Choosing to move your loved one to an assisted living facility is not an easy decision to make. Additionally, selecting what options are available can be quite overwhelming for both the senior and his/her family. The strain of planning an immediate and appropriate living arrangement due to the declining health of their loved ones may also make it difficult for them. However, knowing what services assisted living facilities offer to its residents can make everything more simple for both parties.
Assisted living facilities have become a safe heaven for seniors. It gives them a chance to improve their quality of life. An assisted living facility allows them to interact with other residents, make new friends, and widen their social circle by participating in different activities that are offered by the facility. This holds true for very older adults who have previously been confined within the comforts of their homes due to some physical and cognitive difficulties. Moreover, the medication management services that are also offered by the facilities are extremely helpful for seniors since they are able to take their medications on time every day.
It is important to understand, though, that not all assisted living facilities are created equally. Visiting the facilities personally may help you know whether or not it is a good place for your loved one to transfer to considering the level of care they need and their preferences. While it’s important to know the services that are offered by the facility, there are also other factors you need to consider. These factors include the staff’s expertise in the field especially if your loved one is diagnosed with early dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is also important to consider the emotional support that will be given to your loved one.
Assisted living facilities are constantly changing through the years. Through research and evaluations, assisted living facilities may be able to keep up with the latest trends and improve the services they offer to their clientele.
How Assisted Living Has Evolved
More states have established regulations that aim for a better, cleaner, and more trained personnel to handle residents in an assisted living facility. As a result, the decision of moving their loved ones into senior care communities became easier for them.
The luxury type of assisted living is popular among seniors and their families these days. It’s especially attractive to them since their loved ones could enjoy living in a facility that closely resembles a classy resort.
There are a lot of amenities and services that seniors could enjoy in assisted living facilities including:
- Wellness programs and exercises that are designed to cater the needs of your loved one
- Food preparation
- Barber and beautician services
- Housekeeping services
- Laundry Services
- Transportation services
- Recreational activities
- Social events
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Support group or discussion groups
Most of what is listed are included in the basic services that are offered by facilities. Before making a decision, be sure to consult your loved one regarding their preferences. If they want to avail of any additional services aside from the basic ones, it’s important to know that additional costs may apply.
What Assisted Living Facilities Looks Like Today
The type of assisted living facilities today usually varies depending on the senior living professionals in each community. Most facilities today provide a condominium type of living where residents may be able to choose to receive care discreetly in accordance with their preferred time or schedule.
Residents in the assisted living facilities are encouraged to join the activities but are not forced to participate. The seniors living in an assisted living facility may have different schedules and they are free to do as they like so long as it’s safe for them.
Day to Day Care
The major role of assisted living is to provide an extra helping hand to seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Therefore, if your loved one is still capable of doing everyday activities with little help, assisted living facilities may be the best choice for them. The personnel at an assisted living facility are trained to aid seniors with:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Eating
- Mobility
- Using the toilet
- Grooming
The staff in Assisted living facilities may also offer assistance to your loved one when it comes to instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) including:
- Managing finances
- Meal preparation
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Using a phone
- Household chores
However, the family may also have the option of handling the IADLs for the seniors. Every assisted living facility have their own structure regarding these situations and you may be able to set up an arrangement that would work best for you and your elderly loved one.
It is also vital for the seniors to have a connection with the facility’s staff since they will be depending mostly on them in doing most of the basic daily activities, may it be dressing, helping them shower, or helping them prepare their meals. On the other hand, the care providers should also make an effort in connecting with the senior residents since they will become a big part of the senior resident’s life.
How Important is the Ongoing Staff Training?
It’s understandable that you might have doubts relying on someone to tend to the needs of your elderly loved one, especially if you don’t know that person. In order to remedy that, assisted living facilities have provided programs and emotion-based care training for their caregivers to ensure the families of their residents that the needs of their elderly loved one are under the care of highly skilled care professionals.
In the process of finding the right professionals for the job, the applicants need to undergo a comprehensive hiring process. The supervisor should be able to monitor and demonstrate great care to the newly hired staff every now and then. They should also be able to provide on-going training to ensure that their skills will be further developed to provide an even greater service to the residents.
The Importance of Connecting Emotionally with Staff
It’s a known fact that the family of the senior residents would want the staff to treat their elderly loved one as a part of their family. Since the staff plays a big role in the lives of the senior residents, a lot of seniors would want the staff to share personal stories in order for both parties to know each other on a deeper level. This way, a connection between the staff and the senior would be established.
The level of interaction between staff and residents is one of the biggest factors that families consider in choosing the right assisted living facility for their elderly loved one. Emotional connections are important since it shows that the community is surrounded by a supportive environment and at the same time a caring and loving staff.
With the number of assisted living care facilities all over the country today, it isn’t exactly wrong to say that each facility differs from the other in some ways. Looking into the amenities and services each facility offers is vital in choosing the best senior care community for your loved one. .
