Myths vs Truths of Assisted Living

MYTHS VS.

TRUTH ASSISTED LIVING and MEMORY

CARE

ASSISTED LIVINGMYTHS

MYTH Moving to an Assisted Living equals losing

my independence

TRUTHIt’s your own space without the hassles of

home maintenance

MYTHMy family will not come visit

TRUTHVisits will be more fulfilling when there is

peace-of-mind

MYTHNo one will be able to help me

TRUTHCommunities are staffed 24/7 with trained

teams to meet your needs

MYTHI cannot continue my hobbies in an Assisted

Living community

TRUTHCommunities offer many activities/hobbies

and are open to additional hobbies that promote your independence and happiness

MYTHI am not free to make my own choices

TRUTHIn Assisted Living, there are even more

choices available to you

MYTHAssisted Livings are really Nursing Homes

TRUTHAssisted Living is a transition that helps prevent seniors from going to a nursing

home- Assisted Living takes away the day to day hardships so that you can have a better

quality of life.

MYTHMedicare will pay for my stay at an Assisted

Living community

TRUTHMedicare is designed to pay for hospital and out patient care and will only pay for skilled care for an approved number of days (Not

exceeding 100 days per year).

MYTHI will become lonely and depressed in an

Assisted Living community.

TRUTHBeing surrounded by the other residents

and staff will help in diminishing loneliness and depression often felt while living at

home.

MYTHI cannot keep my car if I move into an

Assisted Living community.

TRUTHAgain, just because you move into an

Assisted Living community doesn’t mean that you lose all rights. You still have a voice.

MYTHMy grandchildren will not come visit me

because they will be scared and don’t believe that they will have fun.

TRUTHMost communities, especially Avanti are

kid-friendly.

MYTH

I cannot bring my pet

TRUTHMost communities allow pets

MYTHIt is much cheaper to live in my own home

and pay someone privately to help me.

TRUTHThe cost of private in home care can be as

high as $10,000 per month. Apples to apples you save $$ living in an Assisted Living

community.

ALZHEIMER’S and

MEMORY CARE MYTHS

MYTHMemory Loss is a natural part of aging

TRUTHAs we age we do began to have occasional memory problems. However, Alzheimer’s

disease is more than occasional memory loss.

EXAMPLES

MYTH

Only older people get Dementia/Alzheimer’s

TRUTHAlzheimer’s Disease can strike people in their 30’s, 40’s, even 50’s. This is called

Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer’s/Dementia.

MYTH

There are treatments available to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease.

TRUTHAt this time, there is no treatment or cure to

stop the progression of the disease.

MYTH

Exercise and diet help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

TRUTHStudies have found that a healthy diet and active lifestyle on a daily basis and keeping the mind engaged with games, puzzles, etc.

are linked to lower odds of getting Alzheimer’s.

MYTH

Dementia is the same as Alzheimer’s Disease

TRUTHDementia is an umbrella term used to describe a loss of memory caused by changes in the brain. There are

over 70 different causes of dementia, including strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia and

Picks Disease. “ Everyone with Alz. Disease has dementia but not

everyone with with Dementia has Alz. Disease.” -Galvin

MYTHBeing in a memory care community means

that you will be locked up.

TRUTHMemory Care Communities are secured for

safety but offer large and open communities with large courtyards to offer residents

more freedom and independence.