Embrace the Perks: The Benefits of Assisted Living
The term ‘assisted living’ has become a catchphrase for everything relating to senior living. Rather than an accurate umbrella term, however, assisted living is a specific type of senior living community.
The best assisted living retirement communities help older adults maintain their dignity and independence with convenient amenities and services provided 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. These include meals, maintenance and housekeeping, transportation, social activities and programs, fitness opportunities, and more.
Assisted living has further essential perks. They can provide help and support with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as assistance with medication set-up and reminders, dressing, bathing, hygiene, etc., and other ADLs as needed.
What this means is that by living in assisted living, you’re opening the door to a vibrant and engaging lifestyle with assistance available when needed.
The National Council of Aging has reported on the benefits of assisted living. These include, but are not limited to the following.
Maintenance-Free Living
There’s often a strong reluctance for aging adults to move out of their homes. However, taking inventory of the responsibilities, chores, and isolation inherent in remaining in your home can shift that way of thinking.
Living in assisted living is almost magical. The light bulb in the front hall needs changing. Poof, it’s done. Your linens and bed sheets need to be stripped, washed, and dried? Snap; it’s done. Dusting and vacuuming; dusted and vacuumed. Daily chores just seem to disappear.
In assisted living, you enjoy three meals/day so you won’t have to plan your meals, grocery shop, cook, and clean up afterward. You’ll have freshly made meals served to you in a restaurant-style venue, with no dishes to wash or kitchen to clean afterward.
A major benefit of assisted living is that the tedious tasks are done for you. This means that you can spend more time participating in activities that bring you joy.
You choose exactly what you want to do and when you want to do it, and you get some extra help when you need it.
Assisted living is independence with support. This balance provides a sense of autonomy while ensuring safety and support
A Built-In Social Life
AARP reports that the impact of isolation is widely known to be mentally and physically devastating. The result can lead to anxiety, depression, compromised immune function, mental decline, and more. While most people enjoy the opportunity for some solitude, few, if any, enjoy forced, consistent solitude all the time. When older adults age in place within their home, they’re more likely to be isolated and lonely.
Assisted living communities are full of people just like you—ready to chat, share a meal, or participate in a fun activity. These include book clubs, movie nights, exercise classes, card games, and more. Assisted living offers countless opportunities to connect with others. You might meet your next best friend in the elevator or finally find someone who shares your love of stamp collecting. The point is you won’t have to go out of your way to be social—it happens naturally. And then, when you want to spend alone time, you can simply read a good book or enjoy nature or watch your favorite program.
Safety First, But With Freedom Attached
Whether ambulation is a challenge or climbing stairs feels like an Olympic event, assisted living can provide a safe alternative. Assisted living communities are designed with safety in mind, featuring accessible layouts, emergency response systems and 24/7 assistance. The National Center for Assisted Living conducted a survey about the level of safety and security felt by seniors. The results are overwhelmingly positive.
And what’s important is that you don’t have to feel like you’re losing your freedom. Assisted living communities offer plenty of activities and excursions that encourage independence while keeping safety at the forefront. It’s like having your cake and eating it too (and maybe that cake is served by a friendly staff member in the dining room).
Stress-Free Family Relationships
It’s hard for seniors to accept care from loved ones, and it’s challenging for loved ones to provide that care. It can strain even the closest relationships and certainly changes the dynamics.
Moving into assisted living can take that pressure off of everyone. Instead of family members worrying about doctors’ appointments, medication schedules or mobility challenges, they can focus on spending quality time with you. You’ll no longer be the subject of a family group chat titled, “Is Mom/Dad OK?!” Instead, you can all relax, knowing that help is just steps away.
Assisted living also means peace of mind for you. No more guilt about asking for help or feeling like a burden. Your family can visit for fun—rather than to fix things around the house or fret over your well-being.
Conclusion: Assisted Living-It’s Not What You Think (It’s Better)
The thought of moving into assisted living might bring some apprehension, but the reality is, it does not have to. You’ll gain freedom from responsibilities and chores, a vibrant social life with friends, access to 24/7 help, and a safe environment—all without sacrificing your independence. In fact, a move can help you stay more independent for longer!
So, instead of dreading the idea, think of it as moving to an assisted living community where your toughest decision of the day might be which fun activity to join or which dessert to indulge in after dinner. That sounds really nice, doesn’t it?
The residential accommodations in assisted living at The Carrollton promote independence while providing personalized assistance tailored for the care our residents need.