The Advantages of Having a Roommate in an Assisted Living Community
Joseph Newlan, LVN, Associate Executive Director, Alexander Gardens Assisted Living Exerts from Starlight Homes Assisted Living 2019
Roommates in assisted living can have several advantages that you should consider when choosing a room. Having to decide to share living space with another person, often someone you have never met can be difficult for both the resident and the family. Here are some valuable benefits to consider:
- Saving Money – The most obvious of the benefits of sharing a room is sharing the cost of accommodations. The savings are approximately 30-40% on average.
- Easing Transition– Having a roommate promotes socialization. Having a roommate can provide the first person you get to know Your roommate can give you advice on how to better navigate within the community’s unique culture.
- Decreased Loneliness – Too much seclusion is not a good thing. It is easy for loneliness to set in. Many seniors will stay in their rooms most of the day sleeping or watching television. This lack of socialization can sometimes contribute to loneliness and worse, depression. A roommate can dramatically diminish the feeling of isolation and/or loneliness.
- Additional Monitoring – You should consider the benefit of the additional monitoring that a roommate provides. Because they see each other every day, roommates can be the first to notice changes that occur in the health or ability of a senior. There is great value in noticing a pattern early that might otherwise go undetected for a longer period.
- Longer Life Expectancy – A variety of social studies confirm that social relationships augment one’s quality of life and extend our life expectancy. Having a source of consistent companionship in the form of a roommate can increase mental and emotional stimulation and therefore contribute to overall health and longevity.
Roommates aren’t just for starving students or young people but can be beneficial for people of all ages.
When choosing a room in assisted living there are many options to consider and a shared room or private room is worth considering.