Why Senior Living Can Be A Safer Option Than Aging In Place?

July 20, 2021 0 Comment Category: Assisted Living

The senior care industry is full of phrases and acronyms that many of us learn only as we begin to age. You may have heard the common phrase “age in place” and might have wondered what it means. Generally, aging in place means getting older in one location, typically, the family home, making use of support services and resources. Even though the concept can sound good, it might not be the best option to remain as healthy as possible. This is because aging in place can lead to issues with socialization, wellness, and accessibility.

 

In fact, in the middle of this global pandemic, the safest place to be for seniors may be in an assisted living facility or other senior care facilities, instead of isolated homes. Let us see why senior living can be a safer option when compared to aging in place.

 

Accessibility Problems 

Even though many seniors express a desire to remain at their homes as they age, their homes can no longer work for them and can be unsafe if they use a walker or some other devices to help with mobility. For instance, consider the master bedroom. If it is on the second floor of the home, elder adults with reduced levels of endurance can find it challenging to climb up and down the stairs. To solve this, if the master bedroom is moved to the first floor of the house, the elderly adult will miss out on strength-building activity and will end up moving through only a few rooms of the home and this can further decondition the muscles of the senior.

 

Senior care facilities are designed with older adults in mind and so every detail in the apartments, dining rooms, and hallways will be built to accommodate seniors and their varied needs.

 

Wellness Challenges 

Aging in place can offer a set of wellness challenges to even healthy seniors. For instance, living at home means that the person should drive or find transportation to the therapy session, the gym, or appointments with their doctor. Moreover, in case of an emergency, the senior should call 911 themselves or contact others if they feel unwell or fall. Most elderly adults will prefer to have easy access to wellness services designed to ensure their health. However, this is not easy at home.

 

Senior living communities provide on-site therapy services and exercise programs, apart from conducting events like health lectures and wellness fairs, and the best thing is that all these events will be a quick walk down the hall.

 

Concerns About Socialization 

Socialization deficits are another important problem of aging at a place alone or with a partner. Healthy socialization with others can have many positive health benefits. On the other hand, decreased connection with people can have negative health effects like depression, increased blood pressure, and cognitive decline. In addition, aging in place can decrease access to socialization opportunities. Seniors living at home are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness without safe transportation options to and from book club discussions, worship places, etc.

 

Even though family visits and home health services can help ease some level of loneliness, living at home can decrease the chances of meaningful connection with friends and neighbors. In contrast to this, an assisted living facility can be a hub of activity where the senior residents are offered equal chances to meet with new friends and neighbors. This can be during a live concert or catch-up over a cup of coffee. Socialization opportunities are more in senior care facilities and this can ensure both the physical and mental health of the senior residents.