What Is a Humidifier?

Humidifiers distribute moisture into the air from a large tank of water inside the appliance. You can choose from steam vaporizers, evaporative humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers, with either cool or warm mist options.

Pros of a Humidifier

Benefits you gain from having a humidifier in your assisted living apartment include:

• Increased humidity: This is particularly helpful during drier winter months. It adds moisture to your skin to help prevent itching and flaking, ease irritated sinuses and scratchy throats and reduce the risk of cracking or warping wood furniture.
• Large tank size: You can find various sizes of humidifiers with different capacities. A larger option means you don't have to refill the tank as often.
• Comfort: Low humidity can disrupt sleep by causing dry airways or snoring. A humidifier can help you sleep more soundly by keeping the air moist and your breathing more comfortable.

Cons of a Humidifier

There are some drawbacks to humidifiers, including:

• Lack of fragrance: You typically don't want to add essential oils or other fragrances to a humidifier. The oils can damage parts of the appliance or block the filter. You can find some models that are compatible with essential oils, but if your primary purpose is fragrance, a humidifier isn't a good option.
• Filter care: Humidifiers typically have filters that you'll need to change or clean regularly to keep the device working well.
• Mold and mildew growth: It's possible for mold or mildew to grow inside the appliance if you don't perform maintenance on it regularly.
• Too much humidity: The Colorado Springs climate can be dry, even in the summer, so a humidifier may be ideal to run. Still, it's possible to create too much humidity in your home, potentially causing condensation or mold and mildew growth.
• Larger overall size: To accommodate a large tank of water, humidifiers are often bigger than diffusers, which can make them harder to position in your assisted living apartment. Choose a location that’s out of the way to avoid tripping risks.

What Is a Diffuser?

A diffuser is a small appliance that typically holds a small amount of water along with essential oils. It creates a mist using ultrasonic technology. Several types of diffusers are available, including waterless, reed and pad diffusers.

Pros of a Diffuser

Some perks you might enjoy about a diffuser include:

• Aromatherapy: Since the primary purpose of a diffuser is to disperse essential oils, you get the benefit of aromatherapy. For example, scents like chamomile can promote relaxation, while citrus oils may help energize your mornings or boost your mood throughout the day.
• Flexibility in placement: Because diffusers don't put out a lot of moisture, you can put them almost anywhere, even in spaces that have higher humidity levels.
• Compact size: Diffusers tend to be much smaller than humidifiers, which gives you more placement options. You can even place a diffuser in each room of your assisted living apartment to spread the scent.
• Mood lighting: It's common for diffusers to have color-changing LED lights built into them. This can create a specific aesthetic within the space.

Cons of a Diffuser

The drawbacks of a diffuser include:

• Lack of humidification: While you do get a slight increase in humidity when you run a diffuser, it's not to the same degree as a humidifier. You likely won't notice a change in the moisture in the air, which can be a drawback if your apartment feels dry.
• Frequent refills: Diffusers hold a smaller amount of water, so you may need to refill the appliance frequently.

Which to Choose for Your Assisted Living Apartment

Your decision primarily comes down to your goals for your space. If your apartment feels dry and has low humidity, choose a humidifier. It increases the amount of moisture in the air, helping you feel more comfortable.

When your focus is on making your assisted living apartment smell good or using aromatherapy, a diffuser is likely the best option. You can change the scents as often as you want for different purposes. You can set a festive mood with seasonal blends or use lavender at night to help you relax, reduce stress and fall asleep more easily. In the morning, switch to something more invigorating to improve your morning wake-up and keep you energized.

You also have the option of using both appliances in your apartment if you have the space. Your diffuser works year-round to create an inviting, relaxing or invigorating mood in your space. Meanwhile, you can run your humidifier at times when your assisted living apartment feels dry.

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