{"id":12575,"date":"2019-05-27T07:00:25","date_gmt":"2019-05-27T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=12575"},"modified":"2020-10-14T11:48:08","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T16:48:08","slug":"busting-senior-care-myths-privacy-in-senior-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2019\/05\/busting-senior-care-myths-privacy-in-senior-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Busting Senior Care Myths: There’s No Privacy in Senior Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Busting Senior Care Myths: There’s No Privacy in Senior Communities<\/h1>\n

For many families, there comes a point in time when adult children begin to worry about their senior parents’ safety and social\u00a0isolation at home. Parents often\u00a0respond, saying they don’t want to give up their privacy by moving into a senior living community. The notion that life in a senior community is like living in a fishbowl is a myth we’re happy to bust. Most senior living communities today cater to baby boomers with high expectations for quality of life \u2014 including a balance of privacy and social activities.\"Busting<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at the privacy options for residents in different types of retirement communities:<\/p>\n

Privacy in Assisted Living<\/h2>\n

Many senior living communities offer a continuum of care that lets residents transition to assisted living <\/b><\/a>without a major move. Whether your parents are in a continuum-of-care community or a freestanding assisted living center, you can expect the same types of apartment layouts \u2014 though, in assisted living, private quarters usually have kitchenettes instead of full kitchens.<\/p>\n

As with senior living, residents have the option to take part in social activities or enjoy some solitude. However, assisted living residents may get visits from staffers each day for help with medication, personal-care tasks and any other support they need for their health and safety.<\/p>\n

Privacy in Independent Living<\/h2>\n

Independent living communities offer just about the same level of privacy you’ll find in an apartment complex or residential neighborhood \u2014 but with many more amenities.<\/p>\n

Most of these communities offer a range of apartment styles, so each couple or resident has a private space that’s just for them and their guests. For example,\u00a0NewForest Estates in San Antonio<\/b><\/a>, a SeniorAdvisor.com Best of Assisted Living award winner, offers eight floor plans ranging from studio to two-bedroom apartments, all with full kitchens for when you don’t feel like dining with a group.<\/p>\n

Privacy in Nursing Homes<\/h2>\n

So far, we’ve talked about senior communities where each resident has his or her own apartment or bedroom. Privacy levels in nursing homes are different, for two main reasons. One, residents and staff interact much more frequently for personal care and medical administration and care. Two, semi-private rooms are less costly than private rooms and\u00a0Medicaid will not pay for private rooms \u201cunless medically needed.\u201d<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Even with these potential barriers to privacy, nursing home residents have the right to:<\/p>\n