10 Best Independent Living Communities in Indianapolis, IN

The services and living costs of an independent living community aren’t covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or long-term care insurance. As a result, many families and residents usually rely on private payment methods to cover the costs of independent living.

Medicare and Medicaid may chip in for in-home health care services if a person in an independent living community experiences a medical need for such services. Eligible veterans can also receive benefits that can be used to supplement the cost of an independent living community. We delve into different private and public payment methods that may be used to pay for the costs of an independent living community below.

In Indiana, independent senior living facilities are not legally considered care facilities, meaning they don’t provide medication administration and nursing care. Because they’re not care facilities and are more like apartment communities, they aren’t required to be licensed by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).

However, several of our partner independent living communities also offer assisted living or memory care on the same campus. Therefore, the areas of campus that provide assisted living or memory care need to be licensed and regulated by the IDOH. Assisted living and memory care areas may be subject to stricter regulations by the IDOH. To learn more about these kinds of regulations, visit our Indianapolis pages on assisted living and memory care facilities.

Independent living community general rental regulations

Stand-alone independent living communities or designated independent living areas don’t offer direct care services, like those at an assisted living facility, but they may partner with third-party agencies to offer some home care services on-site. So, aside from an age requirement, these communities generally follow state laws for landlords and tenants, similar to those in place for senior apartments.

Community landlords are accountable for keeping the facility in a safe, livable condition. Residents — or tenants — are primarily responsible for paying their rent on time and keeping the property in good condition by preventing any unnecessary damages. Leases may have different clauses depending on the property, so it’s always important to read it thoroughly to understand your rights and responsibilities while renting at any community.

We outline some of the general regulations you can expect to apply to independent living communities below. These regulations are in place to minimize housing discrimination and ensure living spaces are accessible to people with disabilities.

The Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

To start, all independent living facilities have to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act. This law prevents landlords from denying a person to live in a community because of the following:

• Disability
• National origin
• Family status
• Race
• Religion
• Sex

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is another federal law that requires rental communities to make reasonable accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities. This can look like many things. For example, a community should make an exception to a pet policy and allow service animals if a resident requires one. Or a tenant with a wheelchair should be granted an assigned parking space close to an entrance.

Independent living communities are also required to let residents make their own reasonable modifications to units that help them live safer in their home. Here are some examples of reasonable modifications:

• Lowering countertops
• Removing carpet
• Installing ramps

COVID-19 regulations for independent living communities in Indianapolis

Indiana doesn’t currently have any statewide COVID-19 restrictions or mandates in place for independent living communities. This doesn’t mean that communities won’t have their own policies that may be stricter than those set at the state and local levels.

It’s always best practice to reach out to a community directly about their specific policies. For updated information on Indiana’s COVID-19 public policies, please refer to Indiana’s COVID-19 website. We detail some of their general guidance practices below.

Indianapolis independent living communities come in several shapes and sizes. Some of these operate as stand-alone independent living communities, while others offer more extensive care types at the same facility. We take a look at what these different types of communities look like and what types of amenities you can expect at most independent living communities in Indianapolis.

Different care options

A few of our partner communities in Indianapolis are stand-alone independent living facilities. These stand-alone independent communities offer convenient services like housekeeping, meals, and transportation. They provide comfortable amenities and convenient services, but don’t provide the extent of care services available at an assisted living or memory care facility. Some of our in-network stand-alone independent living communities do have third-party access to health care services. Some communities even host visiting podiatrists and physical therapists.

Most of our in-network independent living communities in Indianapolis offer a continuum of care services from assisted living and memory care to skilled nursing care. Some of these communities are referred to as continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Seniors often choose to move into a CCRC for independent living at first, so they don’t have to transition into a different community if their care needs change. These communities typically have an age requirement of 55 or 62 and older and usually have an entrance fee, which can vary in cost depending on a facility’s location, amenities, and included services. These fees can be substantial, and some seniors use the proceeds from the sale of a home to pay.

Five-star amenities and services

Resort-style amenities and services await at many of our Indianapolis independent living communities. For starters, most of our partner communities provide meals and over half have a professional chef on-site to create culinary masterpieces, which can be tailored to meet specific dietary requirements. Whether you prefer restaurant-style dining, anytime dining, or room service, you can expect to find quality dining selections at our partner communities. Most of our partner independent living communities also have a range of convenient services available that can usually be added to the baseline rental costs, which can include the following:

• Housekeeping
• Concierge services
• Personal laundry and/or dry cleaning
• Help with grocery shopping or errands
• Complimentary transportation
• Pet care services

Media centers, beauty salons, barbershops, libraries, and fitness centers are just a few of the on-site amenities you can expect to find at many of our partner Indianapolis independent living communities. Many communities take it even further with luxe amenities, such as the following:

• Putting greens
• Heated swimming pools and whirlpool spas
• Billiards lounges
• Movie theater rooms
• Massage therapists
• Woodworking shops
• Courtyards and gardens
• Private patios, decks, and balconies

Ample activities

You can expect nearly all of our partner independent living communities to have an on-site activity director who arranges and plans a range of social activities. Many independent living communities offer a range of programs and clubs for residents to participate in, like those listed below:

• Card clubs
• Cooking classes
• Book clubs
• Art classes
• Gardening clubs
• Stretching and yoga classes

Most Indianapolis independent living communities also have on-site devotional activities and several have Bible study groups for residents to join. Independent living communities present seemingly endless opportunities to socialize with other residents with activities like the following:

• Wine tastings
• Happy hours
• Barbecues and picnics
• Wii Bowling matches
• Holiday parties

Health care for seniors in Indianapolis

Indianapolis hospitals rank among the best in the Midwest. These hospitals offer wide-ranging services from emergency care to innovative medical treatments. Explore Indianapolis’ top three hospitals below.

Transportation for seniors in Indianapolis

Almost 90% of our partner Indianapolis independent living communities have complimentary transportation services. This is especially convenient for seniors who choose to sell their car upon moving into an independent community, though most of our partner communities have on-site parking available for residents as well. Many communities provide transportation to and from appointments, as well as errands and nonmedical destinations.

Additionally, for visiting friends and family, over half of our in-network independent living communities are located near public transit. IndyGo is Indianapolis’ public transit service with a fleet of over 200 buses navigating throughout the metro. All IndyGo buses are ADA-compliant and seniors can travel for a reduced fare with a valid Medicare card or Half Fare ID card.

While a car or ride service is an ideal way to get around Indianapolis, some of the neighborhoods are quite walkable. You can get a general idea of how the full city of Indianapolis ranks for walkability, public transit, and bikeability below. Ratings are based on information from Walk Score and rated out of 100.