The New World of Assisted Living
Living alone can be quite demanding as you age. Finding a genuine senior living home for your dear ones is even more challenging. Assisted living residences, a.k.a. adult congregate homes, are specially trained at assisting the adults who need little care in accomplishing daily activities. Living along with other people of your age is a mesmerizing experience, and you can take part in social activities to fight the monotonous life.
Most of the senior living homes provide amenities like lodging, meals, care, and support along with supervision. Some residences go an extra mile in ensuring the happiness of inmates by providing services like recreation and exercise activities, along with wellness programs. Moving out of the home where you spent a significant part of your life can be challenging, but with proper care, you could live a pleasant and fulfilling life in an assisted living center.
An interesting assisted living infographic based on the national health policy forum reveals that 31,100 assisted living communities in the U.S. provides lodging for nearly 735,000 people.
If your aging loved ones demonstrate any of the following signs, it is time to consider shifting them to a certified senior living center to realize quality living:
- Lack of interest in hobbies – If your mom had an inclination towards hobbies like painting and suddenly started showing no interest towards leisure activities, you may consider discussing assisted living with her. This might be the result of depression.
- Poor diet – If your loved one is looking pale and unhealthy, it might be due to poor diet. This implies that they are unable to do the shopping and preparing of food regularly.
- Poor hygiene – If your parents are following a clumsy lifestyle recently, and unable to take care of personal hygiene, it is a sure indication that they are in need of help.
- Failing to take medicine or pay bills on time – This might be a symptom of dementia, and failing to take medicine as instructed can jeopardize their lives. Failing to pay bills on time might shatter financial security as well.
- Frequent bruises – This might point to mobility and balance issues faced by your parents.
You also need to consider a slew of requirements before choosing a reliable senior living home:
- What are the different services provided by the assisted living residence? Depending on your budget and health of the adult, you can opt for services ranging from smaller residences to lavish apartment-styled houses.
- How do they deal with emergencies? It is better to opt for an assisted living center that provides an in-house medical center with emergency care facilities. Residence centers should be located close to the hospitals to deal with emergencies efficiently.
- Is it a licensed senior care home? Make sure that the residential care center is a licensed one and is run by efficient and trained staff. Ensure that the facility that you have selected is accredited by the state governing organization.
- Do they have a brochure with a detailed fee structure? Ask them more about the charges incorporated in the monthly fee and about extra fees, if any.
- Does the staff appear amiable and take time to speak with you? A pleasant and welcoming place with lesser amenities is better than an unfriendly place stuffed with amenities. Check how they interact with the current residents before deciding on an assisted living center.
- Do the residents look happy? If the residents look happy and energetic, you can expect your parent to be happy staying there as well.
Shifting your loved ones to an assisted living center is a sensitive situation that needs to be tackled meticulously. Counseling and therapy might prove to be helpful and make the transition easier. Encourage them to mingle with other residents in the senior living home. Once your dear ones become synchronized with the senior living center, they might never consider living alone.
Featured photo credit: Gregory Butler via pixabay.com
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