As people age, they may find it difficult to accomplish daily tasks due to a decrease in energy, mobility, and other age-related issues. Assisted living is a retirement community that supports aging adults in performing daily tasks whilst still allowing them to maintain most of their independence. Here are some benefits of assisted living that can help bridge the gap between your loved ones’ capabilities and a healthy lifestyle:
Help with Daily Living Activities
When one is unable to cope with daily routines, they may suffer from a lack of proper nutrition, hygiene, and social isolation. This is extremely detrimental to older adults and may exacerbate physical and mental problems if they do not receive the help they need.
The main aim of assisted living is to provide older adults with the right amount of help required for them to live life to the fullest. These include things like meal preparation, personal grooming and showering, laundry, and regular housekeeping – all of which are daily tasks that may become less manageable as your loved ones grow older.
Many assisted living communities also provide transportation services for adults who like to spend time outdoors but have not been able to because they are unable to drive. These services all ensure that your loved ones are able to continue leading a healthy and fulfilling life despite the challenges they face.
Safety and Medical Care
Many older adults have medications that need to be taken on a regular basis. However, perhaps due to the natural onset of memory problems that come with aging, they may forget to take their medications. This could lead to both accidental underdosing and overdosing of medications.
Assisted living communities monitor and ensure that residents take their medications correctly. In addition, team members can provide basic aid should a resident become ill with a minor illness or undergo an accident such as a fall. For communities that specialize in memory care, additional safety measures are incorporated into the design of the place and programs available for residents. These measures are particularly effective for adults with memory-related illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as it helps them navigate the place safely.
Hobbies and Social Interaction
One great perk of an assisted living community is that residents get access to a wide variety of social and recreational opportunities. There are programs that your loved ones can participate in with other residents, which also allows them to make friends. This is important to combat feelings of isolation which is a prevalent problem among older adults.
Health related programs such as exercise and fitness classes help to reinforce mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Some assisted living communities also offer games events, educational programs, and shopping trips to enhance the quality of life of their residents.
In addition, attentive team members who are compassionate and patient with residents form the backbone of an assisted living community. The 2019 Quality of Life in Assisted Living Survey finds that satisfaction levels of residents rise when they have a good rapport with friendly team members and receive care and attention on a personal level. All these factors play a part in creating a wonderful community experience for your loved ones.
