Services That Assisted Living Agencies Offer
Assisted living facilities allow senior residents to retain their independence while maintaining their dignity. They provide private home care to residents, assisting them in bathing, dressing, moving and grooming. They assist residents’ privacy, independence and dignity while also focusing on family and community involvement. Visitors can usually come to an assisted living center at any time of day and even remain overnight if wanted. Most facilities offer twenty-four hours on premise supervision.
Assisted living homes provide a unique service that enhances the quality of life for senior citizens who would otherwise have been placed in nursing homes or a specialized care facility. Senior citizens are less mobile than younger people, making it difficult for them to adapt to changes in their environment. Assisted living homes focus on daily activities such as bathing, eating, moving, climbing stairs, exercising and using the toilet. All of these activities are done without the senior citizen having to be moved from his or her home. Some assisted living facilities include some common areas, including a sitting area, a dining area, a kitchen and more. A combination of services is provided to make the senior residents comfortable and independent.
The assisted living homes provide twenty-four hour on premise supervision. Many residents do not want to be alone, so onsite staff provide companionship services such as driving them to activities, shopping and other special occasions and shopping trips with shopping bags. These services help reduce the dependence on others and allow the senior citizen to enjoy their life. If the resident wishes to continue living in their own home, services may be provided to allow them to remain in their own home, but with minimal assistance.
Assisted living facility services may include medical care such as pharmacy assistance, medical diagnostic testing, hearing aids, medications as needed and more. Other services may include housekeeping, meals provided, companionship and much more. There is a wide variety of assisted living home options to choose from. Assisted living facilities offer many choices for those needing nursing care or skilled care.
Companion services are offered to seniors that require minimal assistance. Companion services can offer companionship services to seniors that may be leaving their homes for a variety of reasons. These services can include laundry assistance, shopping assistance, transportation services and more. Seniors may be able to choose a companion for just a short period of time, or for longer periods as needed.
The companion care program at your assisted living facility is designed to provide companionship and emotional support. Most services combine the emotional support and companionship efforts to provide an overall feeling of well-being. This is important because seniors that leave home and experience loneliness or isolation are more likely to have difficulty adjusting to their new surroundings. They are also more likely to experience depression and other similar conditions if they are not provided with consistent companionship and emotional support. In addition to offering companionship, home care agencies to provide medical care, medical diagnostic testing, surgical and other general health care as needed.
The home care agency that you choose will be responsible for providing services that meet your particular needs. For example, there may be a need for specialized meal preparation services or other specialty services. Depending on the needs of your residents, a companion care provider may be responsible for assisting in these services or doing other tasks associated with meal preparation, such as ordering groceries and preparing food for the home. Other services may also be available, including helping with bathing, dressing and walking.
Many senior care services also offer respite care. This offers seniors the ability to remain in their homes but receive care and assistance outside of their homes for a set amount of time. This is most commonly used by seniors who are having difficulty maintaining mobility or do not wish to stay in their homes longer than is necessary for their health or safety. Seniors can use respite care services for a number of different reasons, from a medical emergency or accident, to the retirement of a caregiver, to visiting a sick relative. Regardless of why seniors need outside assistance, it is beneficial for seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible and to take advantage of services that offer 24-hour care and assisted living.