Benefits of Assisted Living Facilities
Contents:
- What Do Assisted Living Facilities Do?
- Common Reasons for Seeking Assisted Living
- Advantages of Assisted Living
- How to Know if Assisted Living Is Right for You or Your Loved One
- Assisted Living Facility Features and Amenities
Senior assisted living is a safe, convenient option for older individuals who need help throughout the day but want to maintain independence. Assisted living communities provide a comfortable, private living space with various on-site amenities and 24/7 access to care. If you or a loved one need extra help with housekeeping, personal hygiene or health management, an assisted living community may be the perfect new home.
What Do Assisted Living Facilities Do?
Assisted living facilities provide care and assistance for older individuals while helping them maintain a level of independence and autonomy. In an assisted living facility, an individual lives in a private apartment and has access to the facility’s health care, home maintenance, cleaning and personal care services. Facilities also offer meal services, and some provide special recreational activities, classes, worship services, trips and entertainment.
Common Reasons for Seeking Assisted Living
An assisted living facility provides more care than a retirement community, but it’s not as in-depth as a nursing home. Older individuals or their families often seek assisted living options when one or many of the following factors apply:
- Difficulties with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing and meal management
- Lack of caregivers or family members to provide consistent assistance at home
- Difficulty taking medications in the correct dosages or frequently missing doctor’s appointments
- Minimal social interactions or loneliness
- Health conditions requiring close supervision, care or management
- Financial mismanagement
Advantages of Assisted Living
Assisted living is a warm, welcoming and accommodating option for older individuals who need extra help with daily activities. If you or a loved one needs help, consider the following pros of assisted living:
Personalized Care and Assistance
In an assisted living facility, residents receive individualized care based on their needs and preferences. Assisted living caregivers and staff are dedicated to understanding each resident, providing respectful care and making them feel at home. Depending on a resident’s needs, an assisted living facility may provide some or all of the following services:
- Nursing care
- Medication administration and management
- Behavior and mood monitoring for certain conditions
- Respite care
- Transportation
- Housekeeping
- Maintenance and yard work
- Hygiene and bathing
- Laundry
- Dressing
- Meals
Independence and Privacy
While an assisted living facility provides care and assistance, it allows residents to maintain autonomy and independence. Each resident can take advantage of the assistance they need while maintaining privacy and continuing to perform the tasks they are comfortable with. For example, one resident may receive medication assistance and regular nursing care while another only receives help with cleaning and transportation.
Safety
Older individuals can enjoy a safe, secure environment when they move into an assisted living community. Assisted living facilities are designed for greater mobility and accessibility, and features like handrails, flat thresholds and ramps help minimize fall risks.
Assisted living facilities also feature safer bathroom features such as walk-in showers, raised toilets and grab bars to prevent slips and falls. If a fall or accident does occur, residents can reach on-call staff quickly and easily using an emergency call button.
Socialization and Fun
Connection and social activities are essential during a person’s later years because they help maintain healthy cognition. Reducing social isolation helps prevent loneliness, memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, and an assisted living facility provides various ways for residents to enjoy life with others. In an assisted living community, residents can enjoy fun activities such as:
- Fitness classes
- Day trips
- Live entertainment
- Karaoke
- Book clubs
- Shopping trips
- Picnics
- Movie nights
- Social gatherings
- Volunteer opportunities
- Billiards
- Wii games
- Shuffleboard and bocce
- Worship services
- Bible study
An assisted living community gives older individuals the perfect opportunity to build and nurture friendships, and it provides a convenient space to spend time with family. If you or a loved one experiences loneliness or longs for more connection, assisted living can help.
Greater Physical Health
In addition to the social and cognitive benefits of assisted living, it can help residents maintain or improve their physical health. Individuals can exercise in a safe and fun atmosphere with on-site recreational and fitness activities, and they can enjoy nutritious meals a chef prepares for them.
An assisted living facility takes care of maintenance and housekeeping tasks, so residents have plenty of time to focus on their health and well-being. Taking a stroll around the community or participating in a group fitness class is a fantastic way to sustain physical fitness, strength, mobility and independence.
More Time for Family and Hobbies
Assisted living also gives older individuals more time for the things they love. Since they no longer need to handle home maintenance, yard work or time-consuming household tasks, they can devote more time to their children, grandchildren, friends or hobbies.
How to Know if Assisted Living Is Right for You or Your Loved One
While assisted living is incredibly beneficial for many older individuals, determining if it’s the right fit is important. Consider the following factors to determine if an assisted living community is right for you or your loved one:
- Level of care: Some individuals may require more care than an assisted living facility provides. If you or your loved one require specific care, a nursing home may be a better option. However, assisted living is a great option if they need mild to moderate care.
- Cost: Ensuring you or your loved one can afford the cost of an assisted living facility is important.
- Comfort and stress level: It’s also important to consider your or your loved one’s comfort level with moving into a new community. An assisted living facility is an excellent option if you or your family member is open to moving. If a loved one is unsure, you can schedule a facility visit to help them adjust to the idea or decide if it’s right for them.
Assisted Living Facility Features and Amenities
If you or a loved one are considering assisted living, it’s best to find a community that meets your unique needs, interests and preferences. Assisted living communities often offer the following features and amenities:
- Recreational and social activities and events
- Special trips
- Daily chef-prepared meals in traditional, casual and private dining rooms
- Medical suite
- Physical therapy services
- Fitness spaces and multi-purpose rooms
- Peaceful outdoor spaces with courtyards, gardening beds and gazebos
- Special creative arts and woodshop spaces for engaging hobbies
- Computer lab
- Game room
- Lounges
- Library
- Beauty and barbershop
- Banking and postal services
Join a Caring and Compassionate Assisted Living Community at Elm Terrace
Assisted Living can significantly improve your or a loved one’s quality of life if daily assistance or care is needed. Elm Terrace offers a safe and accommodating assisted living community, providing beautiful living spaces, recreational activities, events, social gatherings, nutritious meals and health care for older individuals.
Our compassionate staff provides nursing care, housekeeping services, transportation, meals and fun activities based on your specific needs and preferences. Contact us to learn more about our assisted living community, or schedule a free lunch to tour our beautiful facility and outdoor spaces.
