1. I will lose my independence! As a matter of fact, most assisted living residents realize that they’re experiencing much more freedom than when they were living in their homes. Upon relocating into an assisted living home, day-to-day tasks are a distant memory. You can forget about housework, doing the bills, and even cooking. In instances where one was housebound or at the grace of a spouse or family member to go anywhere, they can now go where and when they want using the homes transportation. Lastly, if they have been taken care of at home by a spouse, or family member, that care will be taken care of by the staff of the assisted living facility.
2. I don’t want to live with sick people. The typical person that lives in an assisted living home is generally a senior that has endured a decline in their overall health and wellness. This can be prompted by an injury, a medical condition, or simply just due to aging. They may experience challenges to do certain day-to-day activities such as showering or dressing, or they are not as sharp mentally as they used to be. Nevertheless, most of the residents are not ill or bedridden.
3. I will lose privacy. Not only the person that is entering the assisted living facility but their family members have concerns about their personal privacy within a communal living environment. Assisted living facilities are created to provide the utmost personal privacy for residents while providing a cozy and friendly social environment. Most assisted living communities have large dining-rooms, as well as big family rooms for socializing and doing group activities. However, residents that need solitude can simply find it within the privacy of their own room. A number of assisted living homes accommodate 2 people per room, while some offer private single rooms.
4. I don’t like to have to do activities. Activities are always voluntary and no one is forced to do anything they do not want to do. Many people discover that when they don’t want to do an activity, they just like being around other people and socializing.
5. It is so much money. Assisted living facilities are available in numerous price ranges and can vary in cost from $2,500 to $7,000 per month or more, depending on the location, care requirements and size of the facility. What most people don’t realize is that it actually costs a lot of money every month to keep up a personal residence. If you think about merely the main costs associated with living in your own home: real estate tax, repairs, groceries, along with the utilities, one can quickly recognize that an assisted living home may have a similar cost or sometimes cost less than remaining in one’s house.
6. The food will be bad. There can be a huge difference in food and meals from facility to facility. It is vital to be informed and educated in order to find the best fit for you or your family member’s appetite or diet needs. Prior to making a final decision on the facility, you should visit the location at mealtime, try the food and see the interaction of the residents and staff.
7. I’ll never see my family or friends again. This is certainly a preconception from the past. Almost all assisted living facilities have an open door plan that allows guest visitation anytime unlike their nursing home predecessors. An assisted living facility is “home” for the resident and should be treated thus. Family and friends may visit at any time and can typically stay as long as they want. In fact, family and friends will frequently be encouraged to take part in the offered monthly activities. A number of facilities even allow residents to arrange for transport to visit their friends and families.
We hope that you will look past several of these misconceptions of the past and also see assisted living with an open mind. We are positive that you will be happy you did.
