Whether they were high school sweethearts or found each other later in life, most senior couples hope to stay together as long as possible. Spouses don’t necessarily age in similar fashion or at the same pace, though, and oftentimes only one spouse needs the kind of care available in an assisted living community.
In other instances, both spouses might benefit from assisted living — even if their needs differ — yet only one spouse is ready to explore the options they have as a couple. In still another scenario, one spouse needs memory care, while the other spouse would do well in assisted living.
Although any of these situations can be challenging to navigate, there are solutions that can help couples achieve their aim of staying close to each other as they age.
A Quick Look at Community Types
- Assisted living communities offer private or semi-private living spaces and supportive services for those who need some assistance — for instance, with bathing or getting in and out of bed — but not constant monitoring or supervision.
- Memory care communities provide care around the clock for those with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. In addition to the supportive services associated with assisted living, memory care includes specialized programming, security, and monitoring.
Park Senior Villas offers a unique residential approach to both assisted living and memory care in each of our four communities in Arizona. Although residents in memory care live together in the same villas, as do those in assisted living, the neighborhood design of our communities makes it easy for residents in assisted living to spend lots of quality time with friends (or spouses) in memory care.
When One Spouse Needs Assisted Living
For many couples, assisted living isn’t a consideration until the spouse who’s providing care is unable to continue doing so.
For example, helping a spouse whose mobility is declining may eventually put both spouses at risk for injury. The caregiving spouse could reach the point of not having enough physical strength to safely support the one who needs help getting around.
When you can no longer care for your spouse without jeopardizing their safety and possibly your own, assisted living may be the best choice for both of you. The ideal time to explore your options is before something happens that forces you to make a quick decision.
If you’re checking out assisted living options for your parents, this same advice applies. Initiating the conversation with your parents may be awkward, but it’s smart to have it ahead of time rather than waiting until their choices are limited.
Can Your Spouse Live With You in Assisted Living?
Some communities are able to accommodate couples who want to live together in assisted living when only one spouse needs assistance. Generally, smaller communities that provide highly personalized care tend to reserve their living spaces for residents who need care.
Cost may also factor into a couple’s decision on whether both should move into assisted living. Communities that offer assisted living for couples have various fee structures, with some charging an amount based on the services provided, some offering a discounted rate for the spouse, and some charging a flat rate for both spouses.
A Note About ALTCS
The Arizona Long Term Care System, or ALTCS, is a Medicaid program for seniors on a fixed income who need long-term care. Park Senior Villas is able to accept some seniors who have successfully applied for financial assistance through this program.
Assisted Living for Couples With Different Needs
For some couples, both spouses can enjoy better quality of life in assisted living, even if one needs more, or different, care than the other. Being able to rely on trained caregivers instead of each other can ease stress and let them get back to focusing on enjoying their relationship and the time they share.
In communities like Park Senior Villas that offer multiple levels of care, couples can rest assured that if one or both of them need a different type of care in the future, they can still easily spend time together every day.
Points like these can help hesitant spouses realize the many advantages of assisted living, where someone else takes over the hard work and a great deal of the responsibility.
Park Senior Villas Actively Promotes Family Involvement
Join us for any of our community events and you’ll see family members of all ages having a great time with their loved ones. We plan several events throughout the year that give friends and family members special opportunities to come join the fun, like the big events we have each year during National Assisted Living Week.
Family members don’t have to wait for a special invitation, though. They’re welcome to visit their loved ones as often as they want and are encouraged to participate in whatever activities are going on at the time.
Want to Know More About Assisted Living at Park Senior Villas?
We’re here to answer your questions about assisted living and how it may benefit you and your loved ones. The best way to discover what makes Park Senior Villas truly unique among senior living communities is to visit us in person.
Contact us to set up a convenient time for your visit. We look forward to hearing from you!
Featured Image: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock
