Assisted living vs independent living - what's the difference

At Sentai, we know the value of independent living to the older generations. The prospect of seeking assistance with everyday tasks can seem daunting since it comes with the knowledge that our physical and mental health is starting to decline. 

So, with this in mind, we’ve been thinking about the main differences between assisted living vs independent living.

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to assisted living. Generally, it should create a good balance between promoting independence and offering support where it’s needed. However, the level at which it’s delivered should match the individual’s personal needs. 

Whilst homecare options are popular, they aren’t always best suited to the individual or their families – whether that’s related to issues with finance, time management or simply personal preference. 

Assisted living vs independent living: what’s the main difference?

The main difference between assisted and independent living is that assisted living usually includes the help of another person – whether that’s a family member or professional carer. 

Independent living, on the other hand, refers to the ability of an individual to remain self-sufficient in the smallest of daily tasks. 

At Sentai, we like to think that we sit somewhere in the middle with these approaches. It’s our mission to help the older generations live independently for longer, with the subtle yet effective support of an assisted living device.

Living with assisted independence

When tasks like grocery shopping and remembering appointments become more difficult, concerns about personal health and safety can begin to surface for individuals and their families.

A smart device like Sentai can help to eliminate this worry since its ability to learn personal lifestyle patterns means that its service is tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

24/7, round-the-clock care is not always available to everybody – and it may be unnecessary for individuals that are still independent. 

However, with career and family responsibilities, in many cases, it’s just not possible for families to check in on their loved ones at all hours of the day.

That’s where Sentai comes in. Offering a good balance of assisted living with independent living, whilst giving families peace of mind, this smart device tracks movement, administers reminders for medication, provides entertainment, offers opportunities to connect with loved ones and is directly linked to emergency services, should they be needed. 

And for the family members, a connecting mobile app is available to download, which updates the carer on their relative’s health and wellbeing throughout the day, whilst notifying them of anything alarming.

What about social interaction?

Opportunities for social interaction become evermore important for seniors, especially when getting out and about becomes more difficult. 

With the ability to deliver communication services, Sentai users can easily connect with family and friends throughout the day. There’s no need to worry about forgetting special events or occasions, either, with its ability to remember and relay notifications. 

Whether assisted living or independent living is your current reality, the Sentai device can merely act as a companion, adapting the support it provides to the most intricate of individual needs.