Short answer
Independent living communities and age-restricted 55-plus apartments are both typically unlicensed housing, since neither provides personal care. The difference is services: independent living typically bundles dining, housekeeping, transportation and an activities calendar into the rent, while a 55-plus apartment complex is usually just age-restricted housing with standard apartment amenities.
What independent living adds
- Prepared meals, typically in a shared dining room.
- Housekeeping and often linen service.
- Scheduled transportation to appointments and errands.
- An organized activities and social calendar built specifically for older residents.
What a 55-plus apartment offers instead
Generally just the age restriction itself, standard apartment maintenance, and sometimes a clubhouse or fitness room. For a fully independent older adult who cooks, drives, and wants neighbors roughly their own age without paying for services they do not need, a 55-plus apartment can be the more cost-effective choice.