Men Less Willing Than Women to Move to Assisted Living, Expert Says
Is your elderly father resisting the idea of moving to assisted living even though he needs the help and socializing? He’s not alone. According to a story in The Washington Post, men are less likely than women to accept the need for such a move. Maddy Dychtwald, co-founder of the consulting firm AgeWave, told the paper:
“Women tend to just go with it. Men don’t. It’s that same old story with doctors.” Women will continue to see a doctor they might not like. Men won’t. They’ll find another. Or they just won’t go at all. “Men tend to go into assisted living kicking and screaming. They don’t like to utilize the system. Women are more likely to say, ‘I can see how this place is helpful to me.’ ”
The good thing is, once they get there, men benefit quite a bit from assisted living, the article points out. They’re more likely than women to be isolated when living home alone, so the social atmosphere of assisted living helps them.
You can read the article here: “Assisted Living Facilities May Be Wise to Appeal More to Men.”
If you’re having trouble convincing your elderly parents that they’d benefit from moving or getting in-home care, check out last week’s post, “What to Do When Your Elderly Parents Won’t Get Help.”
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who covers finding and paying for long-term care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
