Living Award from A Place for Mom in 2021 and 2022, and it’s also helped us establish ourselves as the premier senior care facility in the region.

But don’t just take our word for it — experience all TLC has to offer for yourself, and see why our residents call TLC home. Schedule your personalized, private tour of TLC today.