Misconceptions of Assisted Living

Misconceptions of Assisted Living

Many people are reluctant to move because they have a pre-conceived notion of what life will be like after the move.  It is also common for people to have unfounded fears about making a move from their current home to a senior care community.  Much of what older adults know about senior care is based solely on stories heard through friends or relatives who investigated assisted living communities in the past or are currently living in a community selected without researching all the options available.  Worse yet, many seniors harbor fears of growing old in an institutional setting, the likes of which have all but disappeared from the continuum of senior living options.

Here are some common misconceptions about the lifestyle of older adults living in assisted living communities:

It will be too expensive
Assisted living is available in many price ranges today depending on how much care you need.  It costs thousands of dollars today to equip and maintain a private home, even one that is paid for.  The property taxes, the maintenance, the groceries and the utilities may in fact, cost more per month than an assisted living community.

I will lose my independence
The truth is, many of the residents who live in assisted living find that they are more independent than they were when living in their homes.  They are free from housework, cooking and paying bills.  They are no longer housebound; if they were unable to drive and were at the mercy of family and friends for transportation, they now are able to go where and when they want using the transportation options available at the community.  No one will restrict their activity in any way.  If they were caring for a spouse at home, that care is now passed to the staff.  This enables them to get back to the activities they enjoy.

I will have no privacy
Privacy means different things to each of us.  For some, assisted living offers more privacy than home care because no one is lingering around your home waiting for you to ask for their help.  In assisted living, help is there only when you need it.  You are free to live undisturbed in your own apartment, with your own private telephone and television.  For your safety, the staff will have access to your apartment; but they must have permission to enter it.  Your medical information is kept locked in a clinical file and may only be shared with your written permission.

The food will be awful
Dining services in assisted living communities vary tremendously.  Finding the right fit for your appetite and eating habits will be crucial.  The food is fresh, well-prepared and snacks are usually available around the clock.  Most people come to assisted living to give up cooking, though you may have a kitchen in your apartment and want to prepare some meals on your own.  To insure satisfaction, make your culinary desires known to the management.  Life without grocery shopping and cooking can bring great freedom.

I can’t possibly live in that small apartment
As we age it becomes harder to maneuver in multiple story dwellings or large homes.  We may find that though we occupy a six room house with a big yard we are in fact only living in one or two rooms; usually the bedroom and the kitchen.  Our formal dining rooms, guest bedrooms, and basements become storage rooms and clutter may begin to make life difficult.  In assisted living, a well-designed simple space with a large private bathroom can simplify life and be a great relief, especially if you are visually or mobility impaired.  Often there is a large living room, a family dining room and game room right outside the apartment whenever we want to use it.  We are no longer searching for things, forgetting what room they are in, running for the phone, and dreading the stairs.  It can be the best of both worlds.

I will be separated from my life-long friends
Many of us find that it becomes difficult to entertain as we age.  We may be unable to drive to visit them.  We may not want to cook or clean.  In this new homelike setting you may invite your friends for dinner, a game of bridge, a birthday party or a concert.  In fact, most activities at the assisted living community are open to friends and family.  In some communities you may arrange for transportation to visit friends or relatives. Your friends may actually become closer.

I don’t want to go to all those activities
It is totally possible to live in assisted living and never go to one planned activity.  Though most people find that even if they don’t want to participate in the activity programs, they enjoy the presence of the other residents.  You can be alone and not be lonely.  The activity programs are all voluntary.  Assisted living is not day camp.  You will not be forced to do anything.  Many residents find they make friends and after a while do choose to join in.  It is common for older adults to find new interests or to regain rekindled interests in activities from the past.

All the residents are old and sick
Though many people come to assisted living because they are feeling unsafe about living alone at home, most residents are not ill.  They may suffer from impairments or chronic conditions but, unlike a nursing home, they are not bedridden or infirm.  The age range at each community is different but most residents are between their late 70’s and 80’s. Although, as people are living longer, we see people ranging from their mid-sixties into their 100’s within assisted living. Many residents can be quite youthful regardless of their age.  It’s important to visit a community several times before choosing to live there.  And most importantly, we all need to change our view in society that a cane, walker or wheelchair equates to being ill.  Assistive devices are important tools to maintain independence and to help avoid falls.

When facing the challenge of moving to assisted living try to keep an open mind. You may come to enjoy it in ways you could have never imagined.