Specialized Options For Senior Living
Do you remember when nursing homes were the only option for senior adults, who could no longer live independently? Those days are long gone! There are many specialized options available to meet the needs of seniors today. Let’s explore some of them.
If you, or your loved one, are still very independent, able to perform your own personal care, and only need help with cooking, yard work, and housekeeping, then independent living is right for you. Independent living communities are sometimes called retirement homes, or senior housing. Residents often have their own private apartment. They may, or may not, have a small kitchen, but generally resemble a traditional apartment. Residents are able to come and go as they please, and some continue to drive. There is often a large common dining room, where residents go to eat. This keeps them from having to cook and is good for socialization. Housekeeping is provided, usually with a scheduled deep clean, as well as a daily tidy up. Some communities provide transportation to appointments. Social events, exercise class, and daily scheduled activities are common. Many communities have an on-site beauty shop.
Once a senior adult is no longer able to tend to their own personal care, assisted living becomes an option. Assisted living homes not only provide all of the same services offered in independent living, they also provide assistance with medication, bathing, toileting, and all other activities of daily living. Your loved one will have a personal care assistant, providing assistance around the clock. Many assisted living homes to have a house physician, who will make scheduled visits to the community, and is often on call for special concerns.
Assisted living residents are in charge of directing their own care, or voicing their own needs. If your loved one begins to show signs of dementia or receives new diagnoses of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they will need to move to specialty care assisted living, also called memory care. Memory care is similar to assisted living, but the staff is well-trained on how to care for people who have dementia, and the activities are more suited to them. They often have a nurse on staff. Once a person moves into a specialty care community, they should able to remain there throughout the remainder of their life. In the event that they have a temporary need for skilled nursing care, they are able to use home health services. If they become bedbound or require permanent skilled nursing care, they will need to move to a nursing home, where the staff is equipped to meet their needs.
Senior living has come a long way in the last few decades, providing specialized care to senior adults. Take advantage of all they have to offer so that you are able to remain as healthy, social, and independent as possible. This will ensure the highest quality of life, during the golden years!