For those who are new to the world of senior housing, the vocabulary can take some getting used to. Sometimes people even consider all senior living options as “nursing” homes. In reality, there are many different kinds of senior housing, each with its own features. Here, we’re going to focus on the difference between two types of senior living: assisted living facilities and independent living.
While the names themselves indicate the primary difference, people seeking to find the right community for themselves or a family member can benefit from understanding the variations in levels of care, staffing, and cost.
The Level of Care
Residents of an assisted living facility need a higher level of care than residents of a retirement community. Assisted living residents need daily assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs), like managing medications, bathing, dressing, driving or arranging transportation, and managing household chores. The facility provides three meals a day and is staffed 24/7 with employees, including medical staff, always available to help residents if they need it. Transportation, housekeeping, and laundry services are usually provided.
Independent living residents don’t need as much care as assisted living residents. Seniors in independent living communities don’t need the level of supervision and assistance as assisted living residents do. A independent living retirement community is designed for seniors (typically age restricted, such as 55 and up) who can generally care for themselves. Seniors may move to a retirement community because they just want the low-hassle lifestyle of a low-maintenance apartment or condo, the convenience of on-site dining and entertainment, or to live around people with similar interests and lifestage and take advantage of the sense of community.
While assisted living facilities provide just one level of care, some retirement communities may have several levels of care available on the same campus. These retirement communities (including CCRCs, or Continuing Care Retirement Communities) feature several types of senior housing: independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and sometimes even specialized memory and dementia care.
The Staff
Assisted living facilities are regulated by state governments. Staffing rules vary by state, and many states do not require fixed staff-to-resident ratios. However, most large assisted living facilities employ some registered nurses full time, and smaller facilities often hire visiting nurses or part-time registered nurses to supervise nurse assistants. These certified nursing assistants, or CNAs, and medical assistants provide care to residents.
An independent living facility probably won’t have medical professionals on site all the time. The community, however, will employ staff that can respond to a medical or security emergency at any time.
The Cost
In general, the more care a resident needs, the higher the cost. So assisted living, with its available services like help with ADLs, three meals a day, laundry, housekeeping, and 24/7 medical staff, will cost more than an independent living retirement community. Accordingly, based on the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey released in 2025, the average monthly cost of an assisted living facility in the United States is $5,900. This comes out to $70,800 per year. The cost varies based on where you live, level of care required, and the facility itself.
Retirement community costs vary as well, depending on geographic location and the amenities offered by the facility. They can start as low as $1,500 a month and can get as high $7,000 a month for luxury communities. That works out to roughly $18,000 to $84,000 a year). If the retirement community is a CCRC (also known as a Life Plan Community), there will also be a one-time admission fee. This fee can be hefty, with the average entrance fee being $400,000.
Latest update: Feb. 11, 2026
