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As you see your loved ones get older, you naturally start to think about what the future might look like for them. Can they continue living alone? Can they still keep up with Saturday brunch with their friends?
Senior living communities offer an excellent solution to these uncertainties and care for both seniors and their families. Although it is logical, the decision is often met with some resistance and hesitance from older adults and family members. Much of this reluctance comes from old stereotypes and myths about senior living communities that simply no longer exist.
To help you with your decision, here are some pleasant surprising facts you might not expect with senior living.
5 Things You Would Not Expect in Senior Living Communities
1. Resident leadership
It is a common misconception that once someone moves into a senior living community, they lose a lot of control and independence over their environment. Since everything is already laid out for them by the management of the community, they fear that they might lose their agency and what comes next. This assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.
Senior living communities encourage residents to voice their opinions, submit feedback, and take leadership roles within their community. This is an encouraging culture as it makes the community better, more vibrant, and more engaging for seniors.
2. Community connection
Senior living communities are like a town within themselves, complete with friendly neighbors, social events, services, and routines. Although these communities already provide for the various needs of their residents, it is still well connected with the actual cities and towns they are in. This is contrary to the common belief that residents live in total isolation from the “outside world”.
You might get surprised to see how senior living communities are still plugged in with the cities where they are, and how its activities include their bigger communities. For instance, it is a common activity for seniors to volunteer at local organizations. Residents also have the freedom to visit their favorite local shops and restaurants. They also participate in fun events such as wine tastings and community fairs. Financial predictability
3. Genuinely personalized lifestyle
Senior living communities look for ways to ensure the lifestyle provided for their residents is tailored to each of their preferences and needs. Personalized care is at the core of the best senior living communities. This is achieved by starting with a comprehensive assessment of each of the residents so that the administration would know how to cater to their needs and lifestyle.
Sure, there are common programs and activities to stimulate socialization, but individual connections are also encouraged and nurtured in these communities. These small group excursions give an opportunity for diverse interests to be explored and flourish in the community.
4. Financial predictability
One of the major sources of reluctance from senior adults and family members to seek senior living is their concern about finances. This is a common and valid concern, for they only want to make sure that they will be able to spend their savings and retirement funds wisely. But it is a pleasant surprise when they realize how senior living could help with their finances.
Senior living could help stabilize finances by offering predictability in the form of monthly fees. This means that unlike in the living at home setup wherein there are fluctuating monthly bills and unexpected expenses, a monthly fee from senior living communities already includes rent, utilities, meals, and care assistance.
5. Nurtures family life
Many seniors and families believe that the only way to live their golden years is to be with their loved ones. Although this may work for some, many seniors fear that moving in with their family might lose their independence or stress them out. On the other hand, many of their kids fear that they might lose their autonomy.
This may seem contradictory, but moving into a senior living community helps nurture family life. This may actually empower seniors with more space to live their own lives, and time to spend with family on their own terms, while giving peace of mind to all. It’s a win-win situation.
A Quality Senior Life is More than What Meets the Eye
At the heart of quality, senior living is the opportunity to be a part of a larger community, live the lifestyle they need and want, and have financial security. Although sometimes misconceptions and assumptions are more popular, these items remain intact and still are the very essence of senior living communities.
To know where to find the community for you or your senior loved one, consult with us, Best Place 4 Seniors, to assess your needs and wants and match them with the best facility available. If you’d like to learn more about assisted living communities in Oceanside, San Marcos, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel. Contact us today and we’d love to show you around!
Recommended Assisted Living Locations:
- Blue Skies of Tri-city – Assisted living
3218 Mira Mesa Ave, Oceanside, CA 92056, United States - Blue Skies of Temecula – Assisted Living
45410 Bayberry Pl, Temecula, CA 92592, United States - Blue Skies of San Marcos – Assisted Living
1119 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078, United States - Blue Skies of Oceanside – Assisted Living
322 Keyport St, Oceanside, CA 92057, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Niguel – Assisted Living
25437 Via Estudio, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Hills – Assisted Living
25811 Tree Top Rd, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, United States