The 10 Best Independent Living Communities in Brooklyn, NY for 2024

Many seniors love how independent living communities reduce unwanted stress, hazards, and fatigue in their lives. Independent living communities take care of housekeeping, yard work and meals while still allowing residents personal space and the dignity of making their own choices. These communities usually provide seniors with an apartment that has a small kitchen, bathroom, living room, and one or more bedrooms. Those who want a small space may even find that some independent living communities offer studio-style apartments. Seniors can invite guests over and enjoy their rooms however they see fit.

Independent living communities often also include the following:

• Numerous opportunities for socializing and exploring new activities
• Easy access to public or community-provided transportation 
• Meal plans for community dining as well as kitchens for seniors who like preparing their own meals
• The ability to keep small- and medium-size pets such as dogs and cats
• Housekeeping, laundry and groundskeeping services 
• 24-hour staff on-site who can be contacted if a problem arises

For a more detailed look at common amenities, check out our guide to independent living communities. 

What Couples Should Know About Independent Living in Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is one of the most urbanized boroughs in New York. Home to hundreds of thousands of seniors, Brooklyn has extensive public parks and senior-friendly attractions, such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which offers discount admission to seniors. The Community Arranged Resident Transportation (CART) Program helps seniors get around town for medical and personal trips in ADA-compliant vehicles and emergency car service on short notice.

Independent seniors in Brooklyn have no end of options to join local groups that welcome aging citizens with free or reduced-cost outdoor events all year round. Brooklyn Bridge Park, for example, is an 85-acre space by the bridge that’s built around sustainable development offers senior basketball and fun runs, as well as free space with a view of downtown Manhattan for picnics and other family events. For seniors with an interest in history, the Brooklyn Historical Society offers discount memberships for seniors aged 62 and older to peruse the exhibits covering the borough’s 400-year history.

Paying for Independent Living in Brooklyn, NY

Seniors in Brooklyn can expect to pay an average monthly cost of $7,695 for independent living. The national average is significantly less, at just $2,550. Nearby communities, such as Forest Hills, are also less expensive than Brooklyn, at $4,449.

The annual cost of living in an independent living community can range anywhere from $12,000-$42,000, depending mostly on the amenities, room type and cost of living in the area. In addition to using personal retirement income, annuities, long-term care insurance, or cashing out an existing life insurance policy, some seniors can use Social Security funds, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments granted due to disability or low-income or HUD-provided housing assistance such as vouchers. Another route many seniors choose to fund their independent living stay is renting out or selling their homes that they won’t need once they move or taking advantage of a reverse mortgage. 

Our guide provides a more in-depth look at independent living costs and solutions for those who want to learn more.  

How to Choose an Independent Living Community

When choosing an independent living community, it’s best to consider many factors, including the community’s proximity to loved ones and medical care, the state of repair that the facility appears to be in, the attitude and efficiency of the staff, the cost of both rent and services, the facility’s pet policy and more. 

Comparing multiple communities can help seniors and their families figure out what they value most in an independent living community. During tours of these communities, staff members should be available to answer questions. To help with the touring and comparison process, we’ve included a checklist full of pertinent questions that anyone can download and print for themselves.

Transitioning to Independent Living

Independent living communities, rather than memory care or nursing homes, are often the first place seniors move to when they realize they need a lifestyle change. The necessity of letting some possessions go and the reality of leaving a home and neighborhood after possibly decades of residence there can make transitioning to an independent living community difficult. These communities are often friendly places, but being in a new environment still initially triggers feelings of loneliness in many seniors. 

Having a strategy for dealing with the challenges of moving can make the transition to an independent living community a positive experience. We’ve created a downloadable step-by-step guide for tips to making this transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible.