Senior Living 101: Your Quick Guide to Senior Care Options

Do you know the difference between Assisted Living and Independent Living? How about Hospice and Palliative Care? What even is an adult day care center?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you’re not alone.

The range of senior care options can feel crowded and complicated. Sometimes, these services overlap, blurring the lines between what each care type offers and when it’s appropriate. Availability might also vary depending on the provider or state, which adds to the complexity. With a nearly 20% growth in the 65+ population in Massachusetts between 2020 and 2025, the demand for senior care options is continuing to rise.

This guide offers a clear overview of the main care options, so you can begin your search with confidence.

What are the main senior care options?

1. Home care
2. Adult day services
3. Assisted living
4. Independent living
5. Nursing homes
6. Memory care
7. Hospice & palliative care
8. Continuing care retirement community (CCRC)

Senior Care Options for Living at Home

1. Home Care

Home care, also known as skilled health or companion care, brings professional support directly into a person’s home. Care may be provided by licensed nurses (such as IV care, catheter care, wound care, or medication administration) or by caregivers like certified nurse’s aides (CNAs) who assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, showering, eating, and mobility.

Non-medical services may include laundry, housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and transportation.

Home care: services provided in the senior’s home, including medical, housekeeping and “activities of daily living” (ADLs). High support.

2. Adult Day Services

Adult day centers offer activities, meals and social interaction for older adults during daytime hours. Some centers may provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and medication assistance, or transportation to/from the center. Seniors who leverage this senior care option typically live at home.

Adult day services: activities, meals and social interaction during daytime hours. Limited support.

Options for Community Living with Moderate Support

3. Assisted Living

What is assisted living? Assisted living communities provide housing plus support with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and medication reminders, while encouraging independence.

Typical services include:

• Three daily meals

• 24/7 caregiver availability

• Scheduled transportation

• Activities and social programming

• Help with ADLs and IADLs

Assisted living: apartment living with activities, meals and assistance with ADLs and IADLs. Flexible support.

4. Independent Living Communities

What is independent living? Independent living is designed for active older adults who want a maintenance-free lifestyle with access to amenities like:

• Apartment, townhome, or cottage living

• Meal plans and dining options

• Social clubs, trips, and cultural programs

• Fitness centers and wellness programs

• Optional housekeeping and transportation

In the Boston area, demand is high—occupancy rates at independent living communities are over 92%. The Commons in Lincoln is addressing this demand with a robust expansion project.

Independent living: low-maintenance apartment & home living with social activities and amenities. Low support.

Options for Facility Living with High Support

5. Nursing Homes

Nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities or skilled nursing and rehab centers are highly specialized care centers. This senior care option is for individuals that require round-the-clock on-site supervision. They offer full health support, cover all basic necessities, assist with ADLs and provide highly personal care. All medical care is supplied by nurses and other licensed clinical professionals.

Nursing homes: round-the-clock supervision with full services and medical care. High support.

6. Memory Care

Alzheimer’s or dementia-specific care usually offers 24-7 supervision in a secured setting. This care may be either stand-alone or part of a larger assisted living residence, nursing facility, or retirement community. Experienced memory care communities even go beyond everyday care to include programs designed to stimulate the mind, strengthen the body and nourish the spirit.

Memory care: specialized nursing homes with memory-specific activities and security. High support.

Hospice and Palliative Care Options

7. Hospice and Palliative Care

These services provide comfort and quality of life for individuals with serious or life-limiting illnesses. Care may take place at home, in a hospice residence, or within a nursing home, assisted living, or independent living community.

• Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and may be provided alongside curative treatments. It includes pain management, therapy, counseling, and support services.

• Hospice care is generally for those with a prognosis of six months or less and focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment. In some cases, hospice care can be discontinued if a patient’s condition improves.

Hospice & palliative care: comfort-focused support at home or in a community. Flexible support.

A Comprehensive Solution

8. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

What is a continuing care retirement community? A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) offers multiple levels of care on one campus—independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing—so residents can “age in place.”

Benefits include:

• One-time entrance fee plus more predictable monthly costs

• Seamless transition between care levels

• Strong community and long-term stability

• Emotional peace of mind for families

Continuing care: aging in place with a sliding scale of support from independent living to skilled nursing. Flexible support.

Choosing the Right Option

At the end of the day, you and your family will have the best sense of which option is right for you. This guide is here to help you navigate the different senior care options and terms that you’ll come across, but it’s really just the start of your journey to choosing the right care option.

The big takeaway to remember here is that senior care options differ primarily based on:

1. Level of care
2. Living situation

Those two factors will help you narrow down the type of care you or your loved one may need now and in the future.