Just like any other big life change, a move to senior living can be scary and hard to imagine. Stepping out into the unknown is hard for all of us. Aging, with all its challenges, makes it especially difficult. It’s not surprising if you’re having some fears about assisted living. We’d like to help dispel some of the worry by talking about the top three fears that we hear about most often from seniors considering assisted living.
Fear #1: Will I Lose My Independence?
The “assisted” in assisted living feels like a loaded word for many seniors. A little assistance is good; in fact, it’s great. Giving up the stress and hassle of home maintenance or cooking, having someone there to help you get to the bathroom at night without falling down, or an extra set of eyes on your daily pills to make sure you keep them straight–it all sounds just fine. But some seniors worry it won’t stop there. Does assisted living really mean that you’re giving up control over your life?
On the contrary, assisted living is about restoring independence, not taking it away. Seniors who go without the help that they need often end up trapped and limited. Mobility problems, driving issues, and the rest make it hard to live like you used to. In assisted living, you get as much help as you want or need, not more. And, when the difficult things are handled for you, you can focus on friends, family, hobbies, or anything else that has been getting harder.
Fear #2: Will Assisted Living be Depressing?
Isolation is another great fear for all of us as we age. In previous generations, nursing homes had a bad reputation and often seemed like places where the elderly went to be forgotten and ignored.
Fortunately, assisted living is not the same as a nursing home. Many seniors who move into assisted living find that rather than being lonely, they are more socially engaged than they have been in years. How could you not be? With the option to share meals every day, take classes together, and visit without even having to go outside unless you want to, keeping your social calendar full has never been easier.
With opportunities for entertainment and enrichment available throughout each day, there’s no worry about being bored or left to yourself. In fact, many seniors find their mental well-being improves after a move to assisted living.
Fear #3: Is It More Expense Than it’s Worth?
It’s true that assisted living has a price tag that can make some folks nervous. But remember that the cost of assisted living represents nearly 100% of all your living expenses, including professional caregivers. Add up the costs of owning or renting a home, groceries, utilities, car maintenance and so on. When you combine these with the cost of full-time home health care, you may find that assisted living may actually cost less than staying home.
This doesn’t even take into account the price of the additional amenities available in assisted living, from hair salons to health and fitness and more.
Still feeling like there are too many unknowns to make a decision? Why not come visit? Click here to schedule a virtual tour today and see for yourself.
