12 Benefits of Moving Into Assisted Living
Studies show that 7 out of 10 seniors over the age of 65 will require long-term care. For extended care needs, your senior family members will benefit from assisted living. Moving into an assisted living community is a huge lifestyle change, and the transition can be overwhelming.
As an adult child, you may feel guilty when you see loved ones in a situation where they have challenges adapting to their new surroundings. But there’s no need to worry, especially if it’s the right decision.
Assisted living offers a wide range of benefits to a senior who requires care but can’t get it in an adequate amount at home.
Table of Contents
What services do you get in assisted living?
The services offered vary from community to community. However, these are the common services included in assisted living:
- Home-cooked nutritious meals
- Medication assistance and monitoring
- Personal care
- Housekeeping
- Laundry service
- 24/7 emergency care
- Recreational and social activities
- Medical services
Before visiting, take time to discuss what care services are essential to your senior loved one to help make the transition so much easier.
What is the average age of someone in assisted living?
On average, seniors move into an assisted living community when they’re 84 years old. Some seniors move in earlier (usually close to the minimum age requirement of 65), but most move between 75 and 84 years old. There are a lot of couples in assisted living, but the majority of residents are women.
What are the advantages of assisted living for the elderly?
Assisted living communities provide more than just assistance with basic daily activities; they also have social activities and events that boost the residents’ physical, mental, and social well-being. Here are the 12 benefits of moving into assisted living.
1. Getting on top of personal hygiene
Although most residents are independent, your senior loved one can ask for help with personal care when they need it, which includes housekeeping, laundry, bathing, hygiene, and dressing. Staff members are respectful towards residents while providing hands-on care.
2. Access to chef-prepared delicious meals
Seniors living alone will have to do their own grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning. Sometimes, that can be a little stressful. On the other hand, moving into an assisted living community means that older loved ones get nutritious and delicious chef-prepared meals three times a day without having to get near the kitchen.
3. Easy access to medical care when needed
On-site staff members are trained to provide some medical care when necessary. They also monitor and offer medication reminders to residents taking one or more medicines. You can feel at ease knowing that your loved one is taking their meds appropriately. When it’s time for doctor’s appointments or a loved one is running an errand, the staff can easily arrange a transportation service.
4. Exercise programs to stay in shape
Aside from providing nutritious meals, assisted living communities also encourage able residents to stay active and fit through exercise. Many communities have fitness centers with equipment for residents’ use. Also, there are structured yoga classes, tai chi, and other physical activities on-site. Walking paths are available for residents who love to take morning walks as a form of exercise.
5. Plenty of social opportunities to help build meaningful connections
Aside from fitness programs, there are also social events to encourage residents to socialize and make friends. Lounges, outdoor dining, game room, and other shared spaces are available where groups can gather and get to know each other. A socially connected lifestyle inside the community improves the quality of life.
6. Easy access to scheduled day trips
Living in assisted living doesn’t mean your senior loved ones are bound to the facility’s premises. It’s nice to get out and about once in a while. Residents are provided with opportunities to do so. They could eat at a restaurant, visit museums and parks, go to the salon, visit the beach, or go shopping. Transportation is provided, so the residents’ safety is secured.
7. Maintenance and hassle-free living means less stress
When your senior loved ones are no longer worried about household chores, they can relax more. No more scheduling repair technicians to fix broken appliances at the house; no more plumbing; no more mowing the lawn. Living a lifestyle free from any housework means less stressful days.
8. More free time for hobbies
Without the worries of housework, such as cooking and cleaning, your loved one can have more time to do the things that matter to them. That means they can pursue a new hobby, start a new one, or work on their goals.
9. Comfortable and homey setting
The right assisted living facility for your loved one should feel like home and offers access to amenities and services that residents need. Most seniors live in the community for many years, so their new home must be comfortable.
10. Reduced burden on you and your loved ones
For family caregivers, moving a loved one into assisted living means they receive the right level of care that you can’t provide at home. Alternatively, it also means reduced care responsibilities for you, giving you more time for self-care or other obligations, like parenting or work.
11. Safe environment
Seniors are more prone to accidents, such as slips and falls, which can be very dangerous. It can also be expensive to make a home accident-free, whereas assisted living facilities are already built that way. They have ramps, handrails, low-friction floors, and other measures to ensure the safety of their residents.
12. Peace of mind
When you know that your senior loved one is happy, safe, healthy, and well-taken care of, you can enjoy your life instead of constantly worrying about them. At the same time, your senior loved one has that peace of mind as well.
Is assisted living the right choice?
If a loved one needs more assistance with daily activities than they can get at home, assisted living would certainly be a good choice.
With so many options available for senior care, it’s crucial to determine the level of care your senior loved one needs so they can fully take advantage of the services the facilities offer.
Is assisted living worth the money?
If you start thinking about assisted living as an option for your senior loved one, you may feel overwhelmed with how much it costs. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that it’s not worth the money, but if you do the math, you’ll be surprised to find out that assisted living can cost less than your senior loved one’s monthly expenses if they live alone.
If your senior loved one chooses to live alone, regular monthly expenses, such as internet bills, groceries, TV subscriptions, and care services, can add up quickly. For example, if they hire a home health aide, the cost can reach $26 per hour. In assisted living, care services and amenities are available around the clock on one monthly bill.
Conclusion
With these benefits in mind, you can have the peace of mind that your senior loved one will remain active, happy, and receive 24/7 care even as you sleep. You can then live your own life without worrying about them all the time. Assisted living is beneficial not just for the elder members of your family but also for you and your other loved ones.
No Comment