What is Assisted Living and How Senior Living Options Differ
Watch our video to find out what assisted living is, when you should consider it and how it compares to other senior living options.
Video Transcript
Dr. L. Eldridge: It’s really important to do the research. In today’s day and age, you can really gather a lot of information, and it’s important to know what you’re looking for.
Jocelyn Lee: People wait to a point, they think, “Oh, I’m doing okay. I don’t need it,” when they can take advantage of all the great resources that there are and continue on the path that they’re at and maybe even prolong out their healthy tenure.
Dr. L. Eldridge: I think we get a mix of just about everybody. A younger group who retired and are interested in not having to worry about things anymore. As far as assisted living is concerned, we do see people waiting probably too long. We see a lot of older people, probably in their 80s, more than younger than the 80 range because they do need some services, activities of daily living, help with medications. You don’t have to worry about those things because you have the attention. You have the people around you. You have the social engagement and you’re eating better.
We see it all the time. Somebody who is disheveled and you can tell that they haven’t been eating properly. Their mood is really low, depressed, and lo and behold, it’s like a flower that don’t get enough water and is kind of leaning over, and you water it and it just comes alive.
It’s a safe environment. You can live longer. You stay healthier longer. It truly makes a lot of difference. To me, it’s not okay not to visit because each community has a feeling about it, and the people there, how they behave and how they interact with you is so important because you want your parent to be where they’re going to be happy.
Jocelyn Lee: Inquire, asking questions never hurts. Just the finding out piece of it I think is the most challenging because once people find out and they realize the services that they can get, it sometimes it’s kind of a no-brainer.
Where You Live Matters is powered by the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), a respected voice in the senior housing industry. ASHA primarily focuses on legislative and regulatory advocacy, research, and educational opportunities and networking for senior living executives, so they can better understand the needs of older adults across the country.