What Is Independent Senior Living?
These communities preserve residents’ independence and enhance their quality of life with a low-maintenance lifestyle so they can focus on their hobbies and interests.
Independent living is ideal for residents who are self-sufficient and don’t require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Residents handle their daily activities on their own and retain the option to seek outside support only if necessary.
Benefits of Independent Senior Living
An End to Household Chores and Home Maintenance
Say “so long” to time-consuming chores and home maintenance and “hello” to more time to commit to hobbies and pursue your passions. But even though these tedious tasks are taken care of, it doesn’t mean you’re losing your independence. Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy fewer responsibilities and more freedom to do the things you love!
Activities and Amenities
There’s never a dull moment in independent senior living! These communities are buzzing with plenty of events, activities, social clubs, and more. No matter your interests, there’s something for everyone, whether you want to enjoy a book in the library, meet friends for a game of bridge, or go for an outing.
Social Opportunities
A significant advantage of independent senior living communities is the increased socialization opportunities. Senior living communities are designed with socialization in mind, so there is often a wide range of events and activities where you can make new friends while exploring your interests. You'll also have your private apartment to relax, read a book, or watch some classic TV shows.
Comfortable Living Spaces
Style meets functionality with community living spaces. In Bethesda’s senior living communities, you don’t just have a residence—you have a comfortable home. You can decorate how you please to create an environment where you can be yourself.
Pet-Friendly Accommodations
Pets are just as important as the people within a family. Many modern senior living communities recognize the special bond between a pet and its owner. As such, they warmly welcome these furry family members in an effort to support residents’ well-being and comfort.
Delicious Dining Options
Nutrition is an important part of healthy aging. Independent living communities ensure nutritious and delicious meals are easily accessible every day. In Bethesda communities, our culinary team prepares a diverse menu that caters to dietary needs and preferences. And dining is about more than just food! It’s also about the experience of gathering at a table and sharing a meal and conversation with close friends.
Wellness and Fitness Opportunities
Living an active lifestyle provides numerous benefits, including boosted energy levels, better pain management, and an uplifted mood. Independent senior living communities offer plenty of opportunities to focus on wellness, including fitness centers with a range of easy-to-use equipment, fitness classes tailored to older adults, and walking paths.
A Day in the Life of a Resident
Here’s an idea of what a typical day might look like:
The day begins with breakfast in your private apartment or villa, or maybe you choose to meet friends in the dining area to start planning the day ahead. Then, you might head off to a morning yoga session. But don’t worry; if you get caught up chatting with friends and miss yoga, wellness activities are planned throughout the day, so there are plenty of opportunities for physical activity.
After breakfast, you can participate in social clubs, such as book clubs, classes, or other activities that you’re interested in. You have the entire day ahead of you!
After taking in the morning activities, you can catch up with friends over lunch in the dining area—or you might instead have a bite to eat in town while exploring St. Louis attractions! The afternoon is a great time to explore attractions such as the Missouri History Museum or the Laumeier Sculpture Park. If you don’t feel like going out on the town, you can participate in classes or other special events within the community.
As the day winds down, you can enjoy a delicious dinner with plenty of options available to please nearly every palate. Or, if you’ve had a full day of activity, you can choose to enjoy a quiet meal in your private apartment or villa.
The day doesn't have to end with dinner, though! You might start a card game with friends or head to the common area for a movie night. Or perhaps you decide to wind down with a good book or some classic TV shows in your apartment.
Whatever your passions and interests, the day is yours to choose how you want to spend it!
Hear from Our Residents
Marty H., a resident at Bethesda Orchard, said: “I’m doing so much more than I did at home when I was isolated. I would go out occasionally in the evening with my friends, but here, you don’t even have to leave the building to go out with your friends!”
Ed and Shirley G. of Bethesda Orchard had this to say: “Some older adults might feel as if they have to give up everything when they move into a retirement community, but once they move in, they’ll probably find—like we did—that before long, they will have more friends than they ever had before and loads of activities from which to choose.”
Rosemary B. from Bethesda Terrace said: “Moving to Bethesda Terrace finally allowed me to ‘retire.’ Weekly housekeeping means no more mopping, vacuuming, or dusting. Not only do I no longer have to cook or do the dishes, but I enjoy my meals on a table with a tablecloth and cloth napkins, and served to me. And when I’m finished, I just walk away from the table and it’s taken care of!”
Tips for Touring Independent Senior Living Communities
Know What You’re Looking For
Determine what’s important to you in a senior living community so you know what to look for when narrowing down your options. This can include the location, floor plans, amenities, safety, budget, activity calendar—whatever will support the lifestyle you want to lead and makes you feel at home.
Ask Plenty of Questions
There are no silly questions. You're making an important decision, and asking questions is part of finding your ideal senior living community. Some things you should learn about during your tour include:
- Emergency protocols
- How you can personalize your apartment
- Activities
- Staff
Inquire About Finances
While touring retirement communities, ask questions to help you understand the financial implications so you can make an informed decision. Get more information about:
- Monthly Fees
- Additional Expenses
- Frequency of Rate Increases
It’s also important to ask if the community offers programs that help new residents moving to independent senior living. Bethesda communities offer our exclusive Moving with Ease Program to help make the transition easier and get residents started on the right foot.
To start, our Senior Living Experience team explores multiple home sale options to ensure your sale is financially rewarding and efficient. Then, when it’s moving time, our full-service movers help you pack, transport, and even unpack your belongings!
What Is the Cost of Independent Senior Living?
Independent senior living communities offer a wide range of floor plans and home types. Communities also offer amenities, activities, and events that may be hard for seniors to access otherwise. These services and amenities provide convenience and a sense of community.
To budget for independent senior living, we recommend:
- Estimating your current expenses, keeping in mind that many may no longer apply in senior living, such as property taxes, utilities, and groceries.
- Calculating the value of your investments and assets and how much you can profit from a home sale.
- Speaking to a Sales Counselor at the community to ensure you have complete and transparent financial information.
For a personalized comparison of the cost of senior living, we recommend exploring our Senior Living Cost Calculator, which will provide clarity and help you get an idea of what to expect.
How to Best Support a Senior Loved One
One of the most important things to remember when supporting your loved one during a transition to independent senior living is to be sensitive to their feelings and follow their cues. Even the most positive changes can feel overwhelming and bring up emotions, so offer your support when needed. Similarly, it’s important to know when to step back.
Trust your loved one and their decisions, and make sure they trust their decisions too. To do this, focus on the positive aspects of senior living and the amenities that await them. Get them excited about independent living.
Rightsizing Tips
Consider the lifestyle you want to live and the new life you’re creating. How do you see yourself living? Which items truly bring joy?
For a low-stress, organized, right-sizing process, make sure you start early. This will give you time to thoughtfully consider which items you want in this new chapter—no need to organize your entire residence in a weekend. Setting goals for each area of your residence will reduce stress and prevent you from feeling like you have to do everything in one day.
It’s also important to consider which items you actually use. For example, a china set that has been sitting unused in a cabinet for many years will likely not be necessary.
When donating items, focus on the positives: A new family will receive this item and give it the use and love it deserves. To remember cherished items that are finding a new home, take photos and keep them in a photo album.
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