If a senior needs assistance maintaining their home or carrying out essential daily tasks like shopping and cooking, assisted living could be the perfect solution. According to NCAL recommendations, senior searching processes should include tours of facilities as well as discussions with administrators and staff members.
These care facilities emphasize quality of life. Residents are encouraged to participate in cultural, exercise, and social activities.
Health Care
New York assisted living facilities are regulated by the state, so residents can rely on receiving quality care. Licensed residences must offer or arrange for case management, monitoring, supervision of residents as well as food services, personal care services and medication administration if applicable. They may also assist residents and their representatives, in consultation with a resident’s physician, to develop an individualized service plan.
Your loved one must be mobile enough to travel unaided and manage medications independently before considering assisted living as an option. Be sure to inquire as to their long-term care insurance policies as well as cost of care considerations; each community offers different services including nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals daily as well as rehabilitation/therapy support.
Meal Preparation
Meal preparation services ensure your loved one receives all of the nutrients they require every day, whether at home or an assisted living community. Services offered range from grocery delivery to ready-to-heat meals.
Meal prep services often cater to those with special dietary requirements, providing pureed or mechanical soft diets for residents having trouble chewing and swallowing, feeding assistants can assist your loved ones by providing altered utensils, arranging food on plates appropriately and encouraging them to eat during meal times.
Menus should reflect your senior’s tastes and preferences; thus many communities turn to registered dietitians for menu planning services.
Personal Care
Many assisted living communities provide on-site beauty shops and laundry services, as well as grocery service. Some assisted living communities may even have licensed staff on hand who are authorized to administer medication; these individuals can remind residents to take their meds, read labels and open medication containers, but cannot determine or give dosage instructions – for that they require supervision by either a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
Communities can offer an abundance of social activities and events designed to alleviate loneliness – which is one of the leading causes of depression among older adults. Activities might range from physical health activities like walking, Tai Chi and strength exercises to intellectual ones such as current events discussion groups or art classes.
Elders in need of additional personal care than assisted living provides can transition to a licensed nursing home. If this level of care is necessary for your loved one, work with an elder law attorney who can help structure assets to maximize Medicaid eligibility.
Transportation
No matter if it’s for shopping or visiting friends, many seniors struggle with transportation needs without assistance. Luckily, local services exist that offer safe and cost-effective travel solutions; get more information by reaching out to your office of the aging or senior center, Eldercare Locator has helpful tools and resources available for locating low cost transportation options in your area and the Eldercare Locator website is a useful resource for finding low cost transportation options nearby.
Some assisted living facilities and independent organizations may offer transportation services or partner to provide rides at a nominal fee, while ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft also offer inexpensive on-demand rides for seniors; however, these do not provide dedicated driver or assistance with mobility issues. Escorted transportation services may also be available depending on income; participants typically pay a small fee.
Socialization
Assisted living facilities aim to promote socialization by offering activities and events designed to bring residents together, from group exercise classes to game nights – helping seniors meet new people while discovering common interests, which in turn helps prevent feelings of isolation or depression.
Assisted living communities typically provide spaces that naturally facilitate dialogue among their residents, such as a shared hobby room or outdoor garden. Furthermore, assisted living communities may host group events and trips to popular local destinations that help seniors bond over shared experiences with one another. Staff also regularly visit residents’ living quarters in order to check on them and offer any necessary assistance as necessary.