Assisted Living in Maryland

Senior Living Options in Maryland

There are now more seniors living in this country than at any other time in our history. This can be attributed to a couple factors. First, baby boomers are entering their 60s at the rate of 10,000 people per day. Plus, with advances in healthcare technology and services, people are living longer than ever before. Luckily, to keep up with the increasing demand for elder care, there are hundreds of residential communities offering senior living in Maryland.

Forms of Maryland Senior Living

There are several different types of Maryland senior living based on the level of care a retired person requires. For convalescent seniors and those with long term or chronic ailments, the ideal option is nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities. They are licensed by the state to provide nursing care at all hours of the day and night as well as room and board. Plus, they offer access to care specifically tailored to residents' needs along with physical, occupational, and other types of rehabilitative therapy.

Throughout the day, older adults can get more care and companionship in adult day care centers, when their primary caregivers have to be away from the home for work or other purposes. Adult day services supply social activities, medical care, and general supervision during the day.

The perfect blend of independence and onsite health care are found in assisted living communities or facilities. These residential communities offer golden agers personal care services, their own private or semi-private living quarters, and recreational activities, such as day trips and card games. While maintaining a philosophy of promoting dignity and freedom in aging, they encourage the involvement of close friends and family members.

For retirees who are still active and can mostly take care of themselves, independent living is an excellent option. This allows for the most freedoms of all the kinds of Maryland senior living. Residents have a full array of services to choose from, get their own senior apartments or cottages, and can take part in social activities. Seniors who need extra assistance can get it in a type of independent living known as congregate housing.

All of the above varieties of senior living in Maryland are found in one spot with continuing care retirement communities. As they progress through their later years, this gives older adults a consistent environment. Seniors with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of chronic memory loss get the safety measures and care they require in Alzheimer's care, or memory care.

What Makes Maryland Great?

Situated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country, Maryland is one of the smallest states in size and one of the most densely populated states with about 6 million residents. The Old Line State is the wealthiest in the nation and is believed to be the birthplace of religious freedom in America. Officially, the state was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, but many Catholics claim the name comes from the Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Maryland shares a curious island called Assateague Island with Virginia. This island is overrun by ponies that cannot be found anywhere else. They are believed to be the remnants of a shipwreck centuries ago. Some of the more popular destinations in Maryland are located in Baltimore, including the Baltimore Aquarium, Harborplace, and Camden Yards, home of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles.

Why Do Seniors Like Maryland?

The age demographics in Maryland are fairly similar to what you would find in the rest of the nation. That means there is a large senior population. The tax rates in Maryland are also right around the average for the United States. However, the cost of living is higher than average. Due to local variances in proximity to water, protection from colder weather due to downslope winds, and elevation, there are many different climates in the state.

Maryland is home to several of the best medical centers in the world. Chief among them is Johns Hopkins Hospital, which is a Level I adult and pediatric trauma center with more than a thousand licensed beds. And, though the complex was built in 1889 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, it is outfitted with state of the art technology.

There are nineteen area agencies on aging in Maryland to keep residents 60 and over active, safe, and healthy. Maryland is the ideal location to seek out senior living with its excellent health care and wide array of attractions.