It can be confusing to understand all the different options in senior living. I have written and presented about these very things many times and often focus on the benefits and amenities — chef-prepared meals, built-in activities, utilities included and scheduled medical transportation. But there is no better explanation than one provided from firsthand experience from a resident’s perspective.
During a recent birthday celebration, I was pouring coffee when one of our residents, Marcie Siegel, mentioned that people often misunderstand what Independent Living in senior living really means. Marcie, a retired teacher who has lived in community senior living for several years, said:
“When I tell people that I live at Ridgecrest, many of them assume I’m in assisted living. They don’t realize that so many of us who call Ridgecrest home are living a good life independently -not in assisted living.”
Later, I had the opportunity to sit down with Marcie and ask her to expand on why living in a senior retirement community makes sense for her.
Still a teacher at heart, she came prepared with statistics from a recent article she’d read in Time Magazine. The article referenced average life expectancy has increased to age 79 and that nearly 60 million Americans are now age 65 and older. Thanks to advances in medicine older adults are remaining active, productive, and deeply involved in their communities.
This is a time of transition for older adults as they define a new old age, “reframing seniors from not as a burden but as an untapped resource of talent, experience, and social glue in our society.” [Time Magazine January 2026]
Marcie, who will turn 88 in June, is a perfect example. She is an active volunteer both at Ridgecrest Village and at Center for Active Seniors Inc. (C.A.S.I.). She is completely independent, still drives, and frequently visits family in southern Iowa. She is deeply engaged on multiple fronts and yes, she resides in a community retirement setting in Independent Living.
So, I asked her a straightforward question:
If you don’t need help, why move to a senior community?
Her answer was practical and relatable.
“It’s so nice not having to buy an appliance, like a water heater, when it needs replacing and then find someone to install it. Maintenance changes my furnace filters without me having to ask. My cottage is cleaned and sanitized every other week. I don’t wash windows anymore. I used to struggle to find someone to mow my lawn – not anymore. After a snowstorm, my driveway is cleared promptly so I can get out. I don’t deal with those things anymore.”
She explained that living in a senior community gives her more time for the activities she enjoys, both on campus and throughout the greater community, alongside friends. “Someday, yes, to assisted living… when I need it. But until then, I’m enjoying living independently in my cottage.”
Marcie also mentioned what she calls the “hidden finds” of senior living. For example, having access to someone who understands technology and can help her arrange her Travelogue Presentations. “Some of the programs are like a foreign language,” she laughed. “I couldn’t prepare without Jennifer Taylor’s help.”
Independent Living is often misunderstood. It is not about giving something up; rather, it is about gaining freedom from the burdens of home maintenance and daily upkeep. It is about community, engagement, and peace of mind.
Assisted Living, on the other hand, provides nursing support for those who need minimal assistance with personal care, medications, or mobility. It is there when the time comes, offering security and compassionate care.
Hearing the difference explained directly from someone living it is powerful. We have much to learn from older adults, especially when it comes to what independence truly means.
And as Marcie so wisely reminds us, senior living is not about losing independence. Sometimes, it is about protecting it.
Arndt is a licensed social worker and Director of Marketing at Ridgecrest Village with over 30 years’ experience working in the field of geriatrics and senior advocacy. She can be reached at jarndt@ridgecrestvillage.org.