Assisted living provides seniors who require some additional assistance with daily tasks with safe and comfortable accommodations. Most pay for the cost through their personal finances or limited coverage by long-term care insurance policies.
Tour facilities at different times to observe how staff interacts with residents. Enquire into procedures regarding complaints, suggestions and grievances.
1. Enhanced Care
Assisted living facilities offer professional care from trained caregivers that can assist in daily tasks, and this care may be covered by long-term insurance or Medicaid depending on where you live.
Families may have loved ones who need something beyond what is provided by assisted living; perhaps they require round-the-clock access to medical care or guidance in meeting short and long-term goals, as well as support when transitioning into nursing home. In these situations, enhanced assisted living care provides additional assistance by offering round-the-clock medical access as well as transition services when necessary.
2. Social Interaction
Many assisted living facilities provide an array of social activities. Take time to familiarize yourself with any that your loved one might enjoy, such as yoga classes or puzzle groups.
This study joins a growing body of AL research which examines the relationship between residents’ social relationships and health outcomes. Applying the Social Convoy Model, this mixed methods analysis analyzed structured face-to-face interviews and social network mapping of 192 AL residents at nine facilities.
3. Transportation
Assisted living facilities typically include transportation services as part of their room and board fees, or can partner with community organizations that offer on-demand rides at lower costs than taxis.
Many communities offer paratransit vehicles – specifically buses or cabs designed to transport elderly with disabilities – along the same routes as public transportation but more flexible in their stops, often arriving directly at seniors’ homes to collect them.
AARP provides tools and resources for seniors looking for low-cost transportation options, while AAA may have an online tool available that helps to locate services.
4. Health Care
Seniors often face social isolation and depression as they age, yet interacting with peers and staff members, even briefly, can help overcome such feelings.
Most assisted living facilities provide an active social calendar. Family members who play an important part in their loved one’s care can attend these events to stay in contact and remain part of their care, while staff monitor falls to prevent injuries as well as medications that increase risk.
5. Meal Preparation
Senior living communities provide nutritious and delectable dishes to their residents, such as low-sodium dishes or specific choices to accommodate allergies or sensitivities.
Some communities employ healthy cooking techniques like steaming and roasting to reduce sodium consumption while improving flavor of meals. Others prioritize feeding assistance and employ various means to assist residents at mealtimes such as providing altered utensils or verbal encouragement.
Some seniors turn to meal preparation services in order to maintain their independence and achieve their dietary health goals. These services may include grocery shopping and cooking as well.
6. Housekeeping
Housekeeping services at assisted living facilities employ housekeepers for the cleaning, upkeep and aesthetic upkeep of rooms and common areas. Most facilities use a system where cleaning tasks are prioritized.
Cleanliness is vital to keeping residents and facility staff healthy. Even minor illnesses such as flu can quickly spread in tight quarters.
Most locations allow residents to bring in their own furniture to make the apartment feel like home, and look for places that offer social activities, including cultural, exercise and culinary groups.
7. Personal Care
Personal care services provide one major advantage of assisted living. They assist seniors in performing critical daily activities they may no longer be capable of on their own, including activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing as well as instrumental daily living tasks like managing money and making meals.
Ongoing relationships between patients and healthcare professionals were generally seen as beneficial for personal care; however, in certain instances it could be undesirable, for example when consulting an unfamiliar professional about potentially embarrassing issues that require consultation. Good interpersonal communication skills may prove crucial here.
8. Transportation
Seniors living with mobility challenges benefit immensely from reliable transportation services that enable them to enjoy independence. Being able to travel around their community without worrying about car maintenance, gas costs or finding accessible transit stops is an invaluable service that allows seniors to focus on health goals more freely and enjoy freedom.
Ride-hailing services like Lyft can offer affordable ride services within minutes for an economical rate, while assisted living facilities may also offer concierge services to connect residents with on-demand rides or traditional taxi services.