Assisted living can be an excellent solution for seniors needing assistance with daily activities, while offering their families the chance to spend quality time together while also focusing on other important matters.
Make sure that before placing a loved one into an assisted living residence, you conduct a systematic search process with plenty of questions for everyone involved in decision-making processes and ensure their involvement throughout.
Independent living
Independent living offers seniors an ideal option to socialize without being burdened with home maintenance responsibilities, and is usually less expensive than staying at home. Residents typically pay a monthly fee that covers rent, services and amenities – possibly covered by Social Security payments, savings from house sales or personal funds; additional relief could come from long-term care insurance or VA Aid and Attendance benefits.
Independent living communities provide residents with various housing options, from apartments to freestanding cottages and villas, townhomes and condos. Facilities may also feature exercise programs, pools, multiple dining venues, woodworking shops and craft or art studios – plus numerous social activities and services such as resident clubs, outings and parties.
Independent living is most beneficial when it releases family members from caregiving duties while giving them more time with senior loved ones. Furthermore, independent living allows seniors to try new hobbies and socialize with new people.
Personal care
Personal care and assisted living are residential long-term care solutions designed with senior safety in mind. Both provide assistance with daily activities like bathing, grooming, eating and other personal needs like bathing; however the level of care may differ between facilities – for instance an assisted living facility must always have a registered nurse available while personal care homes may not.
Personal care homes provide smaller environments, usually including private rooms for residents, supervised by staff members. Residents of such facilities can enjoy amenities like social events, meals and clubs as well as in-home health services or homemaking.
When selecting an assisted living community for your loved one, it is essential to carefully consider their current and future needs. Mobility issues or early signs of dementia could require assistance – finding an assisted living home could help your loved one remain independent while remaining comfortable. New York offers various programs designed to assist seniors pay for assisted living such as Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program and Community First Choice State Plan Option which offer benefits such as durable medical equipment and personal emergency response systems.
Meal preparation
Meal preparation can be a difficult challenge for seniors unable to cook themselves, leading them to reduce the number of meals they consume and miss out on essential nutrients. To help increase nutritional intake, encourage them to create a weekly meal preparation plan; it will increase engagement with food while simultaneously contributing towards maintaining a healthier diet.
Seniors who experience difficulty chewing and swallowing may require a pureed or mechanical soft diet, in which case a feeding assistant can assist by offering tailored utensils, pre-cutting food items and limiting excess packaging; also providing verbal encouragement during meal times to encourage them to eat more.
Many assisted living communities are exploring new dining experiences to keep residents engaged with dining options, instead of providing three set meals daily, some are now providing buffet-style options as well as catering more closely to individual dietary needs such as offering low sodium or plant-based options on their menus.
Socialization
Senior living communities provide residents with an invaluable opportunity for socialization. Social interactions can reduce feelings of isolation and enhance wellbeing; furthermore, senior residents who reside alone or who have lost loved ones often gain an increased sense of happiness and belonging as their network expands.
Studies have demonstrated the power of socializing to strengthen immune systems and stave off illness and infection, by relieving stress and creating positive emotions that help strengthen a body’s natural defenses.
Encourage your loved one to engage in group activities and events within their new community. Assisted living communities offer various cultural, exercise, cooking, art, hobby clubs and volunteer tasks such as helping distribute meals or handing out snacks that will give your senior the sense of purpose that’s so vital as they age. You could suggest joining one or all.