Independent Living Communities

Independent living communities are designed for adults generally 55 and older who are largely self-sufficient — able to manage daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication without staff support — but who want the community, convenience, and maintenance-free lifestyle that a senior living campus provides. Most communities serve adults in their late 60s through 80s who are active and mobile but want to downsize, reduce home maintenance, and increase social connection.

The primary difference is care. Independent living does not include personal care services — residents are expected to be self-sufficient. Assisted living provides staff support for daily activities like bathing, dressing, medication management, and meals for residents who need that level of help. Independent living is typically less expensive. If a resident's needs increase beyond what independent living can support, they would typically need to move to an assisted living community — which may or may not be on the same campus.

No. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid covers independent living costs. Because independent living is primarily housing — not care — it falls outside the scope of both programs. Costs are paid privately, through long-term care insurance (which may or may not cover independent living depending on the policy), or through veterans' benefits in some cases.

A life plan community — also called a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) — combines independent living with assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on a single campus. The key difference is continuity: in a CCRC, residents can transition to higher levels of care without leaving the community. Most CCRCs require a substantial entrance fee (often $100,000 to $1 million or more) in addition to monthly fees, in exchange for guaranteed access to the full care continuum.

Pay attention to whether current residents seem genuinely engaged and satisfied — ask them, not just staff. Review the full fee schedule carefully: what triggers extra charges, how often fees have increased historically, and what happens if your needs change. Ask whether the community is part of a larger campus with higher care levels. Understand the terms of the residency agreement and what it takes to leave. And visit at multiple times of day to get a realistic picture of the environment.