Seniors in Senior Living Communities
An assisted living home or senior care facility is a residential living facility designed for older people who can’t live on their own but don’t need nursing care or who don’t want to live in a nursing home. Instead of providing for the elderly in a traditional way, these homes offer services including housekeeping, meal planning, transportation, and companionship. In addition, many seniors who live in assisted living facilities also receive help with daily personal care such as bathing, dressing, and shopping. However, there are many senior care options available and knowing the different senior care options is important to help you make an informed decision about your senior living needs.
Live-in aides are a good option for seniors who are interested in independent living but don’t need the constant guidance provided by a fulltime, elderly care giver. Live-in aides provide the extra support that seniors need when they live alone. Many seniors choose to live alone because they feel more comfortable living alone than with other family members, or simply do not wish to feel elderly. However, if a senior does need the assistance of a full-time aide, they can ask their caregiver to accompany them for the day or two so that they can have the extra support that they need.
Some assisted living communities offer communal dining services in addition to a variety of live-in aides. The community provides meals for its residents, as well as snacks and other fare on the weekends. Residents can choose to dine at one of the shared dining rooms in the facility, or they can choose to go to a cafeteria-style menu. The meals are served in groups, and most community residents eat at least one of the meals each day. However, some residents may have difficulty keeping their balance when they eat in small groups, and they may require more assistance than others with similar dietary needs.
Community members who are interested in receiving assistance with medication management can also look into assisted living communities that have a laundry facility on the premises. The laundry facility is provided by a professional laundry company, and seniors who need assistance with their clothing can sign up for the laundry services. These services can help seniors in need wash their clothes, or prepare their linens.
In addition to these services, there are also many additional benefits to being a member of an independent living community. Some of these benefits include daily activity checks, housekeeping services, and transportation assistance. Some communities even offer housekeeping services every other week, or at certain times on certain days of the week. Seniors can choose whether or not they want housekeepers to come to their home every week, once or twice a week, or if they want someone else to clean their home. Some communities have agreements with local restaurants so that the meals that seniors and their family members are able to enjoy are also provided to their home by the local restaurant.
In addition to the social activities that independent living communities offer their members, many seniors find that they can benefit from the extra exercise. Many seniors suffer from an injury or disability that makes it difficult for them to move around or perform simple activities. But with the help of a caregiver, seniors can enjoy the simple exercises like walking, jogging, or even bike riding on several occasions throughout the week. Exercise is known to improve circulation, relieve stress, and strengthen muscles.
When seniors in assisted living communities do not feel that they are able to care for themselves adequately, they may need extra assistance. Seniors who need extra assistance may have problems bathing, dressing themselves, getting dressed, and using the restroom on a regular basis. The facility may provide bathing services or allow their clients to bathe on their own. However, most of these facilities do not have full-time maid services available. When a senior has an extra set of hands to help them with their needs, they are more likely to get the care that they need.
Although senior care home facilities are typically more expensive than a normal nursing home, they do provide better medical care and more independence to the residents. Even though seniors in assisted living communities can usually stay in their own home when it is needed, they still need the guidance of a live-in aide if they are unable to care for themselves. Some seniors decide to remain in their homes until they are able to find a place of their own. Others decide to move into retirement homes or continuing care retirement communities until they find a suitable community to fit their needs. No matter what the decision may be, seniors who live in senior care homes can greatly benefit from having someone to turn to for assistance on their day-to-day activities.