The Real Lives of The Assisted Living

A true life series from inside the community

Episode 1. Everyone Brings Their Whole Personality. And Their Lifestyle.

Assisted living does not level the playing field the way people think it does.

It equalizes care needs, but it does not erase personality, preferences, or lifestyle.

People arrive with their whole selves. And yes, that includes how they have lived.

Some residents are very refined.

They know the brand of their sheets.

They notice if the coffee is off brand.

They have opinions about lighting, decor, and whether the dining room used to be better.

Others are practical and unbothered.

If the food is warm and the chair is comfortable, they are content.

They do not care what anyone else is wearing.

They are here to eat, rest, and mind their business.

And then there are those in between, quietly observing both sides.

Assisted living has the bougie and the broke.

The polished and the practical.

The ones who have always had help, and the ones who have always done everything themselves.

None of this disappears with age.

The bougie are still bougie.

The frugal are still frugal.

And everyone still believes their way is the right way.

You see it in the small things.

Clothing choices.

Room decor.

Whether they bring their own snacks or proudly announce they do not need all that.

And yet, when something truly matters, those differences soften.

When someone is sick.

When someone loses a spouse.

When someone has not come down to breakfast in a few days.

In those moments, no one asks about background or bank accounts. People show up. Because underneath the lifestyle differences are shared human needs. Connection. Dignity. To be remembered as more than a room number.

Assisted living is not a hierarchy. It is a community. And communities are always a mix.

The work is learning how to live alongside people who are nothing like you, while needing many of the same things.

Chassitie L.