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What Is Independent Living? Services, Cost, and Benefits

Find independent living options

What is independent living?

CHOOSING CARE

Are You Ready for Independent Living? Ask Yourself These 14 Questions

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CARE OPTIONS

Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What's the Difference?

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Independent Living Services

Housekeeping

Independent living communities typically provide routine housekeeping services, which can include laundry, floor cleaning, and other household chores. Service intervals vary between communities, and associated costs are often included in monthly rent.

Benefits of Independent Living

Older adults in independent living facilities can spend time on the things they enjoy instead of worrying about the hassles of home maintenance, housekeeping, or meal preparation. A diverse set of on-site activities, amenities, and services give older adults the chance to try new hobbies, make new friends, and have fun without having to leave the community. It’s common for communities to offer an activity calendar, which provides residents with the flexibility to pick and choose their daily schedule based on their interests and personality. In this type of community, an older adult’s independence and autonomy remain a top priority.

AMENITIES

40+ Independent Living Activities: Promoting a Healthy, Fulfilling Retirement

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CARE OPTIONS

Encouraging Elder Independence: How Independent Living Fosters Senior Autonomy

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Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Cost of Independent Living Near Me

Average cost comparisons near ,

Independent Living Cost and Payment

Your budget is an important consideration as you look for a senior independent living community that meets your unique needs. It’s important to know that independent living communities typically charge a monthly fee for accommodations and meals. However, there may be add-on fees for additional services that you may require.

For older adults, there are a variety of payment options that may help cover the cost of independent living, such as proceeds from the sale of home, pensions, retirement account funds, and more.

How to Pay for Independent Living

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Touring and Moving Tips

Touring prospective independent living communities can give you a better idea of what you like and don’t like. You may be able to narrow down communities based on their size, the layout of their units, the types of on-site amenities, and more. When you find the community for you, you’ll want to carefully plan your move for a smooth transition. Understanding what to expect can help ease the process.

CHOOSING CARE

How to Choose an Independent Living Community: 10 Key Considerations

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MOVING

Checklist for Moving Elderly Parents: 6 Practical Things to Consider When Moving an Aging Loved One

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Explore More Independent Living Topics

Making a change in your living situation can feel like a huge moment in your life journey. Sometimes your adult children may offer support as you go through this transition into senior living. Regardless of family involvement, an independent living community can offer you the gentle support and structure you need without encroaching on your autonomy and independence.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

How to Talk to Your Aging Parents About Finances

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AMENITIES

An Active, Engaging Retirement: Top 5 Benefits of Independent Senior Living Communities

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Have more questions?

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Independent Living

Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.

The score shown is the overall experience rating which is an average of the reviews submitted for those communities. The overall experience rating is a star rating that ranges from 1 being the lowest to 5 being the highest.

Below are the 51 largest cities grouped by their metropolitan area.

Top states for Independent Living

7.5
Alaska, AK
42 facilities
8.2
Alabama, AL
334 facilities
7.7
Arkansas, AR
220 facilities
8.0
Arizona, AZ
691 facilities
8.2
California, CA
2002 facilities
7.7
Colorado, CO
505 facilities
8.6
Connecticut, CT
273 facilities
7.9
8.4
Delaware, DE
67 facilities
8.0
Florida, FL
1838 facilities
8.0
Georgia, GA
793 facilities
5.1
Hawaii, HI
58 facilities
7.4
Iowa, IA
653 facilities
7.5
Idaho, ID
170 facilities
8.0
Illinois, IL
1011 facilities
8.0
Indiana, IN
590 facilities
7.9
Kansas, KS
381 facilities
7.8
Kentucky, KY
353 facilities
7.6
Louisiana, LA
150 facilities
8.3
Massachusetts, MA
403 facilities
7.3
Maryland, MD
396 facilities
8.1
Maine, ME
188 facilities
7.9
Michigan, MI
1197 facilities
7.2
Minnesota, MN
1034 facilities
7.6
Missouri, MO
760 facilities
7.7
Mississippi, MS
220 facilities
7.4
Montana, MT
151 facilities
8.0
North Carolina, NC
797 facilities
6.8
North Dakota, ND
120 facilities
7.6
Nebraska, NE
340 facilities
8.5
New Hampshire, NH
115 facilities
8.2
New Jersey, NJ
441 facilities
8.3
New Mexico, NM
124 facilities
8.3
Nevada, NV
149 facilities
8.1
New York, NY
907 facilities
8.0
Ohio, OH
1137 facilities
8.1
Oklahoma, OK
345 facilities
7.4
Oregon, OR
457 facilities
7.9
Pennsylvania, PA
1375 facilities
8.2
Rhode Island, RI
66 facilities
8.3
South Carolina, SC
449 facilities
7.6
South Dakota, SD
167 facilities
8.3
Tennessee, TN
564 facilities
8.3
Texas, TX
1482 facilities
8.0
Utah, UT
196 facilities
8.0
Virginia, VA
608 facilities
7.8
Vermont, VT
80 facilities
7.9
Washington, WA
662 facilities
7.3
Wisconsin, WI
1318 facilities
9.0
West Virginia, WV
62 facilities
4.7
Wyoming, WY
64 facilities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal, or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney, or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.