| Just about everyone looks forward to retirement as | | | | assistance, if needed, and a wide variety of social |
| a time to relax and enjoy life. Often, though, we get | | | | activities. In Massachusetts, communities often blend |
| too consumed by daily responsibilities to fully relish | | | | independent living and assisted living options into one |
| the leisure time we've worked so hard to gain. That's | | | | facility. |
| where a move to assisted living can make quite a | | | | Similar to independent living, assisted living is a housing |
| difference. | | | | option for older adults who need some assistance |
| Although Massachusetts assisted living communities | | | | with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, |
| tend to be very well-regulated and of unusually good | | | | bathing, ambulating or toileting, but who do not |
| quality, there are certainly major differences among | | | | require 24-hour nursing care. They are still able to live |
| them. People who are familiar with many communities | | | | independently with some assistance, but that |
| tend to prefer those that that stand out by placing | | | | assistance is generally necessary on a daily basis. In |
| far more emphasis on helping to keep residents | | | | many ways, assisted living might be seen as |
| active, busy, and involved than most other facilities | | | | "independent living with an added bonus!" |
| do. This philosophy can often be manifested by a | | | | MA senior assisted-living communities and retirement |
| very warm, personal feeling that comes across | | | | residences for aged citizens are among the very |
| readily to prospective residents who stop to talk | | | | best. Many folks profoundly seek and appreciate the |
| with current residents, and ask their feelings about | | | | opportunity to enjoy their "golden years" in a very |
| living at New Horizons. Indeed, one of the most | | | | caring assisted living place convenient to Boston, |
| important considerations for anyone considering | | | | Worcester, Southboro, Hudson, Northborough, |
| assisted living is to speakk directly to existing | | | | Westboro, Framingham and Fitchburg, Marlborough, |
| residents of any particular facility. | | | | and Woburn, MA. Other nearby communities |
| Most seniors considering such a move to assisted | | | | well-populated with quality assisted living options |
| living are very concerned about maintaining their | | | | include Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Waltham, |
| dignity and independence. Their ages typically range | | | | Weston and the other towns along MA Route 128. |
| from about 65 to 100, with an average in the low to | | | | Often, the majority of seniors looking into these |
| mid 80s. Moving to a fine residential environment with | | | | communities prefer the many benefits of a large |
| quality accommodations, good neighbors, and a | | | | community, with the intimacy of a small assisted-living |
| strong program can often be a major benefit to | | | | home where everyone knows your name. |
| seniors who have previously lived by themselves. | | | | Assisted living facilities should not be confused with a |
| Indeed, they very often "come alive again once they | | | | nursing home, but rather a Massachusetts retirement |
| no longer have to concern themselves with the | | | | community with many activities. Most such |
| burdens of living alone. | | | | communities are non-sectarian Boston-area senior |
| One of the most common sources of confusion for | | | | communities that might offer frequent religious |
| those looking into retiremetn living is the challenge of | | | | services on-campus and easy access to others. |
| correctly understanding the difference between | | | | Some include at least weekly Protestant and Jewish |
| independent retirement living and assisted living. The | | | | services on-site and daily Catholic Mass. Enjoying |
| former is typically a living arrangement in residential | | | | metro-west elderly care assisted-living with elegant |
| apartments where elders share common space, but | | | | gourmet dining, at low, affordable rates can truly |
| are able to maintain their independence with little or | | | | make a difference in the lives of seniors. |
| no assistance. Better facilities typically provide three | | | | A wealth of information regarding the wide selection |
| meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some | | | | of Massachusetts assisted living communities is |
| transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby | | | | available on the Internet. |