As the years add up, vows about sickness and health take on new meaning, so it’s not surprising that many older couples worry about what could happen if one needs more support than the other can give. Fortunately, there are options to alleviate those concerns, and the sooner you plan ahead for the possibility, the broader your choices may be.
If you’re both in good health and contemplating an unknown future scenario, moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) as independent living residents before either of you needs supportive care could be a smart long-term game plan.
However, if your situation is more immediate, a better solution may be moving directly into a community offering assisted living for couples. In this case, care can be adapted to each spouse’s unique needs while they remain together in a more supportive environment.
How CCRCs and Couples Go Hand in Hand
A CCRC (sometimes called a Life Plan community) is a good option for any older adult who craves peace of mind about the future, but it may be even more so for couples. That’s because a CCRC allows couples to plan for the possibility of one or both of their changing future needs while remaining part of the same familiar campus and community.
As the name suggests, a CCRC offers a continuum of care. Residents enter the community as active, independent seniors and begin taking advantage of lifestyle amenities and services right away. It’s an especially appealing option for couples who are ready for the freedom from upkeep of a home and want the freedom to travel and experience all that retirement has to offer.
Then, if their health changes over time, they don’t have to leave their familiar surroundings; additional levels of care, including assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing, are all available on the same campus.
Some CCRCs — including Presbyterian Village North, a popular continuing care retirement community in Dallas — offer additional care services as well, such as rehabilitation, which can be an essential step toward recovery after an illness, surgery or injury.
Couples at Presbyterian Village North also have a unique advantage with access to Empowered Living, which provides in-home personal assistance services to residents of the community. It can be a valuable resource when one partner needs a little extra support but isn’t quite ready for assisted living.
Assisted Living as a More Immediate Alternative
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an existing resident to move into a CCRC’s assisted living neighborhood (although residents do typically get priority access). And, if you or your spouse needs the support assisted living provides, many communities allow couples to live together in the same residence, often in a one- or two-bedroom apartment.
This living arrangement means a couple can continue sharing their everyday life — including their independence, privacy and time together — while ensuring the spouse who needs care receives the right level of support. It allows couples to stay connected and the caregiving partner to remain actively involved, but also provides help where it’s needed most.
What’s more, when one spouse needs assisted living, the companionship of a lifelong partner and reassuring familiarity can serve as a support system in its own right. In fact, the mental and emotional benefits of retaining that connection can even have meaningful health implications for an older adult who needs supportive care.
In assisted living, a broad range of support is available, all tailored to the unique needs of the individual and all aimed at helping each resident remain as independent as possible. The result is a lifestyle that promotes confidence and a better quality of life.
Some specific assisted living services might include:
- Help with daily activities, such as bathing, grooming and dressing
- Medication management, including filling pillboxes and coordinating refills
- Assistance with mobility, including therapy to improve balance and movement
- Household responsibilities, such as weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen service
- Wellness programming to support mental, emotional and physical health
When Making a Change Makes Sense
When one half of a duo begins experiencing health problems or needs additional support, chances are good that both partners will eventually feel the impact.
In addition to navigating new — and likely unwelcome — changes, the partner in need may also experience guilt over the burden being placed on their partner. Meanwhile, it’s very common for the caregiving partner to experience added stress and anxiety, and many well-intentioned spouses also sacrifice their own needs while providing for their loved one.
Moving into assisted living when one spouse needs care is a way to halt and even reverse those dynamics. It’s an opportunity to return focus to the partnership, rather than caregiving.
Assisted living care plans are tailored to the needs of each individual, so the spouse needing support gets that care while the partner regains some independence, along with the peace of mind that their loved one is in good hands.
Support aside, couples are free to enjoy their lives together much as they did before joining the community. With shared living space, they have plenty of privacy when they want it. They can dine together and share social activities with one another — and their new neighbors.
At the same time, couples may also find it rewarding to explore their own interests in ways they haven’t been able to previously. An array of amenities, wellness programs, cultural activities and other services create a lifestyle that benefits couples collectively, but also individually.
Looking Further into the Future
Depending on the specific circumstances, assisted living may not be a permanent solution. Fortunately, if a spouse’s condition evolves to the extent that additional care is needed, there may still be options within the community if a continuum of care is available.
While it may not be possible to live with a spouse who has advanced memory care or skilled nursing needs, living nearby, within the same familiar community — with a care team you both know and trust — is often the next best thing.
Choosing a community that provides senior living for spouses with different care needs can make future transitions less disruptive. If one spouse needs different support down the road, the remaining partner is close by for regular visits and a strong continued presence in their loved one’s daily life.
To learn more about the couples-friendly care options at Presbyterian Village North, contact our team to schedule a tour.
Assisted Living at Presbyterian Village North
We believe in empowering residents to live life on their own terms, regardless of age or abilities. Our Assisted Living neighborhood is designed to help you or your loved one maintain a sense of independence and autonomy while receiving the individualized support needed to thrive. With a focus on preserving dignity, our trained professionals provide assistance with daily activities such as dressing, grooming and medication management, all while encouraging social engagement and personal growth.
Our community offers a range of services to make everyday life easier and more enjoyable, including restaurant-style dining, wellness programs and a monthly calendar of social and cultural activities.
With a nurse onsite 24/7 and a variety of spacious and thoughtfully designed residences to choose from, Presbyterian Village North is the perfect place to find peace of mind and enhanced quality of life.
Reach out today by calling (214) 355-9000 to learn more about how we can provide the care and support you or your loved one needs, all within a vibrant, caring community.