Why Assisted Living is a Great Choice for Seniors
Often, our senior relatives are some of the most precious people in our family, and they’re very important to us. Whether it’s our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other relatives, many people want to ensure that their elderly relatives are happy, healthy, and loved. Sometimes, however, this might mean making some tough decisions regarding where they live and the care that they have access to. At some point, your relative might start finding it difficult to continue living in their own home, and a move to an assisted living community might be ideal.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a type of senior living that offers seniors the option to maintain their independence while getting access to care and support on-site. These communities are often made up of several rooms or apartments and have a lot of amenities on site allowing seniors to get what they need easily. There are also round the clock caregivers who are there when needed to assist with everyday tasks, help with medical and health issues, or just provide companionship and friendship. If you feel that this might be something that your senior relative might benefit from, it’s worth searching for a senior community near me to see what’s available and find options to suggest to them for their potential new home.
What are the Benefits of Assisted Living?
Assisted living can provide a huge range of benefits for seniors. Compared to living alone in a large house that is difficult to manage, an assisted living community provides seniors with a smaller and more manageable home that is surrounded by people. If you are struggling to convince your senior relative that they might be better off moving into an assisted living facility, then sharing some of the main benefits with them might help to sway their opinion. These communities often offer a variety of senior care services, ensuring personalized and comprehensive assistance tailored to individual needs. Some of the biggest advantages of an assisted living community for seniors include:
Stay Independent
For many seniors, it’s normal to feel some reluctance to moving to an assisted living facility as they may feel like it is the end of their independence. Understandably, lots of seniors don’t like the idea of relying on people and would rather try and do for themselves for as long as possible. If this is a concern for your relative, then you may be able to put their mind at ease by letting them know that assisted living is designed to allow them to be as independent as possible. Residents have their own homes and can usually come and go as they please.
Help is On Hand
A good assisted living facility will know just how important it is to many seniors to stay independent for as long as possible, and will ensure that residents have as much freedom as they like. However, that being said, as people get older, it’s inevitable that they might need more help and support at times. An assisted living facility offers the best of both worlds. Not only do they make it easier for seniors to be as independent as possible for as long as possible, but with caregivers on the site at all times, seniors can have peace of mind that when they do need to ask for help with something, it will never be too far away.
Activities and Groups
Seniors who are living alone in their own home might be lonelier than usual. If you can’t visit as often as you might like as a relative due to your own family or work commitments, for example, then you may have considered suggesting a move to an assisted living facility in order to ensure that your relative is not becoming isolated and suffering the health effects of such. Isolation in seniors is a very serious problem that can cause high blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of serious problems like heart disease and stroke. At an assisted living community, your relative doesn’t have to worry about being isolated and lonely. There are often lots of groups to join and activities to take part in, which is a great way to meet new people and enjoy a thriving social life.
More Free Time
Many assisted living facilities have a lot of services that will help seniors with everyday tasks, helping to free up their time to spend on the things that they enjoy the most. Without the need to spend each day cleaning, cooking, or doing other household tasks, seniors can enjoy more of their hobbies, spending time with friends and family, and making the most of their retirement. And, of course, with lower stress levels that come with knowing these things are taken care of on their behalf, your relative might notice a health improvement.
Healthier Life
Many assisted living facilities are dedicated to ensuring that seniors live a healthier lifestyle. Not only do they provide healthy, balanced meals for seniors, but they will also often provide gym and fitness centers on site for residents to use whenever they like. These are often designed to be used by older people with exercise equipment, machines and classes that are senior-friendly, making it easier and more pleasant for your relative to get some exercise if they wish. Many have swimming pools on site, which can be a very relaxing way to get active. If your relative has been expressing a wish to live a more active lifestyle in their golden years, this can be an excellent way to achieve it.
Try New Things
Assisted living communities often go the extra mile to help seniors make the most of their retirement by arranging a wide range of activities, trips and more. Whether your relative is interested in taking art classes, joining a book club, visiting different attractions around the country, or something else, there is sure to be no shortage of things that they can get involved in, and the free time to do it.
How to Choose the Ideal Assisted Living Facility
If your relative is warming up to the benefits of moving into an assisted living facility and you’re in the process of finding the right one for them, there are lots of factors to keep in mind. Assisted living facilities can vary in what they offer, so it can be a good idea to make a list of needs and wants beforehand, making it easier to narrow your choices down.
Size of Accommodation
One of the first things to consider is the size and type of accommodation that your relative will be living in. Some assisted living communities are made up of small houses, while more commonly, you will find apartments or studios. Others offer rooms, that may be private or shared with other residents. Most are fairly small, ideal for one or two people, but some are smaller than others. It’s worth going to have a look, to make sure that your relative is happy with their accommodation.
Location
Where the assisted living community is located is often a big factor for most people. Many seniors want to stay close to their relatives and friends. That being said, some might be interested in moving further away to somewhere that they have always wanted to live. It’s worth keeping an open mind and checking out different locations.
Pets
Whether or not your relative will be able to take their pet with them might be a big factor to consider if they are an animal-lover. Many seniors have cats, dogs, or other animals who keep them company and are a companion for them, so it’s only natural that they’d want to make the move with their beloved pet. If your senior relative has a pet, it’s important to find an assisted living community that allows animals on site, as some don’t. Even better, you might want to look out for one that offers pet care or pet sitting services.
Cost
The cost of an assisted living community home can vary depending on the location, size and type of the property, and the facilities and amenities provided. Most of the time, it is charged as a flat monthly fee that includes everything, which can make managing finances much easier for your relative. Before choosing an assisted living facility, get a few quotes and make sure that it’s clear what’s included for the price, so your relative doesn’t end up paying more than expected once they have moved in.
Activities and Things to Do
Finally, it is worth looking into the activity list offered by the assisted living community to ensure that it provides things your relative will be interested in, if they are eager to take part. Consider how often activities are offered and what kind of options are on offer. You may want to look into whether there is anything that your relative already does on a regular basis or has expressed an interest in taking part in for the future.
At some point, many seniors find that moving to an assisted living facility is the best decision for their life, allowing them to stay independent and enjoy their retirement.
