As seniors age, many will require assistance for daily tasks, whether medication intake, bathing, or cooking. But when it comes to meeting these needs, there are options, and some seniors choose to remain in their homes and receive help from family members. But are seniors happy at home, or do they fare better in assisted living and memory care settings? Studies suggest that many seniors benefit emotionally, physically, and socially from assisted living and memory care environments, meaning your initial suspicions about at-home care may not align with reality.
Today, we want to help you gain an understanding of how assisted living and memory care can fit into your senior family member’s long-term care plan without sacrificing their safety, health, or happiness.
Comparative Happiness and Social Engagement
Some Floridians maintain the outdated opinion that any form of senior care looks like the drab retirement homes you see in popular media. When you compare at-home living to retirement communities like those, it’s easy to understand why many opt to remain where they are. But in reality, seniors who live in proper assisted living facilities like A Banyan Residence often experience increased happiness, largely due to greater opportunities for social interaction.
According to the National Institute on Aging, social isolation—which can occur when aging at home—is a major risk factor for depression and cognitive decline. At an assisted living community, seniors can improve their daily experience through structured social programs, group outings, or simply a quick chat with their next-door neighbor. These simple behaviors reduce loneliness and provide a sense of belonging that is often lost once someone retires and spends their days at home.
In addition, at-home care is typically sporadic unless you pay top dollar for 24/7 care. Seniors may only see caregivers or family members at specific times of the day. After that? They’re back to isolation. At an assisted living community, staff and fellow residents are never more than a short walk away, even if it’s outside of a senior’s designated care hours. If residents want to chat with staff about a concern or get help with an unexpected issue, assistance is minutes away, not hours. This security by itself is enough to make seniors happy, worrying less about health concerns and focus more on enjoying life and retirement.
How Memory Care Assists Seniors
Many of these community benefits of assisted living facilities apply to seniors with memory conditions as well, but integrated memory care services at assisted living facilities are even more impactful. At A Banyan Residence, seniors can remain in the facility and transition to memory care if their cognitive issues worsen, reducing the stress and anxiety that come with uprooting their lives and moving to a new facility or community. Structure, routine, and consistency are what help keep seniors with memory issues safe and secure in their surroundings. When seniors know they can remain in place regardless of health concerns, they once again benefit from peace of mind and can spend more time building connections and forming memories with friends.
Once seniors transition to memory care, the level of health care increases, but so do the activities and opportunities for continued growth and enjoyment. During at-home care, many seniors with cognitive issues remain indoors all day, with limited human interaction and outlets to explore the world. At a memory care facility, they can fully engage in their local community, one that is purposely designed to keep them safe and away from the most common perils befalling seniors with these conditions.
Are seniors happy in assisted living? The evidence suggests that assisted living and memory care often provide an environment that enhances happiness, health, and overall well-being compared to staying at home. If you would like to explore this potential further, contact A Banyan Residence today to schedule a tour of our facility and learn how we can help.
