Article by Liisa Ogburn.
What is Independent Living?
Independent Living Communities, as opposed to senior housing, are communities physically designed with amenities and services that keep seniors independent as long as possible. For example, most Independent Living apartments are wheelchair accessible, have built-in safety features like extra lighting, grab bars in the bathroom, a roll-in or easy-step shower, emergency pull-cords, pendants and daily check-in procedures. They often offer restaurant style dining with Chef-prepared meals, a wellness center with fitness programs geared towards seniors, a cleaning service, home help, and some on-site services such as a hair salon, a convenience/gift shop, a movie/media center, transportation services, and additional entertaining activities on-site, as well as organized trips off-site to concerts, shows, the library, or shopping. Standard financial models in past years included Month-to-Month Rental Contracts and buy-in only Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as CCRCs), which I’ll cover in a future post, but some CCRC’s and Continuum of Care’s now offer month-to-month rental contracts as an option, too!
To read the entire article, go to: https://www.wral.com/what-is-independent-living-/17326250/
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About the Author:
Liisa Ogburn is at the heart of Aging Advisors NC, bringing a rich blend of personal experience and global perspective to elder care. Raised in North Carolina with deep roots in Finland, Liisa has a unique appreciation for diverse approaches to aging, shaped by her life across different cultures including Finland, Estonia, Germany, England, Japan, and Costa Rica.
Her path into elder care consulting was deeply personal. While juggling her role as a Duke University educator and caring for her father-in-law and three young children, Liisa started sharing her family’s journey through articles for The New York Times and later, over 300 posts for WRAL Raleigh on everything from handling loss to choosing the right elder care options.
A teacher at heart, Liisa thrives on empowering others with knowledge. She offers her expertise in presentations to various groups—from churches to professional firms—and writes extensively, reaching audiences far and wide. Her credentials include certifications in geriatric care and a special certification from Brown University to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, reinforcing her belief that calm minds make sound decisions.
