10 Best Independent Living Communities in Buffalo, NY

Paying for independent living often entails utilizing a combination of resources, most of which will be private in nature. A large part of this is due to the fact that independent living is not technically a senior-care facility, meaning that residents will not receive health or medical care from trained staff as part of the services of the facility. Because of this, programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care insurance do not cover independent living costs. However, you may be eligible for assistance from these programs if you require medically necessary in-home care services while you’re residing in an independent living community.

Below, you’ll find additional information on a variety of payment methods, including housing assistance, VA benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and private funds.

Independent living communities are not care facilities since they do not provide residents with health or personal care, so they do not need a license from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to take in residents.

Combination independent and assisted living facilities

There is a caveat, however. An independent living community may need to be licensed by HYSDOH as an Adult Care Facility (ACF) if it provides, arranges for, or coordinates any one of the following:

• Health-related services
• Medication management
• 24-hour supervision or oversight
• Assistance with personal care
• Assistance with finances
• Case management or service coordination beyond information and referral
• Creation, implementation, or oversight of a resident’s service plan

Some of our partner independent living communities in the Buffalo area do offer more than independent living. They provide care services like assisted living and memory care in combination with independent living. These combination facilities are required to have an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) license, for all offering assisted living care, and an additional Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification, if offering memory care, to operate and be subject to certain requirements based on the type of care being offered.

Standalone independent living

Standalone independent living communities are subject to federal, state, and local housing laws. This includes remaining compliant with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

To learn  more about tenant’s rights, the guides below provide information about housing laws and guides to tenant rights:

• New York Residential Tenant’s Rights Guide
• Warrant of Habitability
• Know Your Rights: Fair Housing Laws

Inspections

With standalone independent living communities being similar to any other rental community, the Department of Permits and Inspections conducts regular inspections of the property. These inspections include maintenance of indoor and outdoor spaces for minimum housing standards, lead paint presence, and more.

The City of Buffalo’s Permit and Inspections Data Resources website lists access to public data around violations and more. The city’s open data guide gives a rundown on how to use the site. If you need assistance, reach out to the office for help.

For independent living facilities combined with licensed assisted living or memory care facilities, view inspection reports on the New York State Department of Health website. Type in the community’s name, run a search, and then click the inspection tab for report details.

New York Department of Health contact information

New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Phone: 866-881-2809
Email: dohweb@health.ny.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Buffalo independent living communities

In the Buffalo area, no specific COVID-19 mandates are currently in effect for independent living communities. Even so, the Erie County Department of Health strongly encourages property owners and residents to follow CDC guidelines and safety measures, such as wearing masks in public, staying current with vaccinations, getting tested upon presenting symptoms, isolating, and conducting passive screening — among a host of other measures.

Also, it’s important to note that an independent living community may have its own guidelines and safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Independent living communities in the greater Buffalo area offer a range of residential options for seniors looking to live on their own in an age-friendly environment with various amenities and convenient services – not to mention, some much-needed communal support. As with any change to your living situation, there are several factors to consider when deciding which of our partner communities to choose.

A mix of care and support offerings

If care and support services are a factor in your decision, some independent living communities do provide such options as part of a combination of care services, but standalone independent living facilities do not provide care services. Of our Buffalo partner independent living facilities, two are standalone communities and one offers senior apartments, too. However, we have another partner that offers assisted living alongside independent living, as well as another that adds memory care. Should, for example, you and a spouse require different levels of care, then you’re assured that the two of you can remain both safe and secure in the same community if you choose one with a combination of care services.

An array of amenities for a variety of interests

One of the benefits of moving to an independent living community is its amenities, especially these days. Many senior communities try to create an all-inclusive experience for residents, some going so far as to even design the property with an onsite barber shop and/or beauty salon. You’ll also find those with a fitness center, game room, billiards lounge, movie room, and arts and crafts center. If you enjoy gardening, there are those that make available raised garden beds for residents. Plus, about 80% of our partner communities in the Buffalo area are dog- and cat-friendly, so there’s no need to worry about your four-legged family members.^[05]

Health care for seniors in Buffalo

The health care options for seniors living in the Buffalo area shouldn’t be much of a concern as the city is home to many excellent medical facilities.

Transportation for seniors in Buffalo

For the most part, people living in Buffalo rely on their cars to get around. A large part of this has to do with convenience, of course. The other part has to do with the somewhat limited public transportation options available through the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA).

NFTA offers the Metro Rail, which is one line that runs along Main Street from the KeyBank Center to the South Campus of the University at Buffalo. The larger option is the bus system. Metro buses cover both Erie and Niagara counties with more than 300 buses in operation. Both the rail and the buses are wheelchair accessible.

Seniors, however, can take advantage of the transportation services available through their independent living communities. More than half of our partner facilities offer complimentary transportation while the rest provide it at cost.^[07]

They can also use the  Going Places Transportation System, a senior-specific, curb-to-curb van service. Just make sure to schedule the service ahead of time – two weeks for health-related trips and one week for non-medical trips. The Metro also offers a paratransit service called PAL Direct.

Additionally, seniors looking to walk to places can certainly do so. The city’s walk score is 67 on a scale to 100, according to Walk Score, which rates cities on the ease of getting around compared to other cities across the nation. A score of 67 means Buffalo is walkable, but there will be some locations or errands that would require a car or other transportation. The neighborhoods of Allen, Grant Ferry, the Central Business District, Bryant, and Front Park are much more pedestrian, with walkability scores of anywhere between 85 and 94. You may even live in a community where you can walk to some restaurants, bars, or coffee shops in no more than five minutes, which is the average for Buffalo residents.^[07]

Senior activities in Buffalo

Buffalo has long been known for its rich history and culture. For one, the city is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, considered one of the architect’s most important projects during his Prairie School era. The house is an integrated composition of connecting buildings, which includes the Martin House itself, as well as a conservatory, carriage house-stable, and smaller residence. On the outskirts of Buffalo, you can also find another of Wright’s homes built for the Martin family, Graycliff, which served as their summer residence.

If architecture isn’t of much interest, then there’s the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site, which allows visitors to tour historically restored rooms, learn more about the event, and experience a number of interactive exhibits. Being on the Eastern shoreline, the city also is home to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, where visitors have a variety of tour options that include a museum, the grounds, and four decommissioned Naval vessels.

Seniors looking to enjoy the outdoors couldn’t have picked a better city than Buffalo. The city’s entire park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, a renowned landscape architect.^[01] Delaware Park, one of his creations, is considered one of the top 10 parks in the world, with plenty of walking paths, a carriage drive, a picturesque lake, and myriad other features – including an audio tour.^[01] There’s also always Niagara Falls State Park, with its hiking trails, gorgeous views, interactive exhibits, and other attractions.

Head over to the college campus and take in a football or basketball game (or many other sports) and cheer on the University of Buffalo Bulls. If you’d rather get involved in more senior-related activity, there are many senior center options available in Buffalo that offer an array of activities, including exercise classes, music, arts and crafts, computer classes, and pickleball, of course. The South Buffalo Community Association is just one of Buffalo centers that provides many activities for seniors, including arts and physical activities available as well as nutrition programs. The Erie County Department of Senior Services also schedules regular events and activities for the senior population. You may find yourself taking part in gardening, doing some crafts, or visiting a local attraction, like the  Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens or Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

You can always roll the dice at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, which offers table games, slot machines, a sports lounge, and dining. You could also head over to the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino for concerts, comedy, and other live entertainment.