Old age is associated with reduced energy, chronic conditions, poor memory, and mobility challenges. This explains why the concept of aging rarely comes up without people thinking about senior living communities.
However, modern seniors want to enjoy their independence while enjoying the benefits of assisted living. This introduces conflicting schools of thought, with some supporting aging in place and others recommending enrolling seniors in assisted living communities.
Aging in place at a senior living community tries to merge the benefits of living at home with those of assisted living communities. With all these options available, seniors might wonder which one to choose if they want to age gracefully. This article will highlight the modern approach to aging gracefully.
Balance Care and Independence
Seniors want to enjoy a sense of independence even if they need help with daily chores. This explains why some choose to age in place to retain their freedom and do what they are used to in a familiar setting.
Seniors accustomed to living alone and doing basic tasks such as shopping for clothing and groceries might not want to sacrifice this freedom. However, modern senior homes understand the need for freedom and allow residents to organize their lives and engage in activities they like with minimal limitations, if any.
So, families looking for a senior living community should choose one that values independence. The leading senior homes allow residents to organize their schedules, engage in their favorite activities, maintain privacy, and keep objects they value in their rooms. The caregivers in the community only come in when the seniors need assistance.
Maintain Social Connections
Some seniors who choose to age in place do so to protect the social connections they have created for decades. They want to interact with old friends, visit the local shopping malls, use their old cars, and attend local events. They feel that moving to a senior living facility would break social ties and make them lose friends or miss important community events.
However, modern senior facilities ensure residents enjoy daily lives without sacrificing social connections. Although seniors usually have to make new friends in the assisted living facility, they can maintain their old friends and attend social events when necessary. This ensures they age gracefully while enjoying new connections without separating from their old friends.
Favorable Financial Decisions
Aging in place at home requires seniors to pay for housing and assistance. Seniors who run businesses or go to work can pay bills with their monthly income. So, they might be unable to pay for assisted living and would prefer to downsize to smaller apartments to cut costs.
However, modern senior homes offer affordable housing options for seniors with a tight budget. Residents can share houses and amenities, leading to low monthly bills. They can also choose the services they need and increase the level of care as they age. This arrangement ensures that seniors enjoy support only when needed and do not stretch their budget.
Improve Safety
Seniors need a comfortable home modified to match their unique needs. If a senior decides to age in place at home, the cost of installing handrails, grab bars, anti-slip floors, and expanding bathrooms can be too high.
Senior living homes spend large sums of money to improve safety and reduce the chances of injury. So, seniors who want to age gracefully should consider moving to a senior living community that prioritizes safety.
Seniors and their families can decide how to navigate the golden years. Depending on their unique circumstances, they can choose between aging in place at home and moving to a retirement home. However, affordable senior communities that encourage social connections and value safety and independence will likely meet the expectations of modern seniors.