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Jan 27, 2022

Why Assisted Living at The Ridge Is Often the Right Answer for Couples

People age at different rates and some more dramatically than others. Senior living communities offer multiple levels of care in addition to independent living, so when married couples move in, they know they’ll receive whichever level of care they need at precisely the right time. But what if their care needs aren’t in sync? What if one partner requires a certain level of care — say assisted living — and the other doesn’t? Can they still live together while each receives appropriate care and pays only for the services they need? Yes! At The Ridge Senior Living communities, they can.

The importance of keeping couples together

Married seniors have a connection with one another. Their time together is vital, not only to their emotional health, but to their physical and cognitive health as well. Elderly couples tend to care for each other in tangible and intangible ways, and if one partner is required to leave the household, the other’s physical or mental health is likely to deteriorate. Their diet may suffer. Their mobility may be diminished. Feelings of stress and anxiety may increase. In the long term, this can develop into profound loneliness — a condition that can affect cognitive, cardiac and circulatory health.  

An increasingly common request

It’s actually not unusual for couples seeking senior independent living or assisted living to have one partner needing care while the other is currently more independent. Sometimes, one partner has been serving as caregiver to the other. Senior living is seeing an increasing number of families looking for living options for couples with differing care needs.

Some senior living communities don’t allow a couple to live together when one spouse is right for independent living and the other requires assistance with activities of daily living. Other communities, like those within The Ridge Senior Living, prioritize not only keeping couples together, but also ensuring that each person gets their own unique needs met so couples can live in the same residence and pay only for the services each needs. 

At The Ridge Senior Living, couples can choose the apartment size, features and levels of care that are right for them. Both partners can reside together in an assisted living residence that features easy access to wellness and social opportunities, as well as help with activities of daily living from friendly, highly capable caregivers. These caregivers offer personalized assistance to the partner who needs it and are available around the clock.

Each of The Ridge communities in Salt Lake City and Holladay, Utah, and in Lakewood, Colorado, offers a variety of care solutions right on one campus — from independent living and assisted living to memory care. An individual who’s part of a couple in assisted living can receive the personalized assistance they need, while they both spend as much time together as they like. They can attend meals together, take advantage of community amenities together, attend events together and even entertain family together. And they’ll only be charged for assisted living services for a single partner.

Assisted living at Ridge communities

Ridge team members handle everything from medications and hygiene to meals and housekeeping, so the more independent spouse within the couple has some time and space to address their own personal needs and interests. This living situation puts an end to the stress of attempting to serve as caregiver to one’s spouse and provides the professional care needed for each person to focus on enjoying their time together. Assisted living at any of The Ridge communities includes:

  • Well-designed gathering places to encourage shared experiences
  • Around-the-clock staff monitoring health concerns
  • Full-time, dedicated lifestyle directors
  • Flexible dining plan options with fresh, diverse menus
  • Extra help with activities of daily living
  • Medication management
  • Local transportation

Real-world solutions at The Ridge Senior Living

Many couples rely on each other for companionship and support as they age. Yet the health of one partner may decline to the point that it’s too difficult to continue living in their home. This puts pressure on both people — the caregiving spouse who may be unable to provide the level of assistance needed, and the spouse who really needs something more. Still, they both wish to be together. At any of The Ridge Senior Living communities, they can do that.

Assisted living at a Ridge community fulfills the promise of privacy, respect and peace of mind. We believe every resident should benefit from a comfortable, invigorating lifestyle enhanced by upscale features and smart, age-appropriate technology. Our spacious, pet-friendly one- and two-bedroom assisted living apartments on each beautiful campus help bring  a sense of meaning and purpose to each new day. Find out why assisted living at a Ridge community is tailor-made for couples today. Contact us anytime to schedule your personal tour.