We often hear our residents say, “I wish I would’ve moved here years ago.” Some may scoff at that, because who would be happier at an assisted living than they would be in their house but at Lakeview Assisted Living, it’s true for several different reasons. I think that “home” is more of a feeling, or a person, than a place. You feel at home when you’re happy and content, and that isn’t always the case when you’re alone in a house.

 

While a house can hold a great deal of sentimental value, remaining there doesn’t always equate to living a fulfilled life. In many cases, it can negatively impact a person’s mental and physical health. As we age, sometimes a house feels less like a home and more like a place you find yourself becoming more isolated in, a place that’s getting more difficult to maintain.

 

The idea of moving is always intimidating, but it’s doable and it’s worth it. When you take a look at all the ways assisted living can improve your quality of life, the pros overwhelm the cons. Living at Lakeview does not rob you of your independence, nor does it take away your privacy. Being part of a community of people is the start of a new chapter, one that includes laughter, new friendships, and experiences!

 

So many of our residents realized just how much their well-being was waning after they moved in. Eating nutritious meals regularly, interacting with others, and increasing their movement resulted in feeling mentally sharper, physically stronger, and generally happier. In addition, with staff support, any medical issues are caught and treated earlier than they had been prior to moving.

 

When I do tours, I’m always amazed at how many people comment on the appearance of our community. There are still a lot of negative stereotypes in existence surrounding assisted living - the environments feel too sterile, they smell bad, everyone who lives there is frail - and nothing could be further from the truth. Many people experiencing Lakeview for the first time comment that the building is warm, bright, home-like, and our residents interact like family.

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on the positive impacts a move to assisted living can have on the caregivers that were helping people prior to. Many caregivers cannot be present 24/7 or even daily, which leaves time for worrying and stress to set in. When the caregiver is also elderly, such as a spouse, neighbor, or friend, there are additional risks of the caregiver injuring themselves trying to assist their loved one.

 

When a friend or family member transitions into a caregiver role, it causes ripple effects in that relationship. Caregivers start to assume roles like chauffeur, cook, housekeeper, errand runner…and their previous roles such as daughter, son, and friend, take a backseat. Moving into assisted living not only provides caregivers with peace of mind, it also allows them to primarily be daughters, sons and friends once again. One of the best parts of working at Lakeview is seeing families and friends come to visit and attend events with their loved ones here. There is so much smiling, laughter, and love, and they’re getting to experience new things together.

 

As you make plans for the future, I would strongly encourage you to keep an open mind about assisted living. You may just be pleasantly surprised. As Jack, one of our residents, recently said, “I can go right on living at Lakeview!”