Milwaukee

Independent Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Older adults have more senior living options available than nursing homes. In Milwaukee, there are plenty of options available that fit the wants and needs of seniors of all walks of life—including your aging loved ones.

What are Independent Living Communities?

Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, are not the only kinds of senior care facilities available. For older adults who value their freedom and can safely live alone, independent living communities are probably their match made in senior living heaven.

Independent living communities are unique types of senior housing. Unlike residents of memory care and assisted living facilities, independent living residents require little to no help with activities of daily living (ADLs). By contrast, caregivers at memory care and assisted living communities offer more extensive services, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia care, to address residents’ needs.

Why Choose Independent Living?

Commonly known as retirement living communities or senior apartments, independent living locations may offer amenities not seen in other senior health care facilities. These amenities can include:

  • On-site swimming pools
  • Pet-friendly floor plans
  • A restaurant-style dining room that makes socializing easy
  • Fitness centers and wellness programs
  • Variety of living options, such as one and two-bedroom apartment communities
  • WiFi access
  • Full-service salons and barber shops
  • Being within walking distance of local outings
  • Organized daily recreational and social activities

Such amenities are great for inviting children and grandchildren out for intergenerational activities on a gorgeous sunny day.

Is your loved one a social butterfly? Ask yourself the following questions regarding your aging relative:

  • Can they complete ADLs with ease?
  • Are they independent?
  • Do they want to live in a unique apartment home rather than a sterile facility?
  • Do they want to live in a community with other active adults?
  • Do they want to live life to the fullest?

If you answered yes to these questions, an independent living community could be the perfect place for your loved one.

Factors to Consider

Selecting the perfect senior living location for you or your loved one means keeping the following in mind.

Pricing

We know that pricing can be a make-or-break factor when selecting senior housing and senior living services. That’s why it’s important to explore payment and financial assistance options available to you and your aging relative.

Private Insurance and Long-term Care Plans

Medicare and other federal and state-sponsored programs usually do not guarantee coverage of costs associated with extended stays in assisted living, skilled nursing, or other senior care facilities. Private insurance is therefore the go-to option for covering long-term senior living expenses.

Medicare and PACE

Medicare usually only covers short-term costs associated with skilled nursing facilities (aka nursing homes) and assisted living facilities (which may include memory care units).

Wisconsin is one of over 30 states that offers PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, people are eligible for PACE if they meet the following criteria:

  • “Live in Milwaukee, Racine, or Waukesha County
  • Age 55 or older
  • Eligible for nursing home care
  • Able to live safely in the community with assistance”

PACE may help cover costs associated with home health and nursing home care.

Wisconsin Medicaid 

Medicaid is a healthcare option for low-income, disabled Americans. Depending on the needs of the insured and the state they live in, Medicaid can cover a significant portion of the costs associated with skilled nursing care.

BadgerCare Plus

The State of Wisconsin offers its own health care coverage program for low-income individuals called BadgerCare Plus. It may help cover costs associated with:

  • Nursing services
  • Skilled nursing home services
  • Intermediate care facility services
  • Home health services
  • Hospice care
  • And more

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

A continuing care retirement community, also known as CCRCs or life plan communities, may be the right choice for your aging loved one if they want to stay in a single location during their golden years.

A CCRC offers a plenty of senior living options—from skilled nursing services to independent living programs—all at a single location. This fact means that when residents’ personal care needs change, they can still get the care they need without moving somewhere else.

Independent Living Communities in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Moving at any point in time is stressful; moving in your golden years can be extra stressful. That’s why your loved one deserves a facility that does more than simply offer services and amenities. They deserve a location that cultivates a community. Milwaukee has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty, being situated at the edge of Lake Michigan. Whether they relocate to the suburbs or downtown Milwaukee, there are plenty of adventures that await your loved ones here.

There are plenty of senior living communities and senior care options in and around Milwaukee that will take good care of your loved one, giving you peace of mind regarding their well-being. That means there are plenty of locations that can accommodate a wide range of senior citizens. Find independent living communities in and around Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee area today!