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Are There Assisted Living Options for Couples?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Many seniors who live in assisted living communities are single, but there are also a number of assisted living options for couples who wish to continue living together in a senior care facility.
One and Two-Bedroom Assisted Living Suites for Couples
Most modern assisted living communities have a variety of assisted living suites ranging in size from cozy studios up to spacious two-bedroom, two-bath units that are sometimes called companion suites.
These larger suites are designed to accommodate a couple or two adults who want to reside together, such as a pair of siblings or close friends. Not only do these couple-sized assisted living apartments have plenty of room for two people, but there’s often a generous-sized living room where friends and family members can visit.
Options for Couples Who Need Different Levels of Care
While aging is inevitable, the aging process is different for everyone. It’s common for one partner or spouse to develop significant health issues, while the other remains relatively healthy and independent.
In these situations, the healthier spouse often becomes the full-time caregiver, which can take a major toll on the physical and emotional health of the couple. Not only is being an unpaid family caregiver stressful, but it can be lonely and isolating.
A number of assisted living communities offer solutions for couples who wish to reside together yet have different care needs. These solutions include:
- Choosing a facility that provides different levels of assisted living care
- Joining a continuing care community that has living options ranging from independent and assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing
- Hiring a private duty nurse or caregiver who can give the couple the support that’s needed to remain in assisted living
Couples may need to live in separate areas of a continuing care facility if one spouse requires secure memory care or nursing home care while the other needs assisted living. In these situations, the couple will still live on the same campus, and be able to spend plenty of time together each day. This is usually a far better option than having each spouse live in different facilities where they’d need to arrange transportation to visit one another.