Imagine sitting in a room with several seniors and someone makes the following comment: “Raise your hand if you’re a good candidate for senior living!” Would anyone raise their hand? Would you? Would your loved one?
There are plenty of good reasons why seniors do not want to see themselves as a “candidate” for senior living. In today’s world, aging has become a contest; it offers a badge of honor for those who can grow old without needing any assistance from anyone, for anything. The less help you need, the more “successful” you are in your aging journey. Senior living, in the eyes of some, is throwing up the white flag.
Fortunately, surrendering your independence is not a requirement for senior living. In part two of our Too Young for Senior Living series, we’ll discuss the advantages of a flexible mindset when considering a move and share a few questions for identifying a good candidate for senior living.
Mindset and Senior Living
Most older adults do not see themselves as candidates for senior living because they do not feel old, look old, or need help, like “older people” do. My grandmother was a perfect example. She lived across the street from a venue that would host social events for seniors throughout the year; holiday luncheons with cocktails, entertainment, and dancing which drew seniors from across the state.
When these events were happening, Gram could see, from her front porch, the buses turning into the facility as they dropped off groups of seniors. “There they go, all the old people showing up for lunch,” she would say. She made me promise I would never let her go to those “old people” events.
Gram was the same age as most of those seniors. But in her mind, she was years away from aging like everyone else. Not long after, she began attending those same events with friends – and had a fabulous time. The events offered a fun experience, an outstanding meal, activity, engagement, and essential social connection.
The Advantage of a Flexible Mindset
Maintaining a flexible mindset about growing older–and senior living–can be incredibly valuable. It can help us stay motivated. It can help us stay connected to people, work, and experiences that are important to us. And it can help to shape our lifestyle as we age, influencing longevity and overall wellbeing in positive ways.
Keeping an open mind to an independent or assisted living move is often easier said than done. Unfortunately, instead of seeing themselves as “good candidates” for senior living, older adults often take a wait-and-see approach, choosing to live at home as long as possible until circumstances or health complications force them to make a change.
While this strategy may work for some, for others, it can lead to isolation, depression, and compromised health and safety. In fact, many senior living residents, both new and established, express regret for their lack of openness to senior living at an earlier age. Even family members of senior living residents often share how they wish their loved one made a move sooner after watching them thrive in their new community.
9 Reflection Questions for Considering Senior Living
If a closed-door mindset is causing you to delay deciding to move, we have pulled together a few questions to help you reflect. They might offer a few clues that you are, in fact, a good candidate for senior living after all.
How old are you?
Prospective residents touring senior living communities always ask about the average age of residents. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) estimate that there are over 800,000 older Americans residing in assisted living communities across the country. While the average age of senior living residents can vary greatly by location and by community, in general, the breakdown looks something like this (statistics taken from the AHCA/NCAL):
- 6% - Age 65 or younger
- 13% - Age 65-74
- 31% - Age 75-84
- 50% - Age 85 or older
Wondering what the average age of an assisted living resident is for your state? The AHCA/NCAL offers downloadable one-page fact sheets with some interesting data.
Would you prefer a maintenance-free lifestyle?
Seniors may still be driving, volunteering, or even working when moving into an assisted living community. They value the maintenance-free lifestyle, social calendar and programs, daily connection, and face-to-face interaction with other people, proven to impact longevity as we age. Home maintenance, household chores, and burdensome responsibilities are managed by community staff instead.
Are you active and independent?
Seniors looking for an active adult community with access to services and amenities may opt for an independent living community first before moving to assisted living. Some independent living communities also offer assisted living and/or memory care at the same location to allow individuals to easily transition to a more supportive setting when needed.
Are you challenged by mobility issues or other health conditions?
Seniors with mobility issues or other health conditions move to an assisted living facility to avoid the extra transition (of moving from home to independent living to assisted living) and enjoy the freedom, independence, and benefits for as long as possible. With access to supportive care and wellness services, they can enjoy the advantage of prolonged independence, increased social connection, and a longer length of stay before requiring the additional services of a skilled care facility, or nursing home. New research is exploring the age and care needs of older adults moving into assisted living communities and their impact on longevity and future nursing home stays.
Could you benefit from a support network?
While some individuals choose assisted living for the lifestyle, others appreciate the network of support and services that allow seniors to avoid a move to a skilled nursing facility, if possible. These residents are generally independent but may have common health conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety. Some residents may experience cognitive challenges or mild memory loss. Senior staff have years of expertise in supporting residents’ care needs.
Are you paying for private homecare services?
Financing private homecare services can be costly, especially when a loved one can no longer live alone at home safely. If you or your loved one manages the costs of maintaining a family home and pays for supportive care, an assisted living community may be a more affordable option. Many family caregivers provide hours of unpaid care and assistance to a senior loved one, which creates increasing stress and anxiety. Senior living communities offer 24/7 staffing and access to nursing and wellness services to best manage a senior’s changing care needs, relieving burdensome responsibilities and providing peace of mind for families.
Do you ever feel lonely and miss the company of others?
Research continues to support the importance of regular, face-to-face human interaction, noting these connections may be more essential to promoting health and longevity than exercise! Is your time with friends or family members limited? Are you spending your days mostly alone and feeling isolated? Community living offers a sense of belonging and fun that can be missing as we age.
Are you still driving or relying on others for transportation?
Senior living residents enjoy greater freedom and independence to come and go as they please. Some residents keep their vehicles with them in their new community and continue to drive, while others rely on transportation arranged by the community. Transportation services to medical appointments, shopping centers, and fun seasonal outings provide convenience and a safe, easy option for travel.
Do you own your own home?
Many senior living residents finance a move to community living by downsizing from their family home and consolidating their monthly bills. Instead of budgeting separately for utilities, home maintenance, meals, and other expenses, residents pay a monthly rental fee that includes most services and amenities they will need. The coordination of household chores, meal preparation, and other time-consuming tasks is then managed by community staff, relieving family caregivers.
Still Not Sure?
If your mind is open to senior living, but not made up, schedule a visit to an independent or assisted living community to meet with residents and a senior living counselor who can help you determine whether a move is right for you.
For more helpful answers to your questions about senior living, subscribe to our blog or check out Cardinal Bay’s valuable free resources. Explore the differences between independent living, assisted living, and memory care and experience the many benefits of living in a Cardinal Bay community in Texas and Oklahoma.