5 Reasons to Consider Assisted Living Instead of In-Home Care
If you're over the age of 55, you will have a range of living and support options to provide any assistance you might require, including assisted living communities and in-home care. For many people, the idea of leaving their homes in favour of an assisted living facility is unpleasant — after all, everyone becomes attached to their own home, and moving to an assisted living community can feel like you're sacrificing your independence.
However, assisted living communities offer a wide range of benefits that can make them a better choice for those over 55s. Here are just five.
1. More Chances for Socialising
Social isolation can become a problem for older people, especially those who don't have any family members close by. Though in-home care provides some level of socialisation whenever a care worker visits, assisted living communities are far more enriching. Most will provide regular social events, and facilities will have plenty of entertainment and recreation opportunities to help you stay active and become part of the community.
2. Round-the-Clock Care
One issue with in-home care is that care workers will only come at set times. You can call for assistance in an emergency, but it might be some time before assistance arrives. In contrast, assisted care communities should have aides on staff at all hours to provide assistance whenever it is required, and that could make a real difference in emergency situations.
3. Designed Around Your Needs
While it can be hard to leave your own home, that property won't have been built around your changing needs. Older people often benefit from accessibility features, such as grab rails in showers, and these will already be fitted in assisted living facilities. There will be lifts to all floors, sidewalks will be wide and smooth, and even corridors in your new home will usually be larger than average to accommodate any mobility devices.
4. Easier to Organize
Assisted living communities essentially provide an all-in-one solution, so there's less need to worry about hiring and scheduling different care workers. Additionally, you can often be more flexible with your schedule when you choose an assisted living facility, whereas in-home care can often only be provided at specific times that may not be ideal for you.
5. More Flexible Level of Care
Finally, it's worth considering that the level of care you receive can be more easily increased when you're in an assisted living community since the necessary staff should already be in place. This can help whether you need additional care for a shorter period, such as after an operation, or as an ongoing change. In-home care can only go so far, so temporary care changes can be trickier to arrange and ongoing changes may require moving to an assisted living facility in any case.
For more information on over 55 living, contact a professional near you.