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When a senior decides they don't want to live at home anymore, the options can seem overwhelming. One of the most common reasons a senior decides to no longer live at home is because living alone can be socially isolating. There are nursing homes to accommodate seniors with medical problems. But not all seniors who don't want to live at home anymore have those medical needs to qualify for a nursing home.
Some of the other reasons that lead seniors to look into other living options are that they are no longer physically or financially able to manage a home and property independently. It helps to know that seniors have a variety of choices available to them to help them choose a new living environment that suits their needs. In order to find the best place to live, these options need to be explored. They are known as group homes and assisted living facilities.
There are many similarities between a group home and an assisted living facility for seniors. The most significant similarity is that they are both options for seniors who need little medical assistance but no longer wish to live independently. Both options provide access to some professional help while being able to have regular socialization with their peers.
Perhaps the most significant difference between a group home and an assisted living facility is the layout of the environment. In a group home, the residents live together in a family home environment with their rooms and many common areas. In comparison, an assisted living facility provides each senior with their apartment with less homelike common areas.
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Group homes are an option that is often overlooked by families when they are looking for a living alternative for a senior. When people hear the term group home, they often think of homes for troubled youth or those who have intellectual disabilities. However, group homes are also an excellent option for some seniors. Group homes provide a comfortable living environment for seniors that allows them to maintain their independence while getting some much needed social interaction.
Residents of a group home are expected to take care of their personal needs, including bathing, self-feeding, dressing, and taking their medications, although reminders are given.
Although many group homes do not provide hands-on care with feeding, dressing, and bathing, some states allow for more hands-on care than others. Group homes do offer many other services to create a nurturing, homelike environment. In a group home, meals are served to the residents, and the staff does laundry. This allows the residents more freedom to enjoy spending their time how they want.
Group homes also provide activities to their residents, though they have the freedom to choose whether or not they are going to participate. Some of these activities will occur in the home, while some will be away from the house. If residents want to participate in events, they are responsible for signing up. A group home aims to promote the independence of every resident in the home. Group homes employ staff that is available to the residents twenty-four hours a day. Constant staff in the home means that the seniors are never alone. Typically, there are five to ten residents in a group home, which allows for more personalized care plans to be created. Often people who choose group homes need a little more supervision than those who live in an assisted living facility.
Aside from the family-oriented setting that defines the group home, there are other advantages to living in a group home. Some of these advantages include:
Group homes also come with the ability to be able to serve the needs of the client. Some of the disadvantages of this choice include:
An assisted living facility is often the right choice for seniors capable of living on their own but is missing out on the socially active lifestyle they once had. As seniors age, they usually have a harder time getting out and interacting with their peers. People who live in an assisted living facility often have their own apartments that they furnish with their personal belongings giving them a real sense of home.
Assisted living facilities don't offer personal care services, such as bathing, feeding, or dressing the residents. However, they offer the option for seniors to make their meals in their apartments or join other residents in a dining room that provides restaurant-style meals. Assisted living facilities also provide weekly or daily housekeeping services to their residents. This reduces the stress on seniors and allows them to enjoy more of their retirement. There is also a linen and laundry service that will enable residents to have someone else care for their laundry needs.
Assisted living facilities also offer many different types of activities and regularly scheduled outings to their residents. This allows residents to explore different interests and provides a change of scenery and access to the local community, such as museums, zoos, and shopping centers.
As with group homes, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in an assisted living facility. Some of the pros of choosing this type of environment are as follows.
In contrast, there are some downsides to living in an assisted living home, though, for many seniors, the benefits outweigh the risks.
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