Sometimes change is necessary but transitions can be very difficult. Transitioning from home to a 55 community can be very difficult because there are many new and uncertain processes to undergo. Especially if it is your first time moving into an assisted living community, it can be very overwhelming. There may be many questions you and your loved ones may have as to how the transitioning process would be like. However, before proceeding any further, it is important to take an assessment test. It is a standard test that every resident will undergo when they first join the retirement community. This assessment is tailored to assess the abilities of the individual and test their physical and cognitive health. Though many of your loved ones may have many medical notes and memos from the doctor, however, most retirement communities will rather do an in-depth assessment to better understand the condition of the new resident. This way, the team can better determine the right care for your loved ones. Here is why it is important to assess before moving to a 55 community.
Behavioral Condition
It is important to take the assessment test to allow the team to understand how your loved ones behave. This includes their ability to listen to the house rules of the retirement community or responding to the direction or instructions from the team. This is to ensure that their behavior will not cause disruption or harm to other residents that are living near them. This is important so that the retirement community will know whether they are better suited for which programs in the community.
Mental Condition
Every resident’s mental condition will be assessed. Their cognitive and mental condition will be assessed through mental and physical trials and activities. If your loved ones are experiencing confusion throughout the assessment, it might be a sign that your loved ones have dementia. If so, the team will ensure they provide the right care for your loved ones to preserve their cognitive state. At the retirement community, there will be activities and programs that will stimulate the mind to keep it active and alert. This assessment serves as a signal to assess if the resident is more suited for independent or assisted living.
Medical Needs
Assessments are needed to check whether there are any essential medications that have to be taken daily. This assessment usually includes taking a look at past medical history. The team will look out for health conditions and issues like cancer, heart issues and digestive disorders. This way, the team is able to know how to properly care for your loved ones. Additionally, they will check if your loved ones are suffering from any hearing or vision problems. By looking through their medication list, the team is able to know when to give the medication and which medication to administer. Knowing the kind of medications the resident is on will help the team understand the resident more. Some medication causes them to become drowsy which means the resident may require an afternoon nap.
