Moving to an assisted living community can feel like an overwhelming change for a senior and their family members. If you’re helping your loved one decide on their next living space, be aware that not all senior living communities are alike. And when it comes to safety, you don’t want to compromise.
Keep reading to learn about the essential safety features in assisted living communities you should expect!
Trained Staff
First and foremost, assisted living safety starts with a trained and compassionate staff. Caregivers will be interacting with your loved one throughout the day, so you want to know that they have their best interests at heart. After all, the best caregivers can start to feel like friends.
There should be a low staff-resident ratio to ensure plenty of attention. All staff members should undergo background checks prior to starting work. They should wear badges with their name and picture visible at all times, too.
Staff members should work shifts so that they are present around the clock. That way, if a resident needs help in the middle of the night, they can get it. Ask a potential living community guide how many staff are working during the nighttime hours.
Some staff should specifically be assigned to do security work, too. This means they may function as trained guards who patrol the campus. They can keep an eye out for suspicious activity and reach out to the appropriate staff if necessary.
Safe Building Design
A senior living community should be designed with residents’ needs in mind. Since many seniors struggle with balance and mobility, this means adding safety features in private and common spaces to help. Even simple additions can help prevent falls and injuries.
Community safety features can include grab bars on walls and spacious hallways to allow wheelchairs to move easily. Floors should be non-slip to help with traction and there should be handrails lining the walls. Pull cords or buttons should be in hallways, too, to enable residents to get help quickly if they need it.
All areas of a senior living community should have good illumination. Since vision loss can come with aging, it’s vital to provide plenty of light. Failing to do so increases the risk of falling.
Every area should have lamps and overhead lights. Building designs should take advantage of natural light with plenty of windows, too. As a bonus, natural light can help provide a boost to mental health for everyone inside!
Secure Entrances
Senior living spaces can be active spaces with staff and residents coming and going. Plus most senior living communities have outdoor areas, like gardens or pathways, where residents can go to enjoy fresh air. All of these different spaces inevitably have entrance points that need to be secure.
Senior living communities should have security systems that require codes or key fob access. Only individuals connected to the community should be allowed access to it. Guests should have to be buzzed or escorted in, and ideally, a staff member should sit at a front desk to greet them and note their presence.
In outside areas, there should be a fence lining the edge. This can keep out intruders, prevent wandering, and offer residents more privacy. Avoid senior living communities that don’t have defined edges along their property.
Surveillance cameras can be an excellent form of senior living security, as well. When mounted above entrances, hallways, and gathering areas for activities, they can capture footage throughout the day. If someone monitoring the footage sees an individual in trouble, they can notify nearby staff to take action.
Emergency Response Protocol
Other assisted living precautions include comprehensive emergency response systems. This starts with having an evacuation plan in the event of a fire or weather-related event. Hallways should have markers showing residents and staff how to reach the nearest exit, and staff should account for all residents.
Staff should know how to respond to contagious illnesses and infections in senior living communities. This may entail isolating residents or taking other precautions to avoid having diseases spread. In other words, staff should understand how to manage outbreaks.
Staff members should be trained to jump into action if needed for resident-specific emergencies. And they should be trained to do CPR and assist residents during emergency situations. Moreover, they should undergo refresher training periodically so they know the latest best practices in emergency responses.
All rooms should have buttons for seniors to push if they fall or need help. Residents should have wearable alert medallions, too. If a resident feels unwell, for instance, they can press the button to notify staff right away.
Resident Oversight
Elderly care safety requires ongoing oversight. One of the key benefits of a senior living community is that staff will check in with residents regularly. It’s important to ask how often this happens when you’re touring a community.
Resident monitoring also relates to medication. Many seniors take medications at specific points in the day to manage medical conditions. For their health and safety, it’s critical to make sure they are taking the proper dosage at the right time.
Staff members can help seniors organize their pills in labeled dispensers. They can help administer medications, too, for seniors who may have difficulty doing so.
Further, staff members should check in with seniors to confirm that they get prescription refills as needed. Staff should be aware of seniors’ upcoming healthcare appointments and help make sure they can get to them.
Find the Right Safety Features in Assisted Living Communities
Good safety features in assisted living communities are a must for the loved ones in your life. From grab bars to surveillance cameras, built-in and added features can keep seniors safe. Also, check to ensure there are staff members on duty throughout the day who are knowledgeable about the latest safety practices.
At Deane Hill Place, we offer residents a welcoming and secure place to call home. Our assisted living community prioritizes personalized care and a well-rounded slate of activities. Contact us today for a tour!
