Admitting one of your parents into an assisted retirement living center is not an easy thing to do, but making that tough decision may be the best for both the health of your loved one and your own peace of mind. Placing family members in assisted living facilities does not mean that you don’t care about them, but rather that you want them to have access to the best quality of life possible.
Senior housing is becoming more and more prevalent across the United States; research from the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry indicates that the average occupancy rate in 2011 for senior housing properties was approximately 88.1%. There are many different kinds of senior housing options out there, from resort style senior living to a place like an assisted senior living center where staff members are more involved in the residents’ lives.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of different senior centers and how you can find your loved one the best senior living option for them!
The Many Benefits of Senior Housing:
- If your loved one is still in fairly good health but is looking at senior housing options, you may want to look into some sort of independent community living facility. Research conducted in 2009 from ProMatura Group, LLC.’s Independent Living Report showed that seniors in independent living facilities are more likely to have the opportunity to make new friends — and additional research suggests that senior citizens with a busy social life have less of a chance for memory loss.
- An independent living center is a great option for those seniors who are very concerned with feeling that they still have control over their own lives. They can choose where they go, who they relax with and what activities they participate in.
- Both assisted retirement living and independent community housing centers tend to offer a wide variety of activities for seniors that engage both intellectual and physical aspects of a person’s beings. Crafts, spiritual exercises, gardening and a range of low-impact sports are typically offered, catering to a wide variety of interests.
- The best way to find a senior facility that suits your loved one is to simply talk to them. It may be a difficult conversation to have, but they need to know that you have their best interests at heart and want to find them somewhere that they can live and feel both happy and comfortable.
Have you ever placed a relative in an assisted retirement living center or some kind of independent community housing? Tell us about it in the comments below!