If a senior needs assistance with daily activities but doesn’t require the level of care provided by nursing homes, assisted living may be an appropriate alternative. Many seniors choose this type of living arrangement because it allows them to maintain some independence while receiving assistance when necessary.
Personal Care
Assisted living residences provide personalized residential care for older adults who require assistance with daily activities of living, and in some states are known as personal or residential care, although licenses and regulations can differ by state.
People often move to assisted living facilities when they require more support than family and friends can offer them at home, for example because of recent falls or accidents at home, weight loss due to memory issues or difficulty making the house safe.
As you narrow down your list of potential communities, make sure to visit each one and speak with administrators, staff and residents. Bring along your loved one if possible and let them lead the decision-making process as much as possible. When they move in, encourage them to make it their own by personalizing their living space and bringing over meaningful items from home. Likewise, discuss any concerns and validate them; an experienced elder law attorney may offer insight in these matters.
Meals
Many people associate senior retirement communities with bland institutional meals; however, assisted living facilities pride themselves on offering restaurant-style dining that allows residents to savor their favorite dishes while socializing and meeting each individual resident’s dietary needs such as vegetarian or Kosher options.
Some senior residences provide food around-the-clock for residents to enjoy in their rooms or apartments, such as yogurt, ice cream, crackers, soup, bread, hot and cold cereals as well as cookies. They may stock their refrigerator and pantry with foods that would typically be found in most households – like yogurt, ice cream, crackers soup bread cereals cookies etc.
Most Assisted Living communities provide their residents with a set number of meals each week or month at a base rate and either bill them in one lump sum payment or as line items on their billing statement. They usually also allow residents to add additional meal plan portions or snacks as desired.
Transportation
Reliable transportation is an integral component of assisted living. Without it, seniors may struggle to get groceries or attend medical appointments on time – leading to social isolation that threatens quality of life.
As part of your tour of an assisted living community, ask about their transportation services. Check to see if they provide curb-to-curb service within their complementary transit routes, whether busses or vans are wheelchair-accessible and provide door-to-door assistance for seniors.
Many communities offer transportation programs managed either internally by staff or external companies, or they use reliable ride services like AARP and AAA as options to reduce transportation costs – often covered by health insurance policies.
Medicare only covers emergency medical trips and can require pre-approval. For more information on what coverage may be available to them, reach out to their insurance company and visit Medicare’s site for seniors. Despite these limitations, seniors shouldn’t let transportation stop them from exploring their local community!
Activities
Assisted living facilities often offer an extensive array of physically and mentally stimulating activities, from fashion shows and art exhibitions to themed parties celebrating an era or film.
Residents who appreciate creative expression may benefit from participating in hands-on craft workshops, whether through needlework such as knitting or crochet that fosters fine motor dexterity or painting classes that give residents the chance to explore color and texture. A facility will need to provide all required crafting supplies as well as an instructor.
Group sing-alongs offer seniors a fun way to gather together and sing some of their favorite tunes from various decades. Many facilities will invite choir groups or local musicians to perform live. Movie nights or bingo may also provide entertaining ways for seniors and friends to spend quality time together.