Can you keep your independence while living at an Assisted Living Facility?
Many people would prefer to age in place within their home, but when living independently becomes too difficult or even dangerous, making the move to an assisted living facility is vital. Among the fears associated with aging is the fear of losing your independence. It isn’t easy to imagine giving up independence and freedom after living a full life. How can you maintain your independence while living in an assisted living facility?
Transferring from your home to an assisted living community does not imply a loss of independence or autonomy. Nowadays, assisted living communities make a concerted effort to consider their residents’ needs and comfort, while also providing assistance with activities of daily living and keeping them safe.
What is it like to live in an Assisted Living facility?
Assisted living is for those who require or desire assistance with their daily activities like cooking, driving, medication management, or hygiene. Occasionally, this assistance is required following a hospital stay, a medical diagnosis, or simply as a result of aging.
Residents at Silver Palms Assisted Living have access to secure, private apartments. When assistance is required, trained and caring staff is only a button-push away. Assisted living combines the independence of home with the assurance that assistance is always available when needed.
Assisted Living facility can Restore Independence to Your Life
Maintaining your current residence may be associated with freedom and independence. However, if daily assistance from family, friends, or visiting health aides is required, are you truly independent?
Dependence on outside assistance can develop so gradually that you may be unaware of the small ways in which you have already surrendered some of your freedom. To ensure your safety at home, your family or aides may occasionally have to take away your sense of autonomy. Likely, your home was not designed with aging in mind.
It can be challenging for in-home caregivers to provide you with the level of independence that assisted living is designed to maintain. And, unlike a visiting caregiver who may need to schedule a time to assist you, having someone present and on-call 24/7 means you only need to accept assistance when you desire it.
Assisted living can free you from relying on family members to assist you with tasks such as cooking and cleaning, driving, managing medications, paying bills, and getting to church. It reclaims time for you to enjoy time with your family rather than relying on them for care.
Gaining Back Independence and So Much More
Assisted living offers a degree of independence. You can enjoy privacy, autonomy, amenities, and a personalized schedule of life-enhancing activities. You can overcome the limitations associated with aging at home and resume your previous level of enjoyment. The assistance people receive in assisted living facility allows them to maintain control of their lives while also not having to worry about those things that they may have been struggling with at home.
What you can do to maintain your independence in an Assisted Living Facility:
- Personalize your new home: bring personal belongings and possessions that are important to you
- Get social. Living in an assisted living facility does not mean you stay in your room all day. Get involved in the planned activities and social outings.
- Physical Activity. Maintaining fitness and health will improve your health, decrease loneliness, and keep you physically fit.