Personal Space in Assisted Living: Fact vs. Fiction
Privacy in a senior living community is one of the first things many of us think about. According to the AHCA, there are more than 800,000 Americans currently in assisted living and senior communities.
How can you ensure your personal space in such an environment? The first way is by picking homes that guarantee you'll have the personal space you need. Many communities focus on independence in senior care, respecting boundaries, and more.
If you're curious about senior personal space, we're here to help. Read on for a quick overview of personal space and assisted living privacy.
Why Personal Space?
Personal space is one of the first things to come up when we begin looking at assisted living. Many of us fear that our future home will be cramped or not provide us with the space we need.
Simply put, these are myths. In an assisted living community, seniors almost always have their own rooms where they have a full guarantee of personal space.
Some people make this misconception by thinking senior care homes, retirement homes, and assisted living homes are all terms that relate to the same thing. That's not the case at all, and what's true in one isn't true for the others.
Others fear overcrowding, which could impact your personal space. Senior communities typically have caps on their population depending on how many rooms they have. Doing so guarantees independence in senior care.
Considering Privacy
What about privacy? You won't have to worry about someone dropping in while you're changing or peering through your belongings.
One of the main concerns here is care or assistance. Rest assured, the staff of your assisted living community aren't going to force their presence on you.
If you feel that your assistants aren't giving you the privacy you want, speak to them about it. See what sorts of guidelines you and the team can agree on when it comes to respecting boundaries. That ensures that you'll get the care you need while not sacrificing your privacy.
Room to Explore
Your personal space isn't dedicated solely to your room. Independence in senior care is something that many communities will focus on, both for comfort and for health reasons.
According to the CDC, promoting independence among seniors can help considerably improve their well-being. Primarily, this relates to care and assistance.
Most often, concerns over independence are about whether the senior has the freedom to live life as they please. Such concerns are often assuaged by providing residents with activities and social opportunities. Here are some to consider.
Activities
Staying active is one of the biggest improvements we can make to our lives. No matter what age you are, a proper exercise routine and a hobby will benefit you.
Assisted living homes that provide such activities can better ensure the independence of their residents. These can also help promote more socialization.
In some cases, the activities are what ensure independence. A resident who's verifiably in good health may not need quite as much assistance, for example. In that situation, the residents could likely discuss having more freedom between themselves and the staff.
Social Opportunities
Social opportunities may not be the first thing you think of when "privacy" and "independence" come to mind. Where's the privacy in a social outing, and how can your personal space be guaranteed?
Many of these social opportunities focus not just on respecting boundaries, but on growing them. Having a better idea of how the other people in your community are living will help you see where your independence must lie.
Concerns over independence often sometimes come from feeling trapped or isolated. According to the National Institute on Aging, seniors with an active, social lifestyle are less likely to develop many physical and neurological disorders.
In other words, feelings of independence and personal space are often bolstered by socializing with your community. You also may not feel like your personal space is being violated if you're on good terms with the people around you. It can feel crowded when you don't know anyone, but if you're socializing, being surrounded by your friends is never a problem.
Personal Comfort
When independence is discussed, one of the first things we think of is comfort. Many seniors are concerned that losing their independence may come with age.
That's because assisted living inherently means you'll have people checking in on you. They may help you with things like:
- Going to the restroom
- Managing medication
- Bathing or personal grooming
- Handling chores like cleaning and laundry
All of these things can feel like a loss of independence. Here are some ways you can help to mitigate such feelings.
Following Schedules
Your assisted living community will always have a schedule that you can follow. These help to ensure senior personal space and your assisted living privacy. But how?
Your personal space is much easier to maintain if you know when people will come around. Don't like having others do chores or clean for you? Make sure you've handled such things before they're scheduled to come and the process is much easier!
You can also use your independence to look into private accommodations for elderly community members. Doing so will further guarantee your privacy.
Physical Assistance
When it comes to physical assistance, personal space is hard to maintain. It's important that you receive the care you need, even if it means giving up some independence.
Discuss your independence with your staff and see where they can give some leeway. Communication is key, but you shouldn't expect your assistants to not provide care.
Understanding Personal Space
Personal space and assisted living privacy are common concerns. With these tips, you can do more to focus on respecting boundaries and ensuring senior personal space.
At LakeHouse Manitowoc, we do everything we can to ensure your independence. Our compassionate team develops individual care plans to focus on your needs and wants, providing you care when you need it and how you want it. Contact us today to see how we can help you enjoy your freedom in Manitowoc, WI.