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Independent Living Communities


In Independent Living Communities, residents live in independent living units and are independent in their daily activities.  Certain convenience services are usually available such as meals, housekeeping and laundry.  Health services may also be available. Emergency systems and wellness programs are common.

As the name implies, Independent Living is just that: the ability to maintain one’s residence and lifestyle without custodial or medical assistance.  The vision for Independent Living Communities is self-sufficiency.  Seniors who opt for Independent Living must be able to manage their home and personal needs on their own, however, many household tasks might be also part of the community’s service offerings, including laundry, linen service, group meals, local transportation, and planned social and cultural activities.

Other benefits of Independent Living Communities for seniors include living nearby others of same age with whom to socialize and features designed into the housing to provide comfort, security, and safety especially for seniors.

Among the many senior housing options available, Independent Living provides the greatest versatility and freedom.  Independent Living typically involves living in a compact, easy-to-maintain, private apartment or house within a community of seniors.  Many are also gated communities.

Independent Living is ideal for seniors who:

  • Are healthy and able to care for themselves
  • Want to live independently
  • Desire the security to be found in a seniors-only community
  • No longer want to maintain a house
  • Prefer to live among their peers
  • Can communicate with doctors and caregivers by themselves, or with the help of family or friends, but without the help of trained, onsite staff
  • Have enough money to pay for the kind of home they are looking for

Independent Living Communities often include a number of optional services, including:

  • Recreational, educational, and social activities such as shopping trips and cultural outings
  • Communal Meals
  • Housekeeping
  • Local transportation
  • Exercise facilities, such as pools, saunas and exercise machines
  • Libraries
  • Beauty shops
  • Gardens
  • Activity rooms or clubhouses
  • Golf courses
  • Tennis and shuffleboard courts

Some communities include full-time directors for social or recreational services, while others offer only informal activities.  Some communities may have a social worker on staff to assist in contacting agencies that provide medical or personal care.

There are many quality Independent Living Communities in California.  View some of your options in the following cities:

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