Pros & Cons of Assisted Living
Pros and Cons of Assisted Living
By Barbara Casey
Originally posted on thelastjourney.net in 2017 and again on Silver Sage Magazine in 2018
Today was one of those days that reminds me that there are pros and cons to assisted living facilities. If you are thinking about whether to place your loved one in a facility or try to cobble together aids to help your loved one stay in his/her own home, let me give you some front line expertise.
Pros.
- In an assisted living facility, there is a community of people. It’s important for persons to be around others, feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves, have others around and activities going on around them. Community will add years to your loved one’s life.
- If you find a place, as I have where the staff truly love being with the residents, it rubs off on the residents. One day, the music was on in the hallway and a custodial person was dancing with her mop to a Motown tune. It was hysterical and I could see the residents watching her with a smile on their faces. Positive energy begets more positive vibes.
Cons.
- The staff have many patients to care for and many shifts caring for many residents. They do not always see every change or shift in my father’s behavior, mobility, or his cognitive abilities. You’d like to think that the staff are attentive, but they can’t be as attentive as you are. You absolutely need to be present as much as you can so you can notice any changes that need attention.
- Speak up. The old adage see something, say something is so true. One day, I noticed a change in my dad. He was sleeping way more, had trouble getting up from his wheelchair, seemed more confused than usual and his vision seemed worse. I chalked it up to maybe a bad night sleep. For two days there was no improvement and no one said anything to me. I finally started asking around. It turns out the exercise physiologist and several CNAs who work directly with him – also noticed a change. But, no one had said a word to me. I called his doctor and we got him assessed. Turns out he had a UTI.
