Assisted living involves a residence designed for aging retirees that often have disabilities and need help with basic daily living functions and medical care. Though not as advanced as skilled nursing, it does provide a number of advantages which are highlighted below.
Healthcare Facility Access
Some elders will require 24-hour assistance as they advance in age. Assisted living is desirable since the healthcare is provided onsite, and encompasses both mental and physical wellbeing. Additionally, elders will have access to the latest care methods including rehabilitation and therapeutic services.
More Dining and Nutrition Options
The culinary services offered through assisted living are specially designed for optimal nutrition and health. Each meal will be prepared by a professional chef that is not only packed with nutrients but is also mouthwateringly delicious. Residents can eat whatever they choose, whenever they choose and the meal options will be periodically rotated for variety.
Comfortable Home Setting
One of the goals of assisted living is to foster a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. One of the best ways of accomplishing this is to create an environment that resembles a home, rather than a hospital or clinic. Studies consistently show that elders who are confined to healthcare facilities recover from injuries or illness at a much slower rate when compared to those that convalesce at home instead.
Personalized Services
The disadvantage of traditional retirement homes is that every resident is given access to the same services, with little variation between them. However, assisted living communities recognize the importance of personalization, since each individual is unique and ages differently. The team members take time to familiarize themselves with each resident, determine their needs, and then provide personalized services accordingly. This holistic method has proven to be highly successful.
Social Engagement and Activities
Studies demonstrate that loneliness is a significant issue among those aged 65 and above, and this makes sense. By the time someone reaches this age, there is a good chance some of their good friends and loved ones have passed on. This leaves them no one to confide in and the isolation can lead to loneliness which can slowly turn into despair and depression. By joining an assisted living community, they’ll be part of an association where they will get to meet similarly aged people and engage in numerous weekly activities which will keep them engaged and stimulated.
Hands-on Help with Daily Functions
Retirees who are suffering from advanced conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia will often need help with basic daily functions, and the same is true for those that are recovering from surgical operations. Once residents begin receiving assisted living, they will get help with things such as laundry, dressing, bathing, transportation and housekeeping. This is incredibly valuable because it gives them the time, space and energy to focus on overcoming and managing their conditions and lead a higher quality of life.
Medication Management and Scheduling
It isn’t unusual for retirees over the age of 65 to be taking multiple types of medication. Keeping track of everything can become tedious especially for those with cognitive decline, and getting a dose wrong or mixing up the schedule greatly increases the chance of overdose. With assisted living, residents’ medication schedules will always be meticulously managed.
