How often do you find yourself worried about your aging parent? Maybe your mom has become forgetful, and she no longer takes her medication as prescribed? Or perhaps your dad is getting lonely by the day, and he can no longer take care of himself?
These concerns can keep you awake at night, especially if you are not able to live with your parents and take care of them personally. What’s the best way to not only assure their safety but their health and happiness too?
Searching for assistance can be quite a daunting task because the senior care industry is huge. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the information available online, and it may get hard to choose as you may not understand what each one has to offer.
So, what is assisted living? We have gathered all the information you need to know about assisted home living and other common senior levels of care that are likely to benefit your loved ones.
What Is Assisted Living?
Senior living facilities are usually categorized by the levels of care they provide. Assisted living facilities are one level of care, and they provide seniors with a safe place to call home. The living spaces could be anything from shared quarters to apartments and individual rooms.
These facilities offer a home-like setting and offer a helping hand while still maintaining a level of independence. They focus more on providing assistance with day to day tasks and health care maintenance.
How Are Assisted Living Facilities Different From Other Levels of Care?
There are several types of senior care facilities, such as memory care, nursing homes, and independent living facilities. It’s essential for you to understand how each one differs from assisted living so you can make an informed decision. Your parent deserves the right kind of care, so let’s see what each one has to offer.
Memory Care Facilities
Memory care facilities are similar to assisted facilities in that they offer 24-hour care. However, memory care is more geared towards providing specialized care to seniors who have Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia diseases.
Independent Living Facilities
These two are similar in so many ways that most people confuse between them. Independent living facilities are for seniors that are able to take care of themselves fully. These facilities offer the convenience of living in a community to prevent seniors from getting lonely and bored at home.
Seniors get to enjoy the company of each other as well as services and amenities such as housekeeping, dining, social amenities, security, transportation, among others. If your parents are totally capable of taking care of themselves and you are just worried that they get lonely living alone, this is a good option. They’ll not only get to interact with others, but they can exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Nursing Home Facilities
Nursing facilities are the most clinical of the lot. They offer skilled nursing for seniors that need constant medical assistance. If, for instance, your parents are living with complex medical conditions and need significant care, a nursing home would be the best option.
Many nursing home facilities are set up like hospitals, and depending on the one you choose, your loved one could have their own room or share with other residents. Some have a home-lie decor and a community kitchen so the residents can interact as well. They offer treatments for all kinds of illnesses.
What Will Your Loved One Get From an Assisted Living Facility
Understand that most facilities differ from each other in terms of features and the living culture. However, they do have certain similarities as well, and you need to find the one that suits your loved one.
So what is assisted living all about? To begin with, all of them offer a safe, home-like environment. You may choose an apartment setting and choose the kind of amenities you’d like your loved one to enjoy. Some communities allow seniors to bring their decorations and furnishings.
Housekeeping services allow them to enjoy their retirement without worrying about chores that may be a hassle for them. Beyond that, the facilities also have nursing staff that help with medications and things like blood sugar testing for the seniors that need it. Most facilities also have professional medical practitioners on-site who offer different types of care, going from audiology to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more.
Your loved one will also enjoy exceptional dining opportunities as they are offered healthy meals. Some of them have a community dining area that allows seniors to interact and enjoy a familial and social environment.
Finally, an assisted living facility will offer a social hub for your parents. Even if they are introverted, they will get a chance to make friends as they engage with peers. The facilities have fully staffed departments that organize activities, events, and trips to keep seniors engaged and entertained. They emphasize on building friendships and pursuing hobbies.
Who Would Benefit From An Assisted Living Community?
How do you know whether an assisted living facility is the best place for your loved one? Depending on age and health condition, you need to weigh which senior living facility your loved one will thrive in. Here are just a few examples of people who will benefit from living in an assisted living community
Independent People
Seniors that enjoy their independence and don’t mind living at home, but are having a hard time keeping up with chores will fit perfectly here. They won’t have to worry about preparing meals or cleaning up after themselves. They will have more time to pursue their hobbies and enjoy other activities they may want to try out.
Social People
Seniors who once had a bustling social life will get very lonely with age and would thrive in these communities. With all the activities and exercises provided, they will not only make new friends but stay active and decrease any chances of loneliness and possibly depression.
People with a Fall Risk
If your loved one has a history of falling and you are constantly afraid they may get hurt, this would be a good place for them. Most assisted living facilities have fall risk assessments that prevent falls.
In case it happens anyway, they have on-site emergency services that will offer assistance immediately. Besides, with group mobility and all the exercises they get, they increase balance, minimizing or eliminating any chances of falling.
Ready to Make a Choice!
Now that you know what is assisted living community, would it be right for your loved ones? Finding the right one is the next thing you should look into.
You may search for assisted living facilities near me and see what you can find. How about you get in touch with us, and we’ll tell you all the nice things your loved one will enjoy in our facility.
