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Independence is one of the few luxuries that everyone takes for granted. Being responsible for your own life and space is something that you dream about as a child.
As a rule, people are reluctant to give away that independence without a fight. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to turn to someone for help.
It can be overwhelming to find a new living arrangement for an aging loved one. Keep reading to learn the difference between assisted and independent living for the elderly!Click To TweetBenefits of assisted living
Everybody ages at some point; it is just one of those facts of life. As you get older various problems and challenges can present themselves and cause concern for yourself and family members alike.
There is a debate between assisted living vs. independent living and the best course of action to take as you age and face life’s challenges head-on.
Assisted living can help if any physical issue could prevent you from living as freely as you might like. People are there to keep an eye out in case your health was to decline.
There is no shame in it, and more often than not, everyone needs help at some point. It’s just a matter of being willing to accept it.
One big benefit is the lower cost, as it is cheaper than living in a nursing home. At the same time, there is also the added perk of reducing your medical cost as you can get tax reductions.
This can provide some peace of mind in case of unexpected medical bills. Think about it objectively; if you can provide security to someone suffering from a serious medical condition, that is the most important thing to consider.
Assisted living can help people maintain that bit of dignity in later life as they are supported through some of the more difficult parts of aging and later life.
Benefits of independent living
Living on your own can have its perks as you keep that independence you always had despite growing older. Whether it is in your own home or an independent living community, you still have freedom.
Just knowing that you have that freedom to do whatever you want can be a luxury. There is nothing worse than finding you have no real choice in what goes on in your life.
In fact, 61% of older Americans suggested that they would prefer to grow old in their own homes as it provides a sense of safety and security.
There is also less stress in a living community when it comes to keeping track of household bills. This is because everything is all-inclusive.
It cannot be underestimated how important having stress free life can be as it can help your physical and mental health in the long run.
Even being able to live in your own home can benefit as you have the added security of being somewhere that you know and feel safe in, while you can always ask for help if you think you need it without any fear of being judged.
The figures
At the time of writing, there are roughly 28,900 assisted living communities across the USA. Although this might seem small, it still means that more than 800,000 people currently make use of these services.
The AHCA also revealed that 4 in 10 people who have assisted living beds had been diagnosed with some form of Alzheimer’s. With the latest predictions suggesting that these numbers will only increase. So, far more people will end up in assisted care than they do nowadays.
The same can be said for independent living, with only 245,000 people living in independent communities. That is understandable as people have spent years of their lives working on and maintaining their property, so they are unsurprisingly unwilling to give it all up.
As a whole, only 4 percent of the American senior community live in a nursing home of some kind. This includes all eligible ages from 55 upwards, so while it is not the norm yet, if the predictions are correct, then the number of people living in these communities could be set to increase dramatically.
In conclusion
While not everyone loves the idea of living in a nursing home, there are positives to both sides.
In many cases, it is likely down to the individual’s individual needs and whether a facility is the right fit. What works for one person might not necessarily work for everyone else. However, it is important to understand when you might need to look into help to make life easier.
Sometimes all you need to do is reach out for a bit of help, and that can give you a better quality of later life that you deserve.
Would you ever consider assisted living for a family member?
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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