Growing old together is more than just a romantic notion. Couples who stay together lead happier, healthier, longer lives.
One of the biggest challenges of assisted living is being apart from family and friends and losing independence. Senior living facilities that offer units for married couples have many benefits for both parties. Here’s what you should consider when offering senior care options for couples.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities are residential communities designed around the lifestyles of seniors (typically 55+) who are capable of living on their own but may need help with some daily activities. The wide variety of social activities, fitness, entertainment, and educational events these communities offer make them an attractive retirement option for aging adults.
Most communities offer additional services like weekly house cleaning, group dining, and personal care assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or medical needs (like medication management, health monitoring, and nursing services) for an extra fee.
In addition, most assisted living communities have a system in place to scale up care as more help becomes necessary.
The Benefits of Assisted Living for Couples
Scientists have studied the beneficial emotional impact of close social relationships for decades, and the conclusions are remarkable. As people age, those with close relationships with family and friends experience better overall physical and mental health, including reduced risks for infectious illness, cardiovascular disease, overall cognitive and physical decline, and both cancer-specific and overall mortality.”
These benefits are the top draws for assisted living communities.
1. Less expensive per-person cost for couples.
When compared to separate living quarters, couples can save per person in several ways. In addition to sharing living expenses, partners can often help each other with daily living, including cooking, personal care, ADLs, and cleaning. Less reliance on hired services results in lower costs.
2. More physical activity.
Physical activity is another significant factor in senior health, and the biggest selling point for communities planned around assisted living for married couples is the activities. Many offer golf courses, gyms, swimming, and exercise classes. In addition, some communities, like The Villages in Florida, host frequent social gatherings with music and dancing.
3. Assisted living offers couples an active social life.
Most senior living options for couples offer a variety of social interactions, from community dinners to outings to malls, restaurants, and local attractions. Seniors have daily opportunities to socialize with old friends and make new ones.
4. Happy couples enjoy longer lives.
More specifically, people with happy spouses live longer lives. You read that right. The more content your spouse is, the longer you will live. Life satisfaction, regardless of income or other demographics, means longer life. Of course, it’s notable that happy people are more active and tend to have better health habits and a more active social life. So it makes perfect sense that senior living options for couples are designed around active, socially engaged lifestyles.
5. Flexible care for couples with different needs.
Married couples often have different needs and health concerns. As a result, assisted living communities usually offer different tiers of services, from a bit of help – for example, weekly house cleaning – to round-the-clock skilled nursing and memory care.
To determine the level of care, the staff at assisted living communities evaluate new residents’ needs before they move in. During the assessment, the staff meets with the couple and their family members to determine the residents’ level of care. Then they develop a personalized plan that fits the couple’s individual needs.
6. Assisted living allows easy access to health professionals.
Older people often have trouble keeping doctor appointments when living on their own. They may experience memory loss, be physically unable to get to their appointments or lack transportation. Living in an assisted living facility guarantees convenience, wellness checks, and on-call care, catered to each person’s level of need.
7. Senior community living is linked to improved brain health.
As people age, brain health can deteriorate. Brain health concerns include cognitive functions (thinking, learning, and memory), motor functions, control of emotions, and tactile functions.
According to The National Institute on Aging, to improve brain health as we age, we should:
- Take care of physical health
- Manage high blood pressure
- Eat healthy foods
- Be physically active
- Keep your mind active
- Stay connected with social activities
- Manage stress
- Reduce risks to cognitive health
Communities with assisted living for couples address many of these needs. In particular, social interaction and exercise are some of the most powerful ways to boost brain function and prevent decline. In addition, services such as meals, wellness checks, and transportation to grocery stores and restaurants help ensure that seniors maintain good nutrition.
8. Living with a spouse or partner is key for fall prevention.
CDC statistics show that falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among seniors, and the rate is increasing. The exercise and medical care offered by assisted living communities can help prevent falls caused by balance or medical issues. And if a senior does fall, living with a spouse in an assisted living community means they have a better chance of being found and getting help fast.
9. Pet-friendly living allows seniors to feel like they’re home.
Unlike nursing homes, assisted care communities usually have private living accommodations, and seniors can bring their pets. Pets enrich older people’s lives in several ways. In addition to being loving companions, pets give aging people a sense of responsibility and require at least some additional exercise to walk dogs, clean cat litter boxes or crates, fill food and water bowls, and let pets in and out.
What Assisted Living Communities for Couples Can Offer
Depending on price, geography, and other factors, the amenities and activities offered by assisted living facilities for couples can significantly vary, and so can costs. However, as an assisted living management company, you’ll be expected to provide the tools seniors need to maintain physical health, mental stimulation, and social interactions as they age.
Common features of assisted living communities include:
- 24-Hour staff
- 24-Hour on-call nurse
- Health care coordination
- Medication management
- Mobility assistance
- Nutritious daily meals
- Social events
- Spiritual services
- Group activities
- Fitness classes
- Scheduled outings
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Laundry
- Home maintenance and repairs
Luxury communities often offer upscale choices such as on-site spas, movie theaters, art classes, horseback riding, golf, and tennis.
How an Assisted Living Community Differs from a Nursing Home for Couples
While there are some similarities between assisted living communities and nursing homes, they typically cater to residents with different needs and offer more nursing services. Most residents in assisted living communities may need some help but are generally self-sufficient. They are in the market for an active, carefree lifestyle surrounded by peers.
Nursing homes typically cater to people who need constant care. Where assisted living communities are individual homes, apartments, or condos, nursing homes usually more closely resemble hospitals, with residents living in a room with a bathroom but no kitchen or other living spaces.
The cost of round-the-clock care in nursing homes is usually considerably more than the cost of services in assisted living communities, and residents do not purchase their homes or apartments.
How Assisted Living Compares to Aging in Place
Many seniors prefer to remain in their own homes, and there are some advantages. In a multi-generational home with family members who can help, they can get many assisted living benefits, such as help with daily activities, monitoring health issues, transportation, and companionship without the additional costs. But that is not always the case. Seniors can feel lonely and neglected even in a house with adult children and grandchildren, and activities are often minimal.
Aging in place for couples is a good solution under some circumstances, though. For example, if seniors cannot afford to buy or rent a house or apartment in an assisted living community, aging in place with family nearby is a better solution than being alone.
Senior care is a fast-growing industry. People are living longer, more active lives than before, and the Baby Boomer retirement population is exploding. Every day until the year 2030, about 10,000 people will turn 65. The Administration for Community Living estimates that seven in ten will require some level of long-term care.
When marketing your assisted living facility, focusing on the benefits of assisted living for couples can help bring more potential residents through the door. The mental, physical, and social benefits of a community-based residential facility or assisted living facility for couples are plenty, and families should feel safe and comfortable leaving their loved ones in good hands.
