Assisted living can be a great option for older adults who are looking to live independently but need some help with day-to-day tasks. The question is, how can you pay for assisted living? Medicare and Medicaid both provide coverage for some care services, including in-home and residential care. However, Medicare does not cover assisted living […]
If you have aging loved ones, you want to do everything you can to care for them. They might be a parent that you are caring for or a grandparent you hold dear.
Taking care of the elderly is not merely a moral obligation. It is also your way of showing that you care for them.
Hence, you should prioritize providing an elderly loved one's needs.
The Importance of Elderly Care
You should take the necessary steps to give your loved ones exactly what they need. That way, it will be easier to be at ease as they age and start to ache and have medical conditions.
Ultimately, the goal here is to let them enjoy the rest of their days as much as they can. For one, some elderly tend to become more anxious and depressed as they age.
Luckily, ensuring that they are well-cared for can help ease their loneliness. This is where assisted living facilities come in.
When you can no longer care for an elderly parent, these facilities provide them with the care they need. This ensures that someone tends to them, monitors their medical needs, and makes life comfortable.
You know that you will be more at ease knowing that your loved ones are adequately cared for. The assistance they get in an assisted living facility will let them live life to the full.
Thus, here are 12 other reasons assisted living facilities are essential:
Personalized Care
As seniors age, they may sometimes need assistance with daily activities. This includes bathing, laundry, hygiene, and housekeeping activities. That's where assisted living facilities can help.
Perhaps, your loved one needs help in walking or is experiencing memory loss. Whether they need constant care or whenever required, there's an assisted living facility that will meet these needs.
A suitable assisted living facility will consider the individual's experiences, health needs, and personal preferences. The staff will get to know them better, make them feel at home, give them the support they need, and create an optimal environment for them to live in.
This can include 24/7 nursing care, administration of meds, as well as monitoring mood and behavior. Overall, it provides a holistic approach to senior care.
The level of support given will usually depend from person to person.
Improved Quality Of Life
Time for your loved ones becomes more limited and precious as they age.
Whether they have a couple of months or years left to live, you want to ensure that they're living their best life.
This all comes back to having a higher quality of life. If you couldn't be with your loved one at all times because of work and other responsibilities, then assisted living might be a good idea.
Ensuring that your elderly loved one's needs are met provides them with a higher quality of life that they genuinely deserve.
Companionship
In a national poll survey done on healthy aging, 33% of American seniors experience loneliness. This is due mainly to living and spending their time alone. In the long run, this can affect their overall health.
Great assisted living communities offer plenty of activities on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to keep the mind and body healthy. Your loved one can enjoy various social activities like book clubs and participate in activities like gardening and art therapy.
Moreover, the Harvard School of Public Health researchers found out that maintaining an active social life helps slow down the rate of memory decline. Regular social activities also decrease feelings of isolation and depression.
Usually, these activities are life-enriching. It also helps meet their wellness goals and encourages strong bonds between their fellow residents and the staff.
In the long run, this prevents any feelings of isolation that may eventually lead to chronic illnesses. As a result, they can improve their physical health and overall wellness.
Independence
A lot of older adults value their freedom over anything else. They want to go to parks or take leisure walks without any restrictions, as this usually raises their spirits.
Assisted living facilities provide your loved ones customized services and assistance. It also enables them to live independently and have fun.
Comfort
You don't want to see your loved ones suffering or in pain. A comfortable assisted living facility will provide them that.
Whether they need reminders to take their medications, assistance in grooming, or bathing, assisted living ensures that they have what they need. This includes that they can make the most of their remaining years.
Moreover, excellent assisted living facilities offer a comfortable, home-like setting. Seniors might also get access to outdoor environments, communal areas, and a lot more.
Sense of Belongingness
Living in a well-maintained assisted living facility prevents seniors from feeling isolated or depressed.
That's because they have a sense of community and a great social life that empowers and energizes them. As such, it is easy for them to develop a sense of purpose and belongingness with others.
Seniors will be able to share their life experiences, in a way provide lessons to younger generations. That provides a sense of belongingness that comes with being useful or able to contribute to society or the local environment.
Safety Benefits
The elderly population has a higher risk of failing and incurring other accidents. That's because they may already experience reductions in balance, hearing, mobility, and vision.
Here are some safety and security benefits of assisted living facilities for the elderly:
Decrease Risk of Falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls remain the primary cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for seniors aged 65 years old and above. Elderly care services often provide facilities that are designed for mobility and accessibility. This reduces the likelihood of falls.
Security
Often, older people become a vulnerable target for scams and break-ins. Senior living communities work with security companies and use alarm systems. This offers you and your elderly loved one peace of mind.
Disaster Preparation
When looking for a suitable assisted living facility, check for smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers. Knowing that the facility has all the equipment needed for disaster preparedness gives you peace of mind.
On-call Staff
Your elderly loved one doesn't have to struggle with contacting help or waiting to be found in case there's a medical emergency that happens at home.
Nutrition and Fitness Opportunities
We all know that enhanced fitness can help boost energy, balance, and strength. Regular exercise can also prevent diseases and improve their mental health.
Many assisted living communities are equipped with wellness facilities and fitness programs.
Active, healthy seniors are more likely to keep their energy, memory, and passion over sedentary ones. Living in an assisted living facility helps them maintain this active lifestyle.
Often, the menus in the cafeteria are approved by a nutritionist. Apart from that, seniors get to access up-to-date fitness equipment and exercise areas.
More Free Time
When you send an aging parent or grandparent to an assisted living facility eliminates the need to worry about housework. After all, doing the laundry or washing the dishes can be cumbersome for them now.
In an assisted living facility, they do not have to worry about those chores. Instead, they can spend their free time socializing or attend classes tailored for the elderly.
They can also use their free time to develop new hobbies. Mind you, some seniors develop a fancy in knitting or doing puzzles.
Regardless, these activities are meant to ease their loneliness and encourage them to socialize with other seniors.
Adapts With Changing Needs
Another great benefit of living in an assisted living community is adapting to the resident's changing needs.
An individual's needs can drastically change as they get older. That's why they must have flexible care options. They struggle dressing one day or putting on their shoes.
It's always beneficial to have someone to help. It isn't easy to overstate how vital this benefit is.
Medical Care
Medical care remains one of the top priorities when caring for a senior loved one. Luckily, assisted living facilities have certified nursing assistants.
They provide around the clock to help your loved ones with their needs, from personal hygiene, dressing, and more.
They also ensure that every resident will take their medications and help them with minor ailments like colds.
Peace of Mind
Finally, all of these benefits we've mentioned previously work hand in hand to achieve the ultimate goal- and that is peace of mind.
You and other family members can rest easy knowing that someone attends to your elderly loved one's needs.
If you know that your loved one is happy, healthy, and safe, it's also easier to enjoy life without worrying about their care all the time.
Even the seniors themselves can rest easier, knowing that a supportive community surrounds them. This gives them a sense of belongingness, making them feel that they are not alone.
Conclusion
Assisted living facilities are beneficial in two ways:
- It gives you peace of mind knowing that an elderly loved one is well-taken care of.
- It enables you to share the responsibility of taking care of a senior with the professionals.
Thus, you can go on with your life knowing that someone is looking after the seniors in your family.