As the population of seniors continues to expand, assisted living communities are becoming more popular. They provide care for activities of daily living like bathing, dressing and grooming while offering recreational and social activities.
Tour several facilities and ask plenty of questions, enlisting other family members as guides if possible and exchanging notes afterwards.
Health Care
Assisted living residences typically provide a range of health care services, such as case management, assistance with daily activities (like bathing or showering), help moving around safely, monitoring and supervision by home health aide services, medication management as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy onsite. Some facilities also offer physical, occupational or speech therapy sessions on-site.
Some seniors choose assisted living because of difficulty performing daily living activities like toileting, dressing or eating. Other indicators of assisted living’s benefits can include declining health, increased isolation or neglect of household chores.
Most assisted living facilities require older adults to undergo a medical evaluation or assessment depending on their state. These assessments could involve physical exams, interviews with healthcare providers and functional assessments.
Meals
Meals are an integral part of life, and assisted living facilities strive to meet residents’ dietary needs. Many communities offer meal plan packages, either standalone or integrated into personal care services.
Traditional dining halls usually serve meals at set times throughout the day; however, some individuals prefer having meals delivered directly into their apartments or rooms.
To meet the needs of all, some communities have implemented meal on demand services to accommodate everyone. Staff will deliver a meal directly into a resident’s room without entering, providing safe social distancing guidelines without disturbing a group meal experience during normal dining times. Residents also have the choice of choosing their own meals outside standard dining times if desired.
Socialization
Socialization is essential to senior’s wellbeing. It reduces their risk for depression while encouraging healthy habits such as exercising regularly and eating well.
Assisted living communities offer many socialization opportunities. Residents can participate in group activities, attend cultural events, or join clubs that share their interests.
Some communities offer intergenerational programs, where younger people interact with seniors. Such interactions increase a senior’s sense of purpose and connection to others while helping develop new skills and boosting memory retention. Furthermore, regular socialization boosts immunity against illness or disease.
Transportation
Many large assisted living communities provide scheduled transportation as part of their monthly rates, which can be an ideal solution for seniors who prefer not having to worry about finding transportation themselves or plan regular trips ahead. Unfortunately, however, these services typically do not provide one-on-one support while elders are out and about.
Public transit is another popular solution that varies depending on your location. Metropolitan areas often boast robust bus, rail and trolley systems with set schedules and fixed routes; some even provide special or discounted fares for older adults.
Finally, some non-profits and charitable organizations provide volunteer ride programs at no or low cost as an excellent alternative to paratransit services during limited hours of operation. Some may even provide help loading mobility devices onto vehicles.
Maintenance
Though seemingly minor tasks, such as watering the plants and putting away groceries are crucial activities for seniors. Communities also offer various activities to keep seniors active physically and intellectually such as Tai Chi, dances, strength training sessions, game nights, book clubs and trips.
Operations management in senior care facilities is equally as important in keeping assets running optimally, and to ensuring teams are performing all required tasks to provide maximum resident satisfaction. Checklists, SOPs and inspections provide accountability and consistency across departments.