Unfortunately, the words “assisted living” have long held a negative stigma. For some people, when they think of senior living communities, they imagine a sad, cold, institutional environment. However, the truth is that they are not what they are perceived to be. In fact, their misconceptions couldn’t be farther from the reality for of senior living communities of today. They have changed a lot over the years and offer many advantages over aging at home. And, most seniors who have moved to an assisted living environment find that they prefer it. Here we will discuss the benefits of living in an assisted living community, and how they positively impact residents’ wellness and quality of life.
Some Basics
First, the obvious and most well-known advantages to assisted living:
- Assistance- Residents aren’t giving up their independence, they are just provided help where it’s needed.
- Safe environment- Rooms are designed with seniors in mind and have safety equipment such as ramps, hand rails, and emergency call systems. Also, residents can sleep better at night knowing they are safe from thieves.
- Maintenance- No more stress and hassle worrying about yard work and other typical home maintenance tasks.
- Nutrition- Assisted living communities will craft nutritious meal plans, leaving residents with the fun part: tasting!
- Activity and fitness- Residents have access to on site physical activities and fitness that may not available to them while living at home.
- Amenities- From walking paths to spas, pools, and beauty salons on site, senior living communities have lots to offer.
Social and Emotional Benefits
While the above-listed advantages are important, let’s not forget the social and emotional benefits. Having a rich social life is of great significance and a big contributor to strong emotional health. Many seniors aging at home are at risk of feeling isolated and alone, in turn taking a toll on their emotional well being. Living in an assisted living community provides ample opportunity to stay socially engaged, and develop connections and friendships.
Socialization opportunities may include scheduled activities such as:
- playing games
- watching movies
- doing crafts
- dancing
- exercising
- public outings & more
Aside from scheduled events, it’s the little things that matter. Simply having someone to share a meal with or celebrate a holiday is valuable. Finally, other perks of assisted living are that residents have more peer support, intellectual stimulation, and less boredom.
Given these points, this senior living option looks pretty great.