Assisted Living Placement for Couples

Assisted Living Placement for Two

Your parents (or grandparents, or aunt and uncle) have enjoyed years of independent married life, but now that they're getting older, you're starting to wonder if they might be better served at an assisted living facility. They may share a plethora of common interests or be as different as night and day. In addition, their health may be in similar or widely different places. How can you help them find assisted living apartments, homes or facilities where they'll both be happy and well cared for?

Finding Assisted Living Apartments for Spouses

When seeking assisted living placement for a married couple inside a facility, the general rule of thumb is to focus on the older or needier spouse's placement first. In some assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), needier spouses can receive additional medical attention in private assisted living apartments, but other facilities place both spouses together in the area most suitable to the higher-needs resident.

Assisted Living Placement in CCRCs

One of the greatest advantages offered by CCRCs is care for residents with varying levels of needs. As true proponents of the Aging in Place movement, CCRCs offer many levels of senior care, from independent living and assisted living to skilled nursing and memory care. While patients with moderate to high levels of cognitive impairment almost always need specialized oversight in a memory care unit, the majority of married couples can find a nursing home or assisted living apartment where they can both receive appropriate care.

The Benefits of Communal Assisted Living Placement

It's no secret that those who cohabitate with a loving spouse or partner experience greater health and happiness overall. There is no reason that these benefits should not extend whenever possible to assisted living residents. When aging seniors bear the brunt of their spouse's growing needs, the benefits of healthy cohabitation can easily give way to the pressures of caregiving. But when both partners get their needs met in a healthy way, the couple can once again share in the warm, giving relationship they once had.

If your aging parents, friends or relatives can benefit from the support provided at an assisted living apartment or home, start your search by speaking with one of our trained elder care advisors. Simply dial the toll-free number at the top of this page and we'll help consult on your assisted living placement needs, free of charge. There's no longer any reason to worry about finding that perfect facility to meet your parents' differing needs. Our advisors are standing by with the information to get you started today!