Senior Housing Guide & Apartment Options

What is Senior Housing?

The term “senior housing” applies to housing that’s designed for older adults. These communities are age-restricted to either over 55 or over 62. The level of care provided by senior housing ranges from no extra care to around-the-clock care, depending on the type of senior housing you choose. Most senior housing provides some form of activities and amenities, ranging from social get-togethers and fitness classes to on-site swimming pools and golf courses.

Benefits of Living in Senior Housing

One of the major benefits of senior housing is the wide variety of options available. The type of living situation you choose will depend on your needs.

Low maintenance lifestyle:

The common thread through all types of senior housing is a low-maintenance lifestyle designed to make the lives of older adults easier. Services provided in senior housing might include:

• Housekeeping
• Prepared meals
• Transportation
• Laundry services
• Maintenance

Senior housing is often designed for the needs of older adults:

• Easy-to-navigate, single-level floor plans
• Wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs
• Bathrooms equipped with safety features like grab bars and walk-in tubs
• Medical emergency alert systems might be included

Senior living amenities:

A major benefit to living in senior housing is the amenities provided. These amenities will likely depend on the type of senior housing you choose. Below are a few common senior housing amenities:

• All-inclusive rent
• Planned recreational activities
• Laundry services

Assisted living facilities often provide most of the above, with the addition of care-focused amenities like 24-hour staff, assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), and healthcare.

Easy maintenance with staff's help

Maintenance-free living is a major reason many older adults choose senior housing. Depending on the type of facility, most maintenance is handled by staff. For example, landscaping, including mowing and weeding, is done on a regular basis. Seasonal maintenance, like raking leaves and snow and ice removal, will also be done by the community’s staff. Indoor maintenance will likely be covered as well and includes things like housekeeping, appliance repair, and laundry services. In some communities, meal service may also be provided.

Dining services

Having healthy meals provided is another benefit of senior housing. Many facilities cater to the dietary restrictions and needs of each resident. In addition to making sure every resident has access to nutritious, diet-appropriate meals, many facilities provide a “restaurant” style dining room where residents can get together and socialize during mealtimes. Some may even provide music during dinner or food-inspired activities like cooking classes and pizza parties. You might even be able to find a senior housing community with a food garden, which not only provides residents with fresh ingredients but also the chance to spend time outdoors in the garden for those who enjoy the activity.

Types of Senior Housing

Senior housing includes a wide range of options for you or your loved one. You can choose from apartments for independent living, homes for sale or rent, assisted living, Alzheimer’s or memory care, and nursing homes for those who need help with daily living activities. Bridging the types are continuing care retirement communities. While some housing types might allow all ages, they are most often age-restricted for adults over 55 or over 62.

For Independent Seniors

Senior apartments

Some apartments are designed for older adults and are age-restricted, either for 55-plus or 62-plus. These senior apartments serve residents with senior-friendly features, amenities, activties, fitness classes, and more. Medical and personal care is typically not included. However, in some cases, housekeeping, meals and other services may be purchased at an additional cost.

Active Adult Community

Active adult communities are designed for seniors who don’t want or need any assistance with healthcare, food preparation, or housekeeping. Since they often provide on-site security or gated entry, active adult communities are great for those who want to travel for extended periods and not worry about their homes while they are gone. Grounds maintenance is usually provided as well, so these communities offer a carefree lifestyle for seniors on the go. Amenities in active adult communities typically include tennis courts, biking and hiking trails, golf courses, and swimming pools.

Independent living

Independent living communities promote an autonomous lifestyle with the benefits of a full-service community. You have the right to live in such housing even if you are unable to live independently, but keep in mind that most independent living facilities don’t offer medical care or personal assistance. However, you may hire in-home help separately. Independent living may incorporate apartments, condos, or houses.

Homes for sale or rent

These are single-family dwellings that may or may not be exclusive to older adults. Homes for rent or sale that are specifically for seniors will specify age restrictions. These age-qualified homes are often in retirement communities. Services offered often include a community clubhouse, recreational activities, and the convenience of low- to no-maintenance living. These communities may be governed by homeowners’ associations. Unless specified, these homes don’t offer any medical or personal surveillance services.

Manufactured homes

Manufactured homes are factory-built houses installed on site. They may be for sale or rent in communities that are open to all ages or that are restricted to 55-plus or 62-plus. Manufactured housing communities often have features that make them attractive for retirement, including grounds maintenance, swimming pools, and social activities. Manufactured homes generally are more affordable than site-built houses, with average prices ranging from about $83,000 for a single and $154,000 for a double, according to the US Census Bureau. If you buy a home in a land-lease community, you’ll own the home but rent the land it sits on. Today’s manufactured homes are not “mobile homes.” They are built to federal construction and safety standards, use the same materials as site-built houses, and are anchored to the ground with steel rods.

For seniors who want or need assistance

Assisted Living

One of the main benefits of assisted living communities is the support provided. Residents can maintain their independence while getting assistance with daily activities. This support includes meal preparation, bathing and grooming, dressing, and medication. There’s usually 24-hour staff, so help is available at any time. Other services might include transportation and laundry. A variety of recreational activities, including fitness classes, might also be available.

Alzheimer’s and memory care

Alzheimer’s and memory care facilities provide a safe, supportive environment for those with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Memory care facilities are staffed with skilled nurses and medical personnel. Most of these special care units are set up to minimize wandering, which is common in those with memory issues. Memory care centers are often located within a nursing home or assisted living community. Learn more from the Alzheimer’s Association.

For seniors who may need help later

Continuing care retirement community

Continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs, allow seniors to live in the same facility no matter what challenges they might encounter in the future, such as health or memory-related concerns. Older adults might enter a CCRC living independently in an apartment. If their needs change and they need more assistance, they can get help through assisted living or nursing care, all while remaining at the same community. Visit AARP to learn more about CCRCs.

CCRCs might include:

• Prepared meals
• Planned recreational activities
• Transportation
• Laundry services
• Healthcare
• 24-hour staff
• Housekeeping
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL)

Senior Apartments vs Other Senior Housing

Senior apartments are age restricted, meaning residents must be over 55 or over 62. Senior apartments are usually designed with the needs of older adults in mind, so they have conveniences and amenities that seniors appreciate.

Senior apartments differ from other types of senior housing in that most independent living communities will include meals and housekeeping as part of the rent, but senior apartments usually do not. Typically, there aren’t many services available in senior apartments, aside from being one-level and having features like walk-in tubs and grab bars. Senior apartments allow older adults to live closely with their peers in a community designed to accommodate their needs. However, they don’t often have the same amenities that are typically available in other senior housing types.

Senior living vs nursing home

Most senior living communities focus on lifestyle, with amenities and activities designed to enrich the lives of seniors and promote independence. Conversely, a nursing home is focused on around-the-clock care. Nursing homes are most suited for older adults with complicated health concerns who need the care only skilled nurses and other medical professionals can provide. Nursing homes are much more clinical than other senior living facilities, and residents will have a small room that doesn’t include a living space or kitchen.

Senior living vs long-term care

If you think about most senior living communities as traditional houses and apartments with additional support and care as needed, the difference between most senior living communities and long-term care will become much easier to distinguish.

Independent living, with varying levels of assistance, is the goal of many senior living communities. They provide a safe environment, access to healthcare, private living spaces, and activities designed to keep residents active and engaged. Those in assisted living communities will have access to more support than older adults living independently, particularly to rehabilitative programs and therapies. However, for older adults who need 24-hour care, a long-term care facility might be a better alternative.

Long-term care facilities, while similar, aren’t nursing homes. The difference is in the level of care required. Most older adults in nursing homes require the care of skilled nurses due to complicated medical issues. Long-term care facilities focus on keeping residents safe and comfortable. Long-term care provides 24-hour support for those who need assistance with day-to-day activities like dressing, getting in or out of bed, bathing, and eating.

Senior housing vs skilled nursing

While senior housing provides varying degrees of assistance, most senior housing can’t accommodate serious medical concerns. This is where skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) come in. Like nursing homes, these facilities usually have a 24-hour nursing staff to take care of residents. The biggest difference between a skilled nursing facility and a nursing home is the type of care the residents need. Skilled nursing is specific to individuals recovering from a major medical event like a heart attack or stroke. SNF stays are almost always temporary, usually up to about 100 days, where nursing home stays are usually much longer or even permanent.

Senior apartments vs independent living

While both options are great for active, older adults without serious medical conditions, there are some big differences between senior apartments and independent living communities. Aside from some modifications to make life easier, senior apartments are very similar to traditional apartments. They are often single level, have amenities and features like walk-in bathtubs and wider doorways, and have community features like on-site fitness centers and swimming pools. Many provide a clubhouse where residents can get together during social events. Most senior apartments don’t provide healthcare, meal preparation, or housekeeping.

Independent living communities are more like self-contained resorts. Older adults who decide they no longer want to deal with the upkeep and care required of homeowners, or who want to socialize with other seniors, may choose to move to an independent living or active adult community where landscaping, maintenance, and housekeeping are done for them. And while most homes in these types of communities have full kitchens, many also offer prepared meals, so residents have options. Independent living communities typically provide amenities like golf courses, fitness centers, and swimming pools. Like senior apartments, independent living communities might host get-togethers where residents can socialize with one another.

How Much Does Senior Housing Cost?

According to a study conducted by US Government Accountability Office, the cost of an independent living community is anywhere from $900 to $2,700 per month, depending on your location. Skilled nursing units or assisted living range from $1,500 to $10,700 per month and require entry fees depending on the level of health care services guaranteed in the contract.

The variability in price is due to the area in which you live, and the level of care required. A memory care facility, for example, is often more expensive than an independent living community because of the staff and services provided. The cost of senior housing has been steadily increasing since 2004, mainly because of an increased demand as baby boomers reach the age of 65. In fact, 10,000 baby boomers are expected to turn 65 every day until 2030.

The methods of paying for senior housing vary. Some older adults may choose to sell their home and move to an independent living community, using the money from the sale to cover the costs. While insurance doesn’t typically cover assisted living, review your plan to know for sure. While Medicare and Medicaid usually don’t pay for room and board, some medical services might be covered. Check your state website to learn more about available funding. There are programs to assist veterans, so contact the VA if you think you might qualify.

Senior Housing Checklist

Here are some things to keep in mind as you look for senior housing:

• Is the community in an area with easy access to transportation, medical care, and shops?
• Does the community look as though it’s well maintained and clean?
• How well-trained is the staff? What is their screening process when hiring?
• Are residents engaged? How many social events does the community offer per month?
• How often does the menu change, and how does the food taste?
• Are the common areas being utilized? Are these spaces appealing and well-equipped?
• What’s included in the rent, and what is the payment schedule?
• Is there a grace period for payment?
• Are family members allowed (or encouraged) to visit any time, or do they have to schedule ahead?
• Does the facility provide transportation?
• How are the facility’s reviews? Do you see common complaints, and are those complaints addressed?
• How safe is the community? Look for alert buttons and pull cords, and ask how the community handles medical emergencies.
• Is staff on-site 24-7?
• Are there any restrictions on decorating? If furnished, can residents add personal items?
• Are pets allowed? If so, what is the pet policy?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you qualify for senior apartments?

Applicants will need to meet an age requirement, such as over 55 or over 62. Anyone living with you may also have to meet an age requirement. Some properties won’t allow anyone under the age of 18, so those with younger children might not qualify. Some senior apartments might also have an income threshold.

Do senior apartments include utilities?

Many senior apartments include utilities in the rent. Typically, these are the essential utilities: gas, electric, and water. Residents may be required to pay for any additional utilities, like Wi-Fi or cable, on their own.

Are senior apartments cheaper?

Senior apartments are often a cheaper option when compared to independent living communities or assisted living facilities. There are three basic categories for senior apartments: affordable, market rate, and luxury. Low-income senior apartments will have an income requirement along with an age requirement. Renters in these apartments pay about 30 percent of their income for rent and utilities.

How do I apply for senior apartments?

Contact the property management company or office for the apartment you’re interested in and ask about the availability. Schedule a tour of the apartment community. If you like what you see, you can fill out an application. Keep in mind you’ll have to meet an age requirement and (if the property is income restricted) an income requirement.

Where do I apply for low-income senior housing?

Several programs are available through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and locally through public housing agencies. Since each program has different requirements, it’s best to start with your local housing agency to see what programs you might qualify for. In addition to federal programs, there might be state or local resources available, as well.

According to the National Council on Aging, more than 15 million people over the age of 65 are living below the poverty level, some by as much as 200 percent. Low-income senior housing is vital for many of these older adults.

What is the age for senior housing?

The age requirement for senior housing is 55 or 62.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the housing market because of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status (families with children under the age of 18). There’s a limited exemption to the familial status prohibition to allow for housing designed for older adults. This narrow exemption applies to housing intended for and solely occupied by those over the age of 62, or intended and operated for occupancy by those 55 years of age or older. To qualify for the “55 or older” exemption, a community must have at least 80 percent of the units occupied by a resident over 55.

Are senior apartments subsidized?

For those who need financial assistance, there are four programs available through HUD: the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program, Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, public housing, and the housing choice voucher program (aka Section 8). Contact your local HUD office to learn more about the programs available in your area. To find low-income senior apartments on After55, select “low income” in the box to the lower left side after searching for a location.