When you are getting older, you are bound to experience changes in your life. However, those changes aren’t always good. There is the matter of deteriorating health, children moving out to be with their own families, and being unsure of what to do now that you have retired from your job.

However, ageing is not all that bad. There is no reason to fear retirement as long as you have planned it well. One of the things that you should consider before hanging the coat is moving into an elderly care facility.

Don’t get this wrong–not all seniors are required to transfer into a senior home. If you are the type who’s completely independent and healthy enough to live by yourself, then so be it. But if the opposite is true, then staying in a place where there are people and facilities that can improve your well-being would be the best decision to make. It is understandable, however, that moving out of your comfort zone and into a new place filled with strangers is not very tempting.

In this blog post, we will be talking about the expectations versus the reality of living in a senior living facility.

What is a senior living facility? 

A senior living facility has many names: it’s also called a senior home, old folks’ home, elderly care facility, etc. It refers to a community-centred facility that provides nurturing care and assistance to the elderly that requires special attention. This includes seniors who are living with chronic conditions, life-threatening illnesses, severe disabilities–basically any factor that compromises their quality of life.

There are many types of senior care facilities. There is a nursing home, assisted living, independent living, in-home care, dementia care, and many more. All these differ in terms of the type of seniors they cater to and the types of services they provide. Keep in mind that the needs of every aging adult may vary depending on their health and living conditions (for instance, some seniors prefer to receive care at home).

Stigma against nursing homes (or other types of old folks’ homes)  

Unfortunately, there has been a common negative notion towards senior care facilities. Due to the negative portrayal in the media of nursing homes and alike, lots of people have trouble deciding to put their elderly parents into a senior care facility. This is especially the case for Asian families who have extremely conservative practices. For some, moving your ageing father or mother into a nursing home may seem like an act of abandonment or evasion of the responsibility of caring for them yourself.

However, this very stigma can also be damaging to the elderly. It prevents them from getting the right care and support that they need. Unlike in a normal residential home, senior homes have trained caregivers, in-house healthcare professionals, and medical equipment that could help improve their overall well-being. There are also other seniors that they can socialize with, making them feel less lonely or isolated while their children are away.

Furthermore, no matter how much a child wants to take care of their parents, it can be challenging considering they have jobs and their own families to worry about. An elderly person with a high level of need requires around-the-clock care and assistance–something that a facility like a nursing home is more than able to give.

Common expectations toward senior living homes and their consequent realities 

There are many assumptions and misconceptions about senior living homes. It is important to know and understand the truth behind them so as not to discourage ageing adults from receiving their services. Moving into a senior living facility may seem intimidating but it’s actually life-changing.

Below are the expectations versus the reality of moving into a senior living facility:

1. It is an institution, not a home.

Some seniors might be imagining that a nursing home is some sort of cold, scary building where plenty of elderly people are doomed to stay forever. It is a place where they lock up seniors and prevent them from going out. It is not homey and definitely not fit for a person who’s already physically and emotionally drained due to the complications brought about by ageing.

Reality: A senior living facility is not a prison! It is, in fact, a peaceful community and a loving home that provides care and support to ageing adults. Nursing homes may seem to possess a more clinical setting but that doesn’t mean it’s a scary environment. It’s a place where seniors will be given the attention and assistance that they need to experience a more comfortable and happier life. Not to mention, the caregivers are trained to be friendly with the care recipients for they serve both as physical and emotional support to them.

2. It’s a dull and empty place

Seniors might find that living in a senior care facility is too tedious, thinking that they would only be doing repetitive things every day. They are more comfortable with the idea of staying at home because they get to do the things they are accustomed to. A senior care facility might seem boring to them because it involves nothing but receiving care, drinking meds, and not to mention, being around strangers.

Reality: A senior living facility is actually a vibrant place. This is because the management and the staff do their best in making it a welcoming home for their elderly residents. Other than providing care and assistance, senior homes also implement activities and events where seniors can engage in fun activities and connect with their peers. If there is one thing to be said about senior living, it isn’t the word boring.

3. Caregivers don’t care

It might be difficult to believe that a person would be willing to care for someone they barely know, even to the point of helping them clean up after doing number 2. Not to mention, there have been cases of elderly abuse which has stirred fear in seniors of being left in the hands of caregivers. Seniors tend to be more emotional or paranoid (mostly due to their ageing), so they prefer to receive care from their families or loved ones.

Reality: Caregivers do care. Yes, they are trained to do their jobs for the sake of keeping them but they are also taught how to be compassionate and patient towards the care recipients. Being a caregiver is a tough job, considering that seniors also have varying personalities and ways of behaving. The bottom line is most caregivers are loving, friendly, and supportive towards elderly residents. Those who are not are consequently dealt with for the sake of protecting the well-being of seniors.

4. Living in a senior care facility is the beginning of the end

One of the reasons why seniors refuse to move into senior living is because it signifies “the end”. It makes them feel as though they are finally done with life. It’s as if their existence has no purpose other than breathing and having to be a burden to other people. The idea of living in a senior care facility makes them feel helpless and as if they’ve reached the end of their journey.

Reality: Senior living indeed is the beginning…of a new chapter of adventure! Moving into a senior care facility does not make a person’s life meaningless or mundane. It instead provides a senior with a different kind of purpose: experiencing new things and meeting new people that they can jive with. There are plenty of opportunities that can be found in a senior care facility. They can either discover hobbies, repursue lost passions, and exchange life stories with like-minded individuals. This is where they can start truly living the best of their golden years.

Final thoughts

Senior living facilities were established to create a safe and comfortable environment for the elderly community. It is a place where they can be consistently cared for and be able to engage in things that will improve their health and make them happier. The goal of senior living facilities is to prove that ageing is not something to be feared but something to look forward to.