Assisted living is ideal for seniors who can no longer live independently but don’t require around-the-clock healthcare like a nursing home. When selecting a facility, visit during activities and meal times and ask questions about staffing patterns and resident interaction.
A quality facility will offer a holistic approach to senior care and wellness. This includes physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being.
Personalized Care
Many assisted living facilities offer on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy. They typically also provide their residents with meals, housekeeping, and transportation services. In addition, residents can live in private apartments without the stress of mowing a lawn or constant cleaning.
Consumers reported that personalized care led to more effective treatment and a stronger clinician-patient relationship. Personalization also decreased their stress, reduced their discomfort and side effects from rounds of testing and treatments, and increased their confidence in their clinician’s chosen treatment. Patients also reported lower costs for the same or better quality of care when personalized. This is a win for everyone in the healthcare and senior housing industries.
Medication Management
Medication management is essential to caring for seniors with various health issues. Taking the proper medications at the right time and in the correct dosage helps to ensure optimal results.
However, various factors can interfere with these goals, including memory impairment, swallowing difficulties, and financial limitations. Seniors can sometimes take too little or too much medication and may be on multiple regimens with doctors who do not share information.
Moreover, assisted living facilities MO can provide a comprehensive plan of care that includes medication management. They can also help with prescriptions, doctor visits, and medical equipment.
Socialization
A healthy social life can help to boost a senior’s immune system. Social interactions can encourage positive emotions, promoting a robust immune system.
It can also encourage physical activity. For instance, seniors who regularly socialize can be more likely to participate in group activities such as walking or playing games with their peers, which can encourage them to stay physically active.
In addition, regular socialization can also help to keep a senior’s mind sharp. For example, attending lectures or book clubs can stimulate the brain and encourage seniors to learn new things. This can help to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Respite Care
Respite care is one of a full-time caregiver’s most valuable benefits. Often, family caregivers become so wrapped up in their loved one’s health that they neglect their social engagement and can withdraw from their friends and loved ones over time.
Respite care allows family caregivers to take a guilt-free break and rest assured that their loved ones are in the best hands. It also allows them to evaluate how their loved one will feel in a senior living community before making any permanent decisions. This is a crucial step to ensuring their long-term health and well-being.
Transportation
As people age, they lose their ability to drive – limiting access to destinations and activities. This is why it is essential for the accessibility, affordability, and safety of elderly-friendly transport to improve older adults’ quality of life and well-being.
Many assisted living communities offer scheduled transportation for trips to the doctor, grocery store, or other essential errands. They also arrange to bring seniors to community events and activities to keep their minds engaged and their bodies active. This helps reduce the risk of depression and loneliness, leading to improved physical health. This is why looking into the available options is essential when considering moving into an assisted living facility.
Physical Care
Assisted living residences must conduct or arrange for assessments to determine residents’ medical, nutritional, rehabilitation, and functional needs. These assessments must also address any psychiatric or behavioral needs.
Physical wellness is essential for aging well and enjoying life to the fullest. In many assisted living communities, seniors can participate in wellness programs that help them maintain healthy body weight and improve bone density and muscle strength.
Most assisted living communities will assess prospective residents before or at move-in to see if they require hourly care. Those that do will pay an additional fee per month for this service. The cost varies by state.
