Regular Post
Written by webtechs

Assisted Living Pros and Cons | Advantages & Disadvantages

Assisted Living Pros and Cons

It is sometimes difficult for someone to make the choice to move into a senior housing community. Today’s seniors face a lot of options regarding where they will live. Seniors that require around the clock assistance but aren’t entirely dependent are possibly a great fit for an assisted living facility. Although, this is sometimes thought of as a step away from a nursing home. With assisted living, there are a lot of advantages, but they also come with some drawbacks. It is for this reason, it’s important that family members and their loved ones discuss living option early, openly and honestly.

480-405-1129
Schedule a Tour

Assisted Living Pros and Advantages

The Pros of Assisted Living Include:

Additionally, assisted living comes with one important benefit; it allows seniors that suffer from the beginning stages of dementia or are challenged physically, to live their life somewhat independent. A assisted living facility can offer medical care on-site; but typically don’t around the clock staff. The level of medical care that is provided in assisted living facilities is appropriate for the seniors that don’t need a full-time nursing home, but instead only need help with meals, daily activities, medications, and transportation.

Because of the health situations of seniors being able to change quickly, accommodating living arrangements are usually offered by assisted living facilities, providing the benefit of adapting fast changes of the seniors needs.

Assisted living communities have active and spirited seniors that can manage the most of routines on by themselves. As a result, assisted living offers a setting that has more of a home-like setting with the personal freedom and privacy appreciated by a lot of seniors. Therefore, seniors won’t have to stress over regular property maintenance, like mowing the lawn, that sometimes can become challenging.

In addition to more of privacy and having more control for its residents, assisted living facilities also offers the opportunity of socializing. As some seniors become lonely and secluded when living at home, this can be a huge benefit to help keep them active. Residents at assisted living facilities get the chance to socialize with their peers on a daily basis, and have a wide range of scheduled events, like arts & crafts, dancing, field trips, and exercises.

Usually, there is a lower monthly cost that comes with assisted living in comparison to nursing homes, because continual medical care is not provided. Additionally, there are some financial assistance available with long-term insurance programs and veteran’s programs.

Pro: It Lets Seniors Get Assistance with Day to Day Activities

There are a lot of seniors that are not about to do simple tasks every day. For instance, they have a hard time doing simple things like bathing themselves and preparing their own meals.

When seniors move into assisted living facilities, they can get all the assistance they need. This can prevent seniors from falling. It also guarantees they’re eating correctly.

Pro: It Allows Seniors the Opportunity to be Social

When does your senior get the opportunity to socialize? If they don’t get to interact with other seniors frequently, it might be taking a toll on their mental health.

Assisted living for seniors offers them with the opportunity to socialize with other seniors every day. Seniors can play games together, watch movies and tv together, and, most notably, talk with each other.

Pro: It Assists Seniors in Maintaining a Feeling of Their Independence

When you lose your independence, it is probably one of the worst parts about aging. When you find that you can’t do a lot of the things you used to, it might send you into depression.

Seniors who live in assisted living facilities can reclaim the independence they once thought they lost. Instead of having to depend on their children or others to care for them, they may live independently and do what they want in the boundaries of the facility.

Assisted Living Cons and Disadvantages

The Cons of Assisted Iiving Include:

Unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities don’t offer comprehensive on-site medical care. Because of this, seniors that require thorough specialized care or medical care or, and seniors suffering with moderate dementia or Alzheimer’s could need a higher level of care than an assisted living facility is able to provide.

There are a lot of seniors which would rather stay in their home and might have issues in adjusting to the group setting and the facilities policies. Some facilities offer different room types, including semi-private rooms, when seniors might find a roommate to be challenging. Additionally, there may be certain policies, like smoking bans or pet policies that may make adjusting challenging.

One other major downside for a lot of seniors is the cost. As Medicare won’t cover assisted living facilities. Moreover, personal care is sometimes treated as an additional charge to the monthly cost.

In general, assisted living is an option that offers a safe and secure setting for seniors that aren’t fully dependent, but it may not be the best option for everyone. The decision to choose between assisted living facilities or other kinds of senior living will need the long-term health consideration, requirements, and senior’s personal preferences.

Con: It Can be Expensive

A 2014 survey discovered that there are a lot of seniors that are paying more than $40,000 annually to live in an assisted living facility. $3,500 is the national average monthly rate that seniors and their families are paying for a 1 bedroom.

Many seniors can afford it by selling their homes and personal belongings. Many families are going deep into debt, the cost is just too much for many people.

Con: It may Limit the Seniors Privacy

While a lot of seniors like the socialization that happens in assisted living facilities, but also times when they want to be by themselves. And it might be hard to maintain privacy when you are continually surrounded by others.

Assisted living staff members are continually going in and out of seniors’ living quarters for welfare checks and are running into other seniors every day. It might make the seniors feel like they’re not able to get access to the privacy they want.

Con: It Sometimes Provides Seniors with Insufficient Medical Care

There are a lot of people that are under the impression that seniors get top notch medical care while living in assisted living facilities. But rather, a lot of assisted living facilities only offer very basic medical care, if they offer any at all.

Seniors that have been stricken with chronic health conditions won’t typically find the help they require in an assisted living facility. In addition, seniors that have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia won’t get the assistance they need inside an assisted living facility.

Canyon Winds Offers Assisted Living in Mesa, Arizona

Canyon Winds Retirement is an assisted living facility in Mesa, Arizona. To schedule a tour of our assisted living facility, contact SLS Communities or for more information please call us today at 480-405-1129.

480-405-1129
Schedule a Tour

If you’re looking for the best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix area that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities like beautifully manicured landscaping, sparkling swimming pools, movie rooms, on-site salons and barbers, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facility
0