Assisted Living Directory Blog

Over the holidays, my mother-in-law brought a few magazines with her that she left at the house.  One of which was an older issue of U.S. News & World Report from December of 2006.   On the cover there is a photo of a relatively young woman who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.   The title of the article is “The New Face of Alzheimer’s,” and it talks about whey more younger people are being diagnosed with this devastating disease.

Before reading it, I expected to hear about people in their lower 50’s being told they have Alzheimer’s.   I was shocked to learn that even some people in their 30’s are being given the grim news.  The article says “It afflicts people in their 50’s, their 40’s, and even in their 30’s.”  More and more young people are showing up at doctor’s offices and support group meetings than ever before.

The article spotlights several people at various (mostly younger) ages, and describes their daily lives, and how they are coping.  The article also talks about hopeful new medications and therapies that will attempt to tackle this disease head-on, including Secretase modulators, immunotherapy, and others that are currently being tested for safety and effectiveness.

Yesterday, January 12, in sub-zero temperatures, partners in a Plainfield, Indiana assisted-living community broke ground.   We want to wish Sugar Grove Senior Living a successful development and business, especially in this ecomomic climate where new residential development can be wobbly at best.

Sugar Grove Senior Living is an an 18-acre campus  that will boast 76 assisted living units, and 40 units for memory care patients.  The location of the project will be at 4900 S. County Road 600 East.

Rents will range from $850 for an efficiency apartment to $2,850 a month in the assisted living center.

One of the most freuent questions I receive on the site, or hear about with the assisted living industry is “What is assisted living?”  I think because this is such a relatively new industry, most people don’t quite know what it is or what to expect from it.

I have posted a great video on our homepage that explains what assisted living is.   Basically, assisted living is intended for those people who can manage some degree of independence, but need help with some of the daily activities that they were once able to do, like bathing, or managing medication.

What assisted living is not: Assisted living is not intended or designed to be a residential option for seniors (or anyone) needing intensive medical care or around-the-clock supervision.   People who are essentially bedridden or unable to move independently will probably find that assisted living is not the best choice for them.

Understanding what assisted living is, and what it’s limitations are is paramount in achieving happiness for your loved one, and for the families who support him or her.   This understanding will also allow the facility to provide the best possible care within it’s ability.