Many seniors face difficult decisions regarding where to live as they age. Although the majority of seniors may intend to live in their homes, many older adults may choose to live in an assisted living facility. Look at general pros and cons of assisted living facilities to help determine if this might be the best option for a living arrangement for an older adult.
Advantages of Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities have quite a few advantages. As a person ages, he or she may find that caring for oneself may become difficult due to chronic or acute health conditions. Sometimes the care needed does not warrant living in a nursing home, but home care may not be a viable option either.
Friends and family members may assist many seniors with various activities of daily living while they live at home, but those who are helping may become overwhelmed with multiple responsibilities or they may be unable to assist due to other reasons. Some seniors prefer not to ask friends or family members to help them with daily care or do not have anyone living near them that is able to assist.
Older adults who live at home may find the responsibilities of maintaining a home, cooking meals, managing multiple medications, keeping a yard, and finding adequate transportation to be exhausting. They may also feel isolated and lonely, particularly after the death of a spouse. Older adults who live at home alone may be frequent targets of scams to solicit money. Some seniors who live at home alone may be in an unsafe situation, such as the case of an elder who takes narcotics and another person who is addicted seeks those drugs.
Below are a few services that are offered by many assisted living facilities, although each facility may offer more or less services than those listed:
- help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and using the bathroom
- meals at predictable times in a common area
- transportation to appointments, shopping, entertainment, etc. (some assisted living facilities have on-site medical care options)
- management of medications
- housekeeping and laundry services
- access to health, exercise, and wellness programs and equipment
- socialization by living near others and through scheduled programs
- secure environment
Disadvantages of Assisted Living Facilities
Despite the advantages, assisted living facilities may not be the best choice for every senior. Many seniors prefer to live in their own homes. They may have lived in the house since childhood and find their current living situation comfortable, friendly, and do not wish to move in late stages of life. They may find unknown environments difficult to navigate, dread parting with most of their possessions, fear further isolation from family and friends, and look at any facility as a step away from independence.
Different facilities offer different levels of care, and it is important to look at what services are offered to ensure that needs are properly met. For example, someone who has moderate dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will typically require more specialized care that may be provided at some facilities but not at others. Those who required certain medications or specialized medical care may also require a higher level of care than that offered at an assisted living facility.
Seniors who have lived alone for many years may not relish the idea of living in a facility that houses many other people. Some facilities offer semi-private rooms, and elders may find it difficult to live with a roommate. Some assisted living facilities may have certain rules that might be bothersome to a senior, such as smoking and pet policies. Schedules for meals and other activities may differ from the ones typically kept by a senior living at home.
One of the biggest drawbacks of an assisted living facility is the cost. Most assisted living facilities charge a monthly rent with fees added for additional services. At the writing of this article, Medicare does not cover the costs of assisted living facilities, and many seniors find the cost of such a facility is prohibitive. The senior may have saved money all his or her life planning to leave a legacy to children but may discover that funds can quickly dwindle when paying for care such as this.
Although assisted living facilities offer a secure environment, some employees, guests, and other residents may attempt to take items that do not belong to them. Many seniors who reside in assisted living facilities have few personal items, but they often carry a heavy sentimental value. Although infection control is a priority in any facility, seniors may be vulnerable to illness, such as influenza or MRSA, due to facility-acquired infections.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Assisted Living Communities
Assisted living facilities offer an alternative to nursing home facilities for people who need assistance with activities of daily living but not a high level of care. Although these facilities may offer different services in different locations, many seniors find this type of living arrangement to be convenient, safe, and a welcome way to keep from being isolated that encourages their independence as much as possible.
Assisted living may not be the best fit for everyone as these facilities tend to be costly, are not covered by Medicare, and may not provide the level of care needed. Elders who have lived alone for years may be used to a routine developed over many years and prefer to stay in their own home rather than to live in a setting near others with different rules and regulations.
Sources:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home “Alternative Long-term Care Choices” accessed on July 4, 2010
Helpguide.org article by Joanna Saidan et. al. “Assisted Living Facilities: Tips for Choosing a Facility and Making the Transition” accessed on July 4, 2010
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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