Oftentimes, there are lots of misconceptions about assisted living. While some assumed assisted living to be synonymous with a nursing home, some felt it is a place where family members abandon senior relatives whose daily care demands are becoming too burdensome for them to bear. Hence, making the sound of assisted living dreadful to the seniors.
However, these assumptions are very wrong and far from the truth, hence, correcting these wrong assumptions by making you and your loved ones understand what assisted living really means and how much value they stand to gain from it, will help in making them see assisted living as an idea that should be gladly embraced and not dreaded.
What Exactly is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a type of retirement community in place for aging adults to make them have easy access to the assistance they might need in carrying out their Activities of Daily Lives(ADLs) from skilled personnel. Though assisted living suggests a change in the location of the seniors from their personal homes, assisted living communities are designed to promote residents’ independence and are like a home away from home.
Five Biggest Fears About Assisted Living
Due to wrong information, a lot of aging adults have developed a series of anxieties about the idea of assisted living. If you or your loved one are still skeptical about considering assisted living due to a series of fears instilled by misconceptions, then read on to get the right information about common misconceptions about assisted living.
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Assisted Living Means Living a Totally dependent Life:
A lot of aging adults do not welcome the idea of assisted living because they assume it will make them lose the opportunity of living independently. However, that is not the case as assisted living communities are designed to promote residents’ independence. You’ll only get as much or as little help as you would need in daily activities like laundry, cleaning, cooking, personal grooming, and the likes. This means you can choose your activities per time, at your convenience.
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Assisted Living Will Lead to Isolation:
One of the biggest fears faced by aging adults about assisted living is the fear of loneliness. Many assumed that being separated from their homes to the assisted living community would lead to severe isolation from their loved ones. This might sound understandable, however, being in an assisted living community doesn’t mean they will be forbidden from maintaining the relationship between their friends and family. Apart from Personal Care services available in assisted living, there are a number of social activities that help aging adults connect with fellow residents while also maintaining their relationship with their old friends and families.
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Fear of Being Detached From Their Family:
Most seniors feel that being in assisted living will take them away from their families and end up being forgotten and abandoned. Well, being in assisted living doesn’t mean that the family member will be shut out from them. Instead, being in an assisted living community gives seniors the opportunity to have more time to spend with their families and friends. There are a number of activities planned to facilitate and encourage the families and friends of the seniors to visit them and share exciting times with them.
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Fear of Being Monitored and Adhering to Strict Laid Rules:
Some aging adults picture assisted living as being admitted to a boot camp where schedules are to be strictly followed. But this is also a myth that must be debunked. Assisted living gives the residents the freedom to decide on which activities they would want to take part in and engage in any activity that piques their interests.
There are a lot of wrong beliefs about assisted living which might cause fear in you or your loved ones. However, most of these beliefs are mere assumptions as several aging adults end up living an easier and happier life due to the care, and improved social life encouraged by the senior living programs and services activities and services that Assisted Living offers.
