Independent Living

Many people can’t live alone any longer, but they can maintain a certain degree of independence. Assisted living facilities help to make that possible. Unlike the constant care given at nursing homes, assisted living facilities help only as needed by the individual. These people may be physically able, for the most part, but perhaps they get confused or have other memory issues. Assisted living agencies help as needed with daily tasks like baths, getting dressed, taking medications, eating or perhaps housekeeping.

There is a limit to the assistance given and people who require constant care are not candidates for assisted living. These individuals need to consider a nursing home. Nursing homes are for people who need near constant medical attention, have multiple health issues or are completely unable to care for them self.

Just like any other decision involving the lifestyle of a loved one, selecting the assisted living agency that is the right one can be difficult and confusing. One of the very first steps in the selection process is to make visits to agencies you may be considering. During your visits, ask questions and get a feel for the staff. Take some time to talk to other residents. If a particular facility looks like it might be a fit, make additional visits at different days of the week and at different times of the day. Your conversations with the residents and staff should tell you a lot about their attitudes. Not only are you going to try to determine how comfortable the other residents are, but you will be finding out how those residents will be as roommates for your loved one. Read the rest of this entry »

When a member of the family has reached an age when they should not be living alone, or perhaps husband and wife have become physically challenged and unable to maintain a home, senior assisted living may be the perfect solution for them. Many of the burdens of maintaining a home are gone, and for some, even the daily routine of self-care has become a difficult task, with physical limitations creeping into a formerly independent life. Keeping in mind that personal care is often not included with “room and board,” there are different levels and combinations of assistance, depending on choice, and individual needs will vary from resident to resident. Some facilities offer services in “tiers” related to dependency or need.

The apartment accommodation

For an individual who is still quite active, there are facilities that offer services in a hotel/apartment setting. Meals, housekeeping, utilities are provided as basic services in most senior assisted living accommodations. Residents enjoy their privacy in an apartment, visit with each other, or use community spaces for watching television, playing cards, or using a small library. Some facilities offer a permanent beauty shop in the building. It can be a very pleasant experience for someone who is used to living alone. Moreover it is comforting for the person and the family to know that the resident can be professionally monitored, and, at the same time be surrounded by friends who will be concerned enough to care about them. It is also possible for husband and wife to live in this type of facility. Some apartments are large enough to accommodate a second resident. Read the rest of this entry »

An overview of the role of assisted living facilities in maintaining the lifestyles of senior citizens, and when to consider a move to an assisted living facility.

No one wants to think about a time when we might not be able to take care of our own needs but the truth is, most of us will face this issue at some point in our lives. Whether it’s providing care for our parents or needing assistance ourselves, the majority of Americans will require some sort of long term care during their lifetime. Fortunately, this doesn’t always have to be in the form of a nursing home.

Assisted living facilities bridge the gap between a senior citizen’s independent living and a nursing home. It offers seniors as much independence as they can handle, with personal care and support services available as they become necessary. Read the rest of this entry »