Why Should You Consider Assisted Living Communities for Your Loved One?

When your family has decided to move your loved one into a facility, there can be many options to choose from. How do you decide which is the right choice? Most people know about nursing homes, as they have been around for a long time, but what about assisted living? What are the benefits of […]

When your family has decided to move your loved one into a facility, there can be many options to choose from. How do you decide which is the right choice? Most people know about nursing homes, as they have been around for a long time, but what about assisted living? What are the benefits of an assisted living facility compared to other options for senior care? We will tackle that problem and provide you with all the information needed to make the right decision.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a hybrid between nursing care and independent living for seniors. It provides the same feel of independent living they are used to with the convenience of round-the-clock nursing care.

Whether your loved one simply needs help cooking or small medical assistance, assisted living facilities help provide the little bit of help needed to ease back into quality of life they are used to. Independence is tough to give up as an adult.

Assisted living facilities offer a wide range of help for their residents.

Social Interaction

Socialisation helps the mind and body in so many ways. Assisted living facilities provide a central location for residents to meet up and participate in social activities that seniors might not experience at home.

Staff members give them the opportunity to meet up and engage in many different forms of social activity, such as a movie night, games, trips, and numerous other ways to have fun and make friends.

Safety

Security is important to your loved one and their family. With assisted living, you’re guaranteed to have someone on premise 24/7 in the event of an accident. The facilities are built with safety in mind so you need not worry about their surroundings being dangerous or inconvenient.

There will always be an alert system to contact help should a senior fall or experience any medical emergency. They will never be inconvenienced when wheelchair bound or otherwise incapacitated.  Medical staff will be nearby and ready to tend to any minor or major medical need.

You won’t have to worry about dangerous people or neighborhoods since assisted living comes with security personnel and precautionary procedures.

Activity for the Mind and Body

Intellectual stimulation and physical activity is provided on a daily basis by professionals who know what they are doing. Whether they want to engage in a game of chess, access a library, or participate in weekly Zumba sessions, they should have no trouble finding ways to stay genuinely entertained.

Assisted living gives them access to new and exciting forms of entertainment that they might not have known about or had access to at home. Many facilities offer lectures or other stimulating brain games to continue learning into their later years and many feature computer labs for online education.

Nearby colleges often provide opportunities to engage with youth and interact with other intellectuals. Plus volunteers often stop by with classes and other unique opportunities!

Assistance with Daily Tasks

Many older people struggle with daily tasks, such as housekeeping, hygiene, and medications. The staff members at assisted living facilities make these their priority. Even if your senior can perform most functions independently, they have someone there to assist them.

Some struggle with accepting assistance but rest assured the staff knows exactly how much help to give. The flexibility of an assisted living facility gives you the comfort of knowing their daily needs are met and that emergency help is always nearby. Seniors can continue to live independently without the stress of maintaining housework, groceries, and medicines.

The staff members are always respectful of personal habits and preference without forcing socialization or routine on their residents. Assisted living provides services according to each senior’s preference; seniors can tailor their schedule and programs to create a new environment that is even better than life in their family home.  

Conclusion

Independence is the key to aging comfortably while maintaining a sense of self. Making the change from independent living to assisted living is a big adjustment yet no one should feel like they are losing anything.

Assisted living is specifically designed to protect a senior’s independence while providing assistance with tasks that seniors commonly struggle to manage. The staff will provide the help they need while giving them the space to make decisions on their own.

If you have more questions about senior care and assisted living, SeniorAdvisor.com is here to ensure the transition goes as smooth as possible for seniors, caretakers, and their loved ones.

BIO

Rebecca Everett Susko works for Senior Advisor who provides senior care reviews to help guide family and loved ones to find care that fits their needs. She’s grown up in the senior care realm watching her family run a home hospice company. Rebecca comes from a background in senior care insurance and has since worked in internet marketing for all aspects of the senior care world.