Find Independent Living Communities Near Pittsburgh, PA

Most people use their private income sources to pay for life at an independent living community in Pittsburgh. Since these types of senior living communities don’t normally provide the care services offered in an assisted living or memory care facility, public resources like Medicare and Medicaid are not available to cover the costs.

Medicare and Medicaid can help pay for health care costs, however, in the event a person develops a medical need for care services while living in an independent living facility. Some seniors may also be eligible for additional public assistance or veterans benefits, which can help with independent living costs. We outline the different options that could help you to pay rent at independent living facilities in Pittsburgh below.

Stand-alone independent living facilities aren’t regulated the same way as other types of senior living communities in Pennsylvania, since independent living facilities are not considered care facilities. Stand-alone independent living communities are considered more like apartments. So, while their services are not regulated, they do need to follow all Pennsylvania housing and apartment codes. However, communities may have their own additional rules about who they admit. For example, some stand-alone independent living communities may require the prospective tenant to be independent enough to care for themselves, at least upon move in.

Independent living communities with care services on-site

Most of our partner independent living facilities have senior care services available on-site, such as assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services. These types of independent living facilities may be more regulated, especially in areas shared with residents receiving care. In these cases, the independent living facility may also be classified as a personal care home. Personal care homes are inspected and licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. You can find a list of inspection reports for personal care homes through 2020 on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website.

You can discover more about regulations for these types of senior living by heading over to A Place for Mom’s pages for assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh tenant and landlord rights

Independent living rental communities have the same types of tenant-landlord regulations as that of Pittsburgh senior apartments, with the same tenant-landlord responsibilities. Landlords are largely responsible for keeping the building and unit in a safe and livable condition. They must complete any maintenance and repairs in a timely manner. And tenants in independent living facilities are ultimately responsible for the following:

• Paying rent on time
• Keeping their unit in good condition
• Reporting any maintenance issues
• Following all house rules outlined in their lease, like noise or pet policies

Preventing housing discrimination in rental communities

There are laws in place to protect prospective renters from housing discrimination. These safeguards include the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the federal Fair Housing Act. These laws prevent landlords from denying a prospective tenant due to factors such as sex, race, religion, disability, or family status (unless a community meets the housing for older persons exemption). Renters with disabilities, specifically, have the right to accommodations and modifications to make their new community as livable as possible to them, which landlords must help facilitate.

Accommodation and modifications for residents with disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that helps make sure residents with disabilities have equal access to communal areas and their unit. Under the ADA, landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications for residents with disabilities.

Accommodations are generally changes to a community’s policies, such as making an exception to a no-pet policy for residents who need to bring their service or therapy animal. Designating parking spots close to buildings for residents with a disability is another accommodation that a landlord can make. Modifications, on the other hand, are structural adjustments to the building. Modifications can look like installing wheelchair ramps in common areas or adding other common area and in-unit construction features.

Rental properties in Pennsylvania must allow residents with disabilities to make reasonable accommodations to their own living spaces to make the unit fully accessible to their needs. Landlords are allowed to require renters to pay for these modifications and can ask renters to restore a unit to its original condition before moving out. Some examples of in-unit reasonable modifications include the following:

• Installing grab bars
• Lowering light switches
• Widening doorways
• Removing carpets
• Lowering countertops

COVID-19 regulations for Pittsburgh independent living communities

As of May 2023, there weren’t any COVID-19 regulations or mandates for independent living facilities in Pittsburgh. Many independent living communities will likely follow guidance from state and county officials, and some may even have stricter policies in place to protect residents and staff.

You should reach out directly to prospective communities to ask about the specific COVID-19 measures they have in place for residents, visitors, and staff. You can visit the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) online COVID-19 dashboard to follow reports on local hospitalizations, infections, and other COVID-19 details. The Pennsylvania Department of Health also has a COVID-19 dashboard with data from across the state.

Independent living facilities in Pittsburgh offer active seniors the chance to enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle with access to big-city amenities. You’ll find a variety of different architectural styles that range from contemporary wonders to tranquil, lodge-like settings.

While some facilities exclusively offer independent living, over half of our partner independent living communities also offer other senior living options like assisted living and memory care on-site. Take a peek at some of the amenities, services, and features that our partner Pittsburgh independent living facilities have to offer.

Retirement resorts

Pittsburgh independent living residents have access to on-site amenities that can make life seem like a never-ending vacation. A select few of our partner independent living communities offer access to on-site swimming pools, putting greens, and even woodworking shops. You can also expect to find the following common areas at most of our in-network independent living facilities in Pittsburgh:

• Fitness centers
• Beauty salons/barbershops
• Billiards lounges
• Movie theater rooms
• Cafés or bistros
• Indoor atriums
• Outdoor patios
• Movie-theater rooms
• TV lounges
• Libraries

Additionally, residents at our partner independent living communities often look forward to wide-ranging services designed to make life a bit easier. Some communities may include these services as part of the monthly rent, while some may offer them a la carte and add them to the monthly fee. Here are some of the most common services available at our partner independent living facilities:

• Housekeeping
• Personal laundry and linen services
• Trash removal
• Concierge services
• Postal services
• Daily meals and snacks
• Beautician services
• Valet services

Social activities galore

Making friends is an almost effortless task at independent living facilities in Pittsburgh. All of our partner independent living communities host on-site activities that residents can get involved with. These coordinated activities present countless opportunities to socialize with events like the following:

• Barbeques and picnics
• Dances
• Birthday and holiday parties
• Happy hours and wine tastings
• Trivia games
• Karaoke
• Virtual or video bowling

Most of our partner independent living communities have on-site devotional services, and some even have a visiting priest or chaplain available. Residents can also expect to enjoy educational speakers, live performances, and pet-focused programs. Check out some more of the diverse clubs and classes residents can join at our in-network independent living facilities in Pittsburgh:

• Cooking classes
• Gardening clubs
• Stretching classes
• Tai chi and yoga
• Art classes
• Book clubs

Comfortable living spaces

Most of our partner independent living facilities in Pittsburgh have a variety of floor plan options that range from studio and one-bedroom to two-bedroom units. Some communities have bonus features in select units, such as electronic key entry, attached outdoor spaces, and full-sized kitchens or kitchenettes. Additionally, most of our in-network independent living communities have wheelchair-accessible showers in private bathrooms. Some units also offer the following features:

• Walk-in closets
• Ceiling fans
• Hardwood floors or carpeting
• Washer and dryer hookups
• Individually controlled heating and air conditioning

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)

A few of our in-network independent living facilities in Pittsburgh are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). CCRCs generally have the same services and amenities offered at an independent living community, but the pricing structure looks a bit different. There’s usually a pretty sizeable admission fee that can vary depending on a community’s location, amenities, and services included in the contract. The admission fee is designed to cover any future care costs and essentially guarantees that a variety of on-site care services will be available to you if you ever need them. CCRCs also have ongoing monthly fees, which are often fixed regardless of whether you require more care services.

Health care for seniors in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has an impressive collection of hospitals to choose from that offer services ranging from primary care to specialized medical care and treatments. There are several hospital providers scattered in and around the Pittsburgh metro area, and we highlight just a few of these below.

Transportation for seniors in Pittsburgh

On-site transportation is provided at over half of our partner independent living facilities in Pittsburgh. Residents without transportation may be able to utilize some of the door-to-door transportation and van services available for seniors in Pittsburgh, such as the following:

• AgeWell Rides helps seniors age 60+ who don’t drive and need help getting to and from places like the grocery store, appointments, and community events.
• ACCESS Paratransit provides door-to-door paratransit services for seniors age 65 and older or people with a disability.
• Elder Express is a scheduled van service for seniors age 65+ that makes regular stops in the Squirrel Hill area.
• Older Persons Transportation (OPT) is available to help seniors get to medical appointments and grocery stores.

Over half of our in-network facilities are located close to public transit, which makes it easy to access the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) system. PRT operates over 700 buses across Allegheny County, and it also has an expansive rail line system that spans almost 30 miles across the city. Seniors age 65 and older with a Senior Citizen ConnectCard can ride free on PRT and other public transit vehicles.

Overall, Pittsburgh is a fairly navigable city and is highly rated by Walk Score for its public transit, walkability, and bike friendliness. Below, you’ll find downtown Pittsburgh is ranked with a near-perfect walkability and public transit score, as well as a notable bike score.

Senior activities in Pittsburgh

Life in Pittsburgh presents a seemingly endless number of opportunities for seniors to pursue their passions and get involved in the local culture. Take a look at just some of the local attractions and activities we’ve highlighted for seniors in Pittsburgh. You can also peruse the Visit Pittsburgh official website for other local attractions.

Dive into the city’s sports culture

Sports fans will find themselves right at home in Pittsburgh, and there are plenty of opportunities to cheer on one of the home teams throughout the year. While the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins are Pittsburgh’s more widely known professional teams, the city is also home to several other sports teams:

• The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are Pittsburgh’s professional soccer team that plays at Highmark Stadium in Station Square.
• The Pittsburgh Passion is a highly recognized professional women’s football team that has achieved several firsts in women’s football franchise history and won several championships.
• The Pittsburgh Thunderbirds are a professional Ultimate Frisbee organization that competes in a 12-game season from April through August.
• The Steel City Roller Derby is an internationally ranked women’s roller derby team and is part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

Indulge in local eats

From primanti sandwiches and pierogies to pepperoni rolls, Pittsburgh is filled with scrumptious local staples to sink your teeth into. The city is also home to an impressive craft beer scene with several breweries located in town. Taking a local food and brewery tour is a great way to truly get a taste of Pittsburgh’s culture. Here are just a few highlights:

• City Brew Tours take you behind the several of several local craft breweries, as well as the production facilities.
• ‘Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour has several tour options that explore different eateries in Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods.
• Penn Brewery is Pittsburgh’s oldest brewery and hosts behind-the-scene tours on select Saturdays and also arranges private group tours.

Spend a day at a museum

Pittsburgh is a great city for museum enthusiasts to explore. The city has a museum for just about every interest from art and history to sports. You can find just a few of Pittsburgh’s notable museums below.

• The Carnegie Museum of Art
• Heinz History Center
• The Andy Warhol Museum
• Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum

Tee off at a public golf course

If your perfect day involves 18 holes of golf, then you’ll want to head to one of Pittsburgh’s public golf courses. We list just a few golf courses in and around Pittsburgh, but you can find even more of Pittsburgh’s public golf courses on the Visit Pittsburgh website.

• Olde Stonewall Golf Club
• Grand View Golf Club
• Riverview Golf Course
• Mystic Rock
• Lindenwood Golf Club

Visit a senior center

Seniors age 60 and older can enjoy various social and educational experiences at the senior community center in Allegheny County. The Pittsburgh area has several senior community centers located throughout the area, where seniors can socialize with the larger community. Here are a few types of activities you can find at these centers:

• Off-site group excursions
• Creative arts programs
• Exercise classes and wellness programs
• Financial counseling