Deciding to move into an assisted living facility is not always easy. There are many factors to consider, such as finances, health, and lifestyle. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of both agings in place and moving to an assisted living facility. We hope that this information will help you make the best decision for yourself and your loved ones!
Many seniors are aging in place and moving to assisted living. There are many advantages to aging in place, as well as many advantages to moving to assisted living. Seniors need to consider all of their options before deciding where they will live during their retirement years.
Key Takeaways
- Aging in place is a great option for many people, but it isn’t for everyone. If you have trouble getting around or need more help with daily tasks, assisted living may be the better choice.
- There are many important factors to consider when deciding whether to age in place or move to assisted living. You should talk with your loved ones and make sure they have a say in the decision-making process.
- You should also think about your finances and whether or not you’re able to afford assisted living costs—and what kind of lifestyle change that would mean for you and your family members (if any).
Deciding between Aging In Place vs Assisted Living
We all want to age in place. It’s the ideal situation—you stay in your home, surrounded by the people and things that mean the most to you, with as little disruption as possible.
But as we age, many of us will need help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. And sometimes even simple tasks like getting around can become difficult or dangerous. If you’re having trouble with daily living activities and aren’t sure where to turn for help, there are several options available:
• Aging in place: You receive care from friends and family or hire a caregiver for short-term care needs such as housekeeping and meal preparation. This option is best if you have enough money saved up to pay for services out of pocket or have a long-term care insurance policy that covers home health care services.
• Assisted living: You live in an apartment or other type of unit where meals are provided and there are nurses on staff 24 hours a day. This option requires less supervision than nursing homes do; however, assisted living facilities do not offer medical care or rehabilitation services unless they are part of an extended care facility (such as a nursing home).
Pros of Aging In Place
Maintain freedom and autonomy
Aging in place is a great way to continue to maintain your freedom and autonomy as you get older.
You can stay in the home that you love, surrounded by friends and family. You don’t have to worry about moving out or giving up the things you’ve worked hard for all your life.
Familiar environment
One of the best things about Aging In Place is that you get to stay in your own home, in your familiar environment. You don’t have to move away from your friends, family, and community just because you’re getting older.
Helpful Technology
As you get older, you might start to feel like technology is an enemy. But it’s not!
Technology is there to help you live your best life—and it can help you do that when you’re in your home, too. Here are some of the ways technology can help Aging In Place:
Security Cameras: You’ll be able to see what’s going on in your home at any time, as well as set up alerts if something happens that you need to know about.
Smart Appliances: You can control all your appliances from a distance if something goes wrong with them and need repair. This also means that if a loved one comes over and needs help with the oven or laundry machine, they don’t have to wait for someone else to come over and fix it—they can just do it themselves!
Home Monitoring: You might want someone else monitoring your home while they’re away on vacation or on a business trip. With this technology, they’ll be able to check on things remotely and make sure everything is okay while they’re gone!
Medical alert id bracelet: An aging-in-place medical alert ID bracelet is critical. It should have your name and phone number on it, as well as the name of your doctor and a list of medications you’re taking. The bracelet should also include any allergies you may have and any conditions you have that would require emergency assistance.
Comfort of home
When you’re aging in place, you get to stay in your own home—which means you can keep your routine and the people who matter most to you close by.
Established Social Community
Living at home can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. If your loved one has established a strong social community in their neighborhood, they will likely want to stay close to those people for as long as possible. This is especially true if they have children or grandchildren who can help them with daily activities and errands.
Being closer to loved ones
Aging in place is a great way to be closer to loved ones. As we age, we may lose mobility and strength, which can make it difficult to travel and visit people. By staying in our own homes, we can remain close to family and friends while continuing to enjoy our independence.
The cost could be lower depending on the circumstance
It’s a common misconception that aging in place is more expensive than moving to assisted living. While this can be true if you need a lot of help, it’s important to remember that the cost of assisted living is often more expensive than the cost of maintaining your home.
For example, if you’re going through physical therapy, or even just helping someone move around their house, you might be paying for an outside therapist or professional caregiver that could be avoided by staying in their own home.
Additionally, if you have a bad fall in your home and break something, it might cost more than simply getting some help from family members or friends to move around.
Cons of Aging in Place
Adjustments to home needed
The biggest con of aging in place is that you might need to make home modifications or adjustments to your home. If you’ve lived in your home for years, you might have some things that are no longer easy for you to use or operate, like the stairs. You may also have appliances or fixtures that don’t work as well anymore.
Some things can be fixed with a little work and know-how, but others might require professional help. If you’re not sure about what kind of repairs or renovations will be necessary, it’s always a good idea to consult with someone who has experience working on homes like yours.
Additional equipment needed
Aging in place is a wonderful way to live. You can stay in your house, where the only thing that’s changed is that you have more equipment than ever before.
The biggest con of aging in place is that you need to make sure your house is equipped with home modifications with everything it needs to support you as you age. You’ll probably need a walker or wheelchair, and if your house doesn’t have stairs, you’ll need an elevator. You may even want grab bars installed in the bathroom. You’ll also probably want to invest in some easier-to-use appliances, like a microwave with voice control or a stove with larger buttons for easier turning on and off.
Could be more burden to a family member(s)
One of the biggest risks of aging in place is that it could be more of a burden on family members. As you grow older, you may become less independent and need help with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or getting around. This can cause stress for your loved ones, who may already be dealing with their responsibilities and financial concerns.
Pros of Assisted Living
Meal prep is handled for
One of the best things about assisted living is that meal prep is handled for you. You can enjoy your meals without feeling like you have to cook them yourself.
No need to handle bill payments
One of my favorite things about assisted living is that you don’t have to worry about paying bills. The facility does it all for you! You just relax and enjoy life, knowing that your bills are being taken care of.
No housekeeping to do
Let’s face it: housekeeping is a drag.
You have to find time to do it, you have to find the supplies and equipment, and then you have to do it. And if you’re like most people, there are always a bunch of other things on your plate that seem more important than cleaning your bathroom or doing laundry—like getting ready for work the next day or going out with friends.
But when you live in assisted living, you don’t have to do any of that! Your housekeeping is taken care of by professionals who know how to take care of business so that you don’t have to worry about it anymore. You can rest easy knowing that no matter how messy your house gets, someone else will be there to clean up after you and keep things looking tidy (and smelling fresh).
Safer Environment designed for seniors
opens in a new windowAssisted Living is a safer environment designed for seniors usually with a local senior center. The facilities have an emphasis on safety and security, with a wide range of services that help to ensure the comfort of the residents.
The homes are usually equipped with trained staff and a home health aide who can help with daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning, which allows seniors to retain their independence while living in a safe environment.
Reduced chance of mental & physical health issues
One of the biggest benefits of living in an assisted living community is that it can help you avoid mental and physical issues. Geriatric care managers work with residents to help them stay mentally and physically active, and visiting caregiver services run by the facility can provide additional support.
For residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, having a caregiver nearby can be a big help. And for those with diabetes or heart conditions, having access to medical care is important. Assisted living facilities also help residents avoid accidents and injuries.
This is especially helpful for those who are prone to falls or accidents when they’re alone. So if you’re looking for a place to live where you can get the support you need, an assisted living community may be the right choice for you.
Medical help is readily available
Assisted living, for the most part, is a place where you can get medical help when you need it.
This is an important pro because many people will be able to live in assisted living facilities longer than they would be able to if they were living alone or with family members who aren’t equipped to handle their medical needs.
Cons of Assisted Living
Lack of freedom and autonomy
One of the biggest cons of assisted living is a lack of freedom and autonomy. While many facilities do offer residents a certain amount of freedom, they are still not as independent as they would be in their own homes. With assisted living, residents are typically provided with meals, transportation services, laundry services, cleaning services, and other amenities that can make it easier for them to live independently.
Can be understaffed, leading to negligent care
Assisted living facilities can be understaffed, leading to negligent care. The environment is not as safe as it could be, and residents are at risk for injury.
Less privacy
Unlike in a opens in a new windownursing home, where you’re confined to a room (not a private room) and have little interaction with other residents, assisted living residents to tend to be in a communal space for much of their time. This can be a good thing—it helps foster a sense of community, and it can make it easier for families to visit multiple people at once.
However, it also means that you’ll likely be sharing space with people who may not share your values or interests. This can lead to conflict and stress for some people, especially if they prefer more solitude to socialization.
Less time to spend with family and loved ones
One of the biggest cons of assisted living is that it takes away from the amount of time you can spend with your family and loved ones. If you’re living in assisted living, you won’t be able to spend as much time with your family as you would if you were living on your own.
In addition, assisted living also means that there are other people around who need assistance as well. This makes it difficult for residents to get all of the attention they need when they need it most.
Can be very expensive
The biggest con of assisted living is the cost. Since assisted living facilities are usually more expensive than other types of senior care, many people find it difficult to afford assisted living. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021, the average monthly cost for assisted living is $4,500, which boils down to about $148 per day (and adds up to $54,000 per year).
Isolation can lead to depression.
Isolation can lead to depression, and this is one of the biggest cons of assisted living. It’s hard to feel lonely when you’re surrounded by other people all day, but if you’re in a facility that doesn’t provide opportunities for socializing and community building, it’s easy to get depressed.
In addition, some studies suggest that living alone can lead to depression. The data on this is mixed—but it seems like it’s probably not a good idea to move into an assisted living facility if you’re currently living alone.
Aging In Place vs Assisted Living FAQs
Is senior living and assisted living the same thing?
Assisted living is a completely different form of senior living and offers a level of care that does not exist in independent living facilities. Assisted living facilities focus on senior care; which includes everything from health care to personal care.
What is the average life expectancy in a nursing home?
The average duration of stay before death was 13.7 months, with a median of five months. Within six months, half of the nursing home residents in the study perished. Men died after a three-month median stay, while women died after an eight-month median stay.
At what age do most people go to a nursing home?
Nursing homes housed 48% of residents who were 85 years or older, relatively few being younger than 65. The majority of nursing home occupants are women (72%), and many lack a spouse–70% are widowed, divorced, or never married.
Does Medicare cover assisted living?
No, the Medicare benefits do not pay for assisted living homes or any other long-term residential care, such as nursing homes or memory care. Residents of Medicare-covered assisted living facilities are entitled to the same benefits as all other Medicare beneficiaries in any living situation received.
What is needed for aging in place?
Aging in place is a term that describes the ability of older adults to live independently in their own homes, with minimal assistance.
While you might think that aging in place is just a matter of having the right equipment, it’s much more than that. It requires a combination of equipment, services, and community support.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A home that’s accessible. Your home should have no more than one flight of stairs and be wide enough to accommodate your wheelchair if needed. If you live in a second-floor apartment, make sure there’s an elevator or ramp for ease of access.
- The right equipment and supplies. You’ll want grab bars in bathrooms and kitchens so you can get around safely without help from others; grab bars for toilets so you can get up and down safely; some sort of monitor system so people can check on you easily; a walker or cane if walking is difficult; a rollator if stairs are an issue; a stair lift if they’re problematic (but this can be expensive!).
- Maintenance help from professionals like plumbers, electricians, and carpenters who can fix problems as they occur – especially if it involves something you can’t do on your own.
- A good cleaning service to keep things in order. You’ll need someone who can do laundry, vacuum, and dust around the place, change linens and make beds, and clean bathrooms and kitchens when you’re not able-bodied.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision of whether to age in place or move to the assisted living community is a deeply personal one. It depends on your individual needs and preferences, as well as your financial situation. If you’re considering making a change, I encourage you to contact me for opens in a new window a free consultation. We would be happy to discuss the many options available to you and help you make the best decision for your unique circumstances.
