If you or a loved one is getting older and looking for an alternative living situation, assisted living may be the key. As you get older, it becomes harder to get out of the home. Many seniors who remain at home independently become socially isolated, and begin to have trouble taking care of their basic needs. Whether you are tired of the upkeep of living in a home alone, or you simply want to be around other people, an assisted living facility can give you the socialization you are craving while maintaining your independence. 

How Social Isolation Increases Depression 

While enjoying an afternoon alone sounds like a dream to a mom with three children, spending each day alone becomes a burden for many older people. People need contact with others to feel loved and connected. When an older person doesn't get to interact with other people on a consistent basis, they begin to feel alone and isolated. Depression is very real among the aging population, and it is often overlooked as something you just have to deal with when you get older. 

Getting Your Needs Meet While Remaining Independent

There's a fine line between getting the help you need to get through your daily activities, and staying independent. Assisted living facilities are designed with this exact purpose in mind. While you will have meals served for you three times a day in a dining room, you will also have the ability to heat up meals in your own living space. You may have a person come in to give you a reminder to take your medications, but you will be expected to take the medications on your own. You will have the opportunity to go out shopping, do banking, and otherwise live as independently as possible but have the comfort of knowing that help is there for you if you need it.

You're Never Too Old to Make New Friends

A great aspect about living in an assisted living facility is that you are going to meet a bunch of people who are in the same situation that you are. With the potential for common interests, and a desire to live a life less socially isolated, the people you meet in the facility can become great friends of yours. Living in such a facility gives you a sense of belonging, and allows you to live in an environment that provides the safety you need as you get older.