What Are The Pros And Cons Of Assisted Living Communities?
If you have a loved one who is aging and no longer able to live on their own, you might be considering hiring a nursing staff to help around the house, or moving your loved one to a nursing home or assisted living facility. Here are some pros and cons of choosing assisted living.
Pro: They are able to socialize with others
A great benefit to having your loved one move to an assisted living community instead of remaining at home is that they can be around others of the same age and interests. If your grandmother currently lives at home alone, she might not have many visitors or socialize with others aside from people providing in-home care, especially if your grandfather has passed. It can help to not only have companions at assisted living communities, but friends. She will be surrounded by other people around the same age who likely have similar interests.
Con: It can be costly
Unfortunately, assisted living is not a budget-friendly option. While it is sometimes less expensive than at-home care, this really depends on your loved one's needs. Consider the fact that assisted living doesn't always have medical care, but can still cost nearly as much as paying someone to come to their home and provide nursing care. You should decide what types of services and amenities your loved one needs when deciding if this is a good option or not.
Pro: There are a variety of amenities
Another benefit to choosing assisted living is that the communities have many benefits your loved one's personal home might not have. For example, they often have groups and clubs for different activities, such as walking clubs, computer lessons, and rec rooms where people get together and play board games each day. There may also be a dining hall on-site so your loved one doesn't have to worry about meals or eating out. There may also be some assisted living tasks provided by the employees, such as helping with medications, errands, dressing, and bathing.
Con: Adjusting to group living can be difficult
When someone has lived in their own home for several decades, it can be difficult adjusting to a group living environment. With assisted living, your loved one might be living in a room surrounded by other people. It is good to have this socialization, but there is definitely an adjustment period for some people when they first move there. Contact a business, such as Heritage Commons, for more information.