The independent lifestyle

When my mother turned 62 back in 1980, she was elated, because it meant that she was now eligible to move into the new senior citizen "high-rise" apartment building in our small Midwestern town.

She had placed herself on the list to move into the downtown high-rise, all of five stories tall, before it was even completed. She wanted to be done worrying about such things as the expense of heating a drafty house in the middle of a Dakota winter, and arranging for snow removal and lawn mowing.

Her new home was only the second facility of its kind to open in my hometown, and by happy coincidence, the timing of its opening worked out well for my mother. Her modest frame home sold quickly, and she tackled the chore of downsizing her possessions. I helped her move into her new one-bedroom senior apartment, where she lived contentedly for about a decade, until her health declined and new arrangements needed to be made. My mother’s living arrangement was one form of independent living, in what was perhaps a simpler place and time.

Such senior apartments as hers are still a good choice for senior adults who are able to take care of themselves, but would like to be free of the responsibilities that go along with owning a house and keeping up the property.

Tarrant County residents who are looking at options for independent living in 2008 have many more choices than my mother did.

What is the difference between independent living and assisted living?

Independent living retirement communities are designed for senior residents who are able to take care of their daily lives. Assisted living, which we’ll discuss next week, provides a combination of housing, supportive services and health care services to meet the needs of people who require assistance with daily living. Other kinds of housing in the spectrum of senior housing and care include, but are not limited to, residential care, Alzheimer’s care, and nursing/rehabilitation facilities.

Senior independent living apartments are not much different from standard apartments, except that there is an age restriction, such as 55 or 62-plus. For a couple, that age requirement generally applies to just one person. Some of the units may be equipped with hand rails in the bathroom and emergency pull cords, used to summon help. Your neighbors will be other senior adults. Many facilities offer activities that are geared to senior interests, along with other amenities. Usually, meal service is not part of the monthly rent.

Some senior apartments are rented at the regular market rate, and still others are classified as "affordable apartments" that have been created and/or subsidized by government programs. You may also hear the term "congregate housing" or "congregate living" applied to independent living.

One new affordable independent living complex that is set to open around Dec. 1 in Fort Worth is Amelia Parc, which will have 196 units, according to manager Michele Erwin. She advises seniors who are scouting for independent living to inquire about elevator availability, to ask about courtesy transportation to grocery stores and scheduled outings, and to find out about garages and extra storage capacity.

For information on housing where rental assistance may be available to seniors meeting income guidelines, call the housing authority in your community or county. Online at www.star-telegram.com/horizons, find a list of phone numbers of local agencies that provide information about rental assistance for senior citizens.

Yet another type of senior housing is the Continuing Care Retirement Community, which encompasses independent living. The Stayton at Museum Way, now under construction in Fort Worth’s cultural district, is planned to be a full-service, not-for-profit life care community. Life care at The Stayton will include independent living, as well as access to on-site assisted living, skilled nursing and memory support services, if needed.

Seniors may find helpful information through A Place for Mom, an information and referral Web site designed to help the elderly and disabled find housing situations that meet their care needs, according to Kelley Poppelreiter, an intake and assessment specialist for the Area Agency on Aging, and a resource coach for the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Fort Worth. Visit http://www.aplaceformom.com/ to check out options for independent living communities, or to locate facilities that offer higher levels of care.

The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Tarrant County, located at 1300 Circle Dr. in Fort Worth’s Resource Connection campus, provides a library of information resources for senior and disabled citizens, which includes computer access and resource coaches who can offer assistance. For more information, call 1-888-730-2372 or visit www.tarrantcountyadrc.org.