The biggest difference between assisted living and independent living is that assisted living communities offer assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, while independent living communities don’t. Additionally, assisted living communities may be slightly smaller in order to provide adequate care to all residents. Independent living communities focus on providing a maintenance-free lifestyle, and offer more amenities and activities than assisted living. Both types of communities provide activities that cater to the interests and abilities of their residents, and can be wonderful for seniors who want to live in a community of their peers.
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Independent and assisted living communities both offer thoughtfully designed housing, senior-friendly amenities, daily meal plans, and exciting social activities. But there is one major difference between these senior living options: Assisted living provides seniors help with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing and dressing, while independent living is for those who can complete daily tasks without assistance. Both communities cater to residents’ individual needs in unique ways.
Assisted living communities provide long-term housing and personalized health care services for seniors. Unlike services in independent living, assisted living services are for residents who require some additional support like medication management, help with personal hygiene tasks, and mobility assistance. Today, there are more than 810,000 Americans residing in assisted living communities who enjoy senior-focused benefits and amenities.[01]
Assisted living communities provide:
It’s important to ask about the staff-to-resident ratio in a prospective assisted living community to learn how readily available staff is to residents.
Assisted living communities usually have certain health standards for admitting new residents to make sure that a person’s medical needs are within the community’s abilities. For example, seniors who require a high level of medical attention, including 24-hour care, may need a different type of living arrangement, such as a nursing home.
Sometimes people use similar terms to refer to the various types of senior living, which can be confusing. The terms “assistance,” “assisted,” or “facility” are a good indication that the community offers minor medical assistance but not full-time care. Other terms people use to refer to assisted living communities include:
Think of an independent living community as an age-restricted (typically 55+) community with additional conveniences for seniors. While there may be overlap between independent living and assisted living communities in terms of amenities, independent living usually means that residents are self-sufficient and don’t need hands-on care.
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The nationwide median monthly cost of assisted living in 2024 is $4,995, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Comparatively, the nationwide median monthly cost of independent living is $3,100.[02]
It’s important to ask each community about their specific costs and services, as it’s not uncommon for costs to fluctuate annually or monthly. Assisted and independent living costs depend on many factors, including:
Compare independent and assisted living costs in your area
With many factors affecting costs, you can expect a wide range of figures. Get an in-depth look at what senior living costs in your state by viewing A Place for Mom’s 2023 Cost of Long-Term Care and Senior Living report.
When deciding what community is right for you or a senior loved one, start by taking both social and medical needs into consideration. Do you need assistance with ADLs but want to remain as active as possible? If so, an assisted living community can meet both of those needs. Are you hoping to leave behind trivial chores and live among other active adults with shared interests? Independent living has you covered. Once you identify what’s most important — whether food and fun or friendships and wellness — you can more easily discover which particular community will be the best lifestyle fit.
An assisted living community may be the right decision for seniors who:
An independent living community may be the right decision for retirees who:
The table below makes it easy to compare the biggest differences between assisted living and independent living.
| Features | Assisted living | Independent living |
|---|---|---|
| Care and medical assistance | Help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc.), medication management, and some on-site medical care | No caregiver assistance |
| Cost | Median monthly cost of $4,995 nationally, which may change depending on the amount of care a resident receives | Median national cost of $3,100 per month |
| Amenities and activities | Designed with senior residents in mind, with amenities and activities offered with resident interest in mind. Expect to find a movie theater, fitness classes, and special interest clubs. | Designed to make life more convenient for senior residents. Activities are driven by resident interests, and may be geared towards residents with an active lifestyle. |
Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.
Understanding the difference between assisted living and independent living is essential to keeping you or your loved one healthy, active, and safe. Whether daily assistance from caregivers is needed or you’re eager for the freedom granted by independent living, there are communities across the country that offer top-notch services and amenities.
You may have a better idea now of whether independent living or assisted living is the best fit for your loved one. Or, you may have other concerns, such as a recent dementia diagnosis, that may affect your decision. If you’re unsure about which kind of senior living is right for you, consider these resources:
Choosing the right senior living community is a big decision, and it’s not to be taken lightly. Sometimes talking through your options can be helpful. A Place for Mom’s free-to-you Senior Living Advisors can help. They’re well-versed in all types of senior living and offer tailored, local information for your needs.
Here’s what you can expect when working with an advisor:
Most importantly, our service comes at no cost to you or your family.
Optimized by A Place for Mom senior copywriter Rebecca Schier-Akamelu.
American Health Care Association. National Center for Assisted Living. Facts and figures.
A Place for Mom. (2023). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
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