Assisted living offers many services, such as housekeeping, meals, healthcare, transportation and supervision. Furthermore, some communities also provide physical therapy, activities and supervision. A written care plan should be in place and periodically evaluated.
If you are contemplating assisted living for yourself or a loved one, make sure you visit several facilities and ask plenty of questions. Remember, their grieving and feelings of loss could arise at any moment.
Home-like environment
An ideal assisted living facility should provide residents with a homelike atmosphere and allow them to bring personal items for further personalisation, as well as providing meals in a shared dining area rather than individual apartments.
When visiting potential residences, try visiting at different times-during activities and mealtime-to observe how staff interacts with residents and provides services. Ask questions regarding their experiences and the services provided.
Conversation with your loved one regarding their hopes and expectations regarding assisted living can also help ensure they find the ideal choice for themselves.
Personalized care
An ideal assisted living facility should provide residents with tailored services that meet their individual needs, such as on-site physical and occupational therapy and medical alert systems. Residents will have privacy and autonomy within private apartments while housekeeping and regular meals will also be included in their package of care.
Socialization is also key in an assisted living environment. Studies indicate that physically capable older adults who remain isolated often become frail more quickly than those who engage with others on a regular basis.
When selecting an assisted living facility for you or a loved one, take time to tour it several times. As this can be a significant life change for them, make sure they feel at ease before making their choice.
Socialization
Many seniors worry that moving into assisted living means giving up independence and accepting old age, but in truth there are plenty of socializing opportunities at these communities – from game nights and group outings to classes, residents can meet others who share similar interests while making friends.
Studies have demonstrated the many benefits of socialization for seniors. Studies have demonstrated its ability to boost mental stimulation, emotional well-being and the immune system – three areas essential for overall health and wellbeing. Maintaining these connections helps prevent isolation and depression and keep their minds sharp while slowing aging in general.
Transportation
Many senior living facilities include transportation services in their monthly rent payment. Other affordable transportation options such as public transit or ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft may be an affordable alternative to consider. AARP provides tools and information to assist seniors in accessing these transportation options.
Assisted living communities may also consider door-through-door services for their personal assistance (getting into and out of vehicles, carrying bags). These vehicles tend to be large enough to accommodate wheelchairs.
Religious groups and charitable organizations frequently employ volunteers who offer rides free or at an extremely reduced cost to members or donors of these groups. While their exact services vary greatly, most require either membership or donations in exchange for these rides.
Meal preparation
Assisted living facilities provide nutritious and well-balanced meals to reduce the burden of grocery shopping and meal planning on loved ones’ lives.
An expert registered dietitian should help plan menus to ensure they meet nutritional standards. Residents’ dietary preferences and restrictions should also be taken into consideration.
Make meal prep simpler by choosing foods that appear frequently or are versatile, and involve your senior in meal preparation so they feel invested and more invested in the food they’re eating – this may help prevent unhealthy snacks or fast food from being selected as options.
Safety
Safety measures in senior living communities are vitally important to ensuring their residents’ wellbeing, including onsite security guards, response staff and security systems. Together these tools create an atmosphere that minimizes risks while still encouraging comfort and independence.
Door contacts that link with nurse call systems are an easy and cost-effective way to protect senior’s safety. They prevent unauthorised entry to buildings while alerting staff when someone enters.
An essential safety measure during emergencies is having a clearly-outlined chain of command in place, so senior residents and staff can safely evacuate the building in case of an evacuation order being issued. Furthermore, this restriction limits visitors who don’t require assistance and limits visitors who might disrupt normal operation of the facility.