Why Senior Assisted Living May Be the Right Choice For Your Loved One
Assisted living is the right choice when your loved one struggles with daily tasks or safety issues like bathing and navigating their space. This may indicate they need help with meal preparation, personal care, or medication management.
When evaluating options, look beyond surface appeal. How does the facility feel to your loved one?
Peace of Mind
Many seniors need assistance with daily tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, and taking medications. Without these important helpers, it becomes difficult for older adults to stay at home. This is when senior assisted living may be an option to consider.
Besides meal preparation and housekeeping, many assisted living communities provide additional services such as laundry services, medication assistance, or personal care. Residents can also rest assured that employees are on-call 24/7 to help with emergencies.
When choosing a community, visit a website and get a feel for the environment and people. Make sure the apartments are well-designed for accessibility and safety. For example, look for kitchen cabinets that are easier to reach and non-slip flooring. Check whether the community offers onsite activities like games nights, exercise classes, and outside excursions. In addition, most specialized assisted living facilities will offer medical alert systems that connect seniors with help when needed.
Convenience
When your loved one moves into an assisted living community, they will not have to worry about maintaining their home or keeping up with the yard. That can free up time to enjoy their hobbies and socialize with fellow residents.
Additionally, most communities will offer scheduled transportation to appointments and local errands. They will also typically have onsite amenities like laundry services, beauty salons, and general stores to help residents stay comfortable and active.
Senior assisted living is usually more affordable than a private home and can be paid for by various sources. Many seniors use money from the sale of their house, Social Security or pension income, long-term care insurance, or VA Aid and Attendance benefits to offset costs.
When visiting a potential community, asking many questions and getting a feel for the atmosphere is important. Participating in an activity or grabbing a meal at the facility is a good idea to see how you and your loved ones will fit in.
Personalized Care
As people age, it’s normal to need assistance with daily activities like eating, dressing, and bathing. These tasks can become difficult and expensive for many seniors living at home. This help is available in assisted living if needed without adding stress to family members.
Generally speaking, each resident in an assisted living community is assessed before or at move-in and placed in a specific level of care. Each group of care comes with a corresponding monthly fee. The more respect a person requires, the higher their monthly cost will be.
Most facilities offer various programs to keep residents active and engaged. These may include trips, games, and exercise classes. Some also have a medical facility on site. If your loved one has Medicaid, there are several resources to help them apply for coverage and understand their benefits. They are dedicated to helping aging adults access the benefits they deserve. Various senior housing options exist for those not Medicaid eligible, including independent living.
Socialization
As we age, socialization is a crucial part of our overall health. It strengthens the immune system, which can help reduce stress and increase mental well-being. Socialization also helps to prevent memory loss and dementia by increasing social connections.
Senior assisted living facilities often promote socialization by offering a variety of activities and opportunities to meet new people. These include restaurant-style dining, interest-based social clubs, exercise classes, games nights, and other events. Some communities even offer spiritual groups or volunteering opportunities.
It is important to encourage your loved one to participate in these activities, but remember that it can take time for them to break into already established friend groups. If your aging parent feels resistant to joining these activities, ask for a one-on-one meeting with the activities director to find out what they might enjoy.
Research shows that regular interaction and engagement with peers increases self-esteem and confidence, promotes a healthy mental outlook, and encourages the release of “feel good” hormones that fight depression and anxiety. It’s a great way to ensure that your aging parent feels valued and connected, which will help prevent isolation and loneliness.
Health Care
Senior assisted living communities typically offer moderately sized apartments or rooms, various services and amenities, and common areas for socialization. All meals are normally included. Many also provide a robust schedule of learning and entertainment activities that can promote physical health, mental stimulation, and a sense of community.
Residents pay for most of their care from personal savings, pension plans, and retirement accounts or through limited coverage by long-term care insurance. Many states also have waiver programs for low-income seniors that can cover room and board.
Medicare only pays for some long-term care services, not the cost of a resident’s room and board. Suppose you or your loved one is a wartime veteran. In that case, you may be eligible for monthly monetary benefits that can help cover some of the cost of assisted living under the Aid and Attendance program administered by the VA.
Before moving into any senior assisted living residence, ask your loved ones to consult with their primary care provider. It’s important to determine what level of assistance is needed and to be realistic about that amount.