Making the move to a retirement community is a major life change. For couples, this decision and transition is much easier knowing they can stay together in the same community even if their care needs change. As a Life Plan Community, we already have multiple levels of care in place within our community – which makes it an ideal place for couples. We also understand each situation is unique, so our team of senior living advisors works with couples and their families to find the optimal fit at Clark.
Following are various senior living options for couples we offer at Clark:
Independent Living at Clark is ideal for couples who don’t need extra assistance at this time but are looking for an active community that is maintenance-free and offers a wide range of amenities. Independent Living gives residents the freedom to enjoy retirement living and the peace of mind knowing that a continuum of care exists within the community if something were to happen. Whether you are in the market for a spacious townhome, a luxury or cozy apartment, or something in between, Clark has the right fit for you. Our team can help you find the location, floor plan, and features to compliment your lifestyle.
Sometimes, spouses have different levels of independence. One may need more daily support while the other is quite independent. In situations like this, the more independent spouse often takes on the caregiving role which may come at the expense of their own health. This is a situation where Assisted Living at Clark would be beneficial and provide relief to the caregiving spouse. Assisted Living provides support with daily activities such as medication management, personal care, housekeeping and meals. Couples who were once muddling through, can now thrive in an environment where they get the support they need and focus on what brings them joy.
At Clark, we offer multiple options for couples depending on the situation. Windsor Manor at Keller Lake offers beautiful suites for assisted living. Residents enjoy large decks overlooking the lake and bountiful nature as well as spacious areas for activities and intimate dining areas. Our Clark at Franklin community offers assisted living with various accommodations to meet different needs. Residents can enjoy many of the amenities we offer including a bistro, creative expression room, greenhouse, MiniMart, and Chapel.
It is common when one spouse has dementia, the other spouse becomes the primary caregiver. The caregiver’s health often declines, sometimes even faster than the spouse with dementia. The family struggles to figure out how to care for both parents. A common question that arises as families look to assisted living and memory care options is “How do we keep our parents together?” or “Should we keep them together?”
Memory Care at Clark is similar to assisted living but offers a safe and secure environment for those experiencing memory issues and/or dementia. Our innovative memory care programming includes music therapy and our Montessori for Aging and Dementia program, led by experienced and specially certified professionals.
Because memory care requires more in-depth support, couples at Clark are able to stay together within the community while being just a short walk away from each other. One such couple at Clark spends their days together with devotionals in the mornings and meals throughout the day. Our experienced memory care team provides the wife with the important care she needs. This provides a huge relief to her husband who is able to spend his days with his wife, but not have to bear the weight of daily caregiving.
A common experience we see with aging couples who are living on their own but could benefit from extra support is that as their abilities become more limited, so too does their world. It can be isolating if they aren’t able to get out as much or socialize with friends and family. It is a beautiful thing we witness when a couple walks through our doors and the feeling of being landlocked at home is replaced with their whole world opening right up! They no longer have to worry about managing day-to-day issues or bearing the sole responsibility of caring for an ailing spouse. Instead they can focus on enjoying time together. Not only that, they’ll be pampered by a team who is there to support them. In fact, we sometimes refer to life at Clark like being on a luxury cruise ship. Everything is right at your fingertips. You’ve got a chef, entertainment, housekeeping and even a cruise director!
To learn more about senior living options for couples at Clark, contact our senior living advisors at marketing@clarkretirement.org or 616-278-6520 or fill out the form below to schedule a personalized consultation to discuss your unique situation and see if Clark is the right fit for your loved one.