What Does Supported Independent Living Mean for Seniors?



When first looking into senior living options, you may come across the term “supported independent living,” or “Independent Living with Assistance.” But what does that mean exactly and how does it differ from assisted living? Independent living with support is the best of both worlds for seniors who would like to continue to direct their lives, have increased socialization options, live in a secure community, with options for light assistance if needed. It is the middle ground between assisted living and just moving into an over 55 community. This type of senior living option also varies depending on the community that offers it. We think the independent living setup at Lester Senior Living in Morris County is truly unique and appealing to a wide variety of independent-minded seniors.

Benefits of Independent Living with Support at Lester Senior Living 

Perhaps one of the first and most important aspects of Lester Independent Senior Living is that it is truly separate living from those receiving assisted living in the community. The Margaret and Martin Heller Independent Living building is across the lobby from the Josh and Judy Weston Assisted Living Building. While these communities can come together for meals, classes, Bingo, Movies, and other recreation, the independent lifestyle of folks is respected and they are living with others who also require less assistance. But if their needs change, it is easy to scale the services you receive, we already have the staff right there.

Activities and exercise programs. When you choose to live independently at Lester, you are not choosing total isolation by any means. We are a very active community through and through. If there isn’t a special event going on, you’ll still see residents and staff all over the campus – sitting on park benches in front of the building, reading in the library, having lunch in the dining room and catching up in the main lobby. We also have a monthly activities calendar that we are constantly adding to in order to satisfy the many interests of our residents. Some examples are the Lester book club, chair dancing, tabletop word games, bingo and even sing-alongs. The best part? Nobody gets left behind! These activities are available to both assisted living and independent living residents in the building.

Help is available when needed. In the Lester Senior Living community, we have two wings that are on either side of the main lobby. One is the Weston assisted living apartments and the other is the Heller independent living apartments. Because assisted living and independent living residents are housed in the same building, help can be more readily available for those who live independently since assistance is essentially right next door. We have one of the best staff-to-resident ratios in the industry, plus almost every staff member on site has been with the community for over 10 years! Meaning, you won’t find a team who cares and is more than willing to help than the one here.

Safety and security. As we’ve already touched on, independent living is more than just moving into a new apartment building. Everyone takes the time to get to know one another. Our staff members are very passionate about senior care, and develop relationships with each resident. Which means you won’t be left to your own devices for too long – there is always someone checking in! On top of this, there are security personnel on site 24/7, as well as safety measures in place to ensure each resident can live more comfortably.  From easy-to-navigate apartments, with smoke detectors and medical alert systems to on-site home health services, seniors can relax knowing that support and security is right there when they need it. 

Scalable Senior Living Options in Morris County

At Lester Senior Living, our aim is to ensure each of our residents maintain their quality of life and independence. Our activity and exercise programs encourage residents to get involved with the community at a level they are comfortable with. The services we offer can also be scaled to the resident. We understand that someone in independent living may not prefer the same care level as someone in assisted living with mobility issues. As we mentioned before, we really take the time to get to know each resident to ensure they get the proper support required to live a full and happy life here. 

For more information about supported independent living in Morris County, please contact our community today or visit our website to discover our other senior communities in NJ: https://jchcorp.org/

The original blog is posted on: https://jchcorp.org/what-does-supported-independent-living-mean-for-seniors/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Does Supported Independent Living Mean for Seniors?

Image
It comes as no surprise that seniors would like to remain independent for as long as possible. However, this is only feasible when they have the right supports in place. At Lester Senior Living, our independent seniors have the opportunity each day to explore our community as they please. They wake when refreshed and eat when they are hungry, and the only schedule they follow is the one they created themselves. The best part is that support services are readily available if needed to ensure they stay active within our community. In this article, our senior caregivers in Morris County will demonstrate what independent living with support looks like in our community.   Independent Living with Support at Lester Senior Living in NJ  The independent living apartments and assisted living apartments are located in two different buildings separated by the main lobby. While residents from both of these distinctions can come together for meals, fitness classes, movie nights a...
Read more

Making Meals More Enjoyable for Your Loved One with Dementia

Image
Mealtime can be a challenging experience for seniors with dementia and their caregivers. As the day progresses and the sun starts to set, older adults with dementia may experience increased confusion, agitation, and anxiety—a phenomenon known as sundowning syndrome. The difficulties that come with sundowning can make it even tougher for both the senior and their caregiver to enjoy meal times together. However, with patience, understanding, and some practical strategies, it’s possible to make meals more enjoyable for everyone involved. Here are some invaluable tips provided by caregivers from our  professional memory care program in Morris County, NJ :  Create a Comfortable Space Just like dressing your best to feel your best, it’s important to set the stage for a pleasant meal in order to actually have a pleasant meal. Create a calm and familiar environment free from distractions. Dim the lights slightly to reduce glare, turn off noisy TVs or music players, and if the weather ...
Read more

How Seniors Can Avoid Heat Exhaustion

Image
  We love the sun, but we hate the heat! Being that it’s summer in NJ, we’ll be sure to see our share of heat waves. Exposure to extreme heat can result in heat-related illnesses, especially for seniors. Their bodies are less able to regulate their temperatures and cool themselves. When our bodies heat rapidly or when we lose fluids due to perspiration or dehydration, common conditions are cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. In some cases, hyperthermia (absorbing more heat than our bodies can handle) is fatal.  Warning signs of heat-related illnesses Heat exhaustion is characterized as dehydration due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The main symptoms include muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, fatigue and confusion. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related condition. Heat stroke is dehydration coupled with the body physically overheating and unable to bring down its own temperature. The most obvious sign is a body temperature of 104° or higher. Other sympto...
Read more