As we age, our needs change, and so do our plans and dreams. The two-story, three- or four-bedroom home on a half-acre lot that was perfect for your growing family may be too big, too difficult to manage and too costly to maintain now that you’re on your own.

The key to managing the changes in our lives successfully is knowledge - knowing ourselves, knowing our options, and knowing how to find and choose what’s best for us.

We all want to remain active and independent for as long as possible. That’s no surprise. But what you may not know is that there are more services and ways to receive them than ever before. These services can support you or a family member to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

You can receive services in your own home or apartment, participate in outside community programs, or re-locate to senior housing or a retirement community that meets your needs and preferences. If you need additional help, quality nonprofit personal care homes (sometimes called assisted living) and nursing homes offer more supervision and medical care in a supportive environment that relies on individual attention and high quality services to help residents maintain independence, dignity, self-respect, and purpose.

This guide is designed to give you a basic overview of the many options available for housing, long-term care and services, and encourage you to consider the special merits of nonprofit providers.