Assisted living provides a safe, practical housing option for seniors with growing support needs. Getting older isn’t easy. Many adults find that they start to struggle to do the things they used to take for granted.
Some age-related changes are manageable. Seniors can add tools or equipment to their homes to stay safe and independent. Others may have loved ones who can provide extra support.
This can work, but it is also stressful. Most homes aren’t designed with the needs of a senior citizen in mind. Adjusting personal and professional schedules can also be difficult when taking full-time care of a loved one.
Assisted living communities are created to address the needs of aging adults with facilities and staff to handle all aspects of daily life.
Many potential residents want to know what services are included if I move into an assisted living community? The short answer is just about everything needed to live comfortably.
What is the Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes?
Eldercare isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are different levels of care available that give seniors a path to the support they need. It’s important to understand what assisted living can and cannot do.
Assisted living usually adopts a more residential atmosphere. Residents feel like they are at home in a cozy setting that’s fully furnished. These facilities have staff on hand to handle housekeeping and maintenance.
Residents receive the level of support they need based on ability and mobility. Staff can assist with standing, sitting, moving, and activities of daily living. Facilities like Casas Senior Assisted Living provide a comfortable living space for seniors who have some independence and do not require intensive, complex medical attention.
A nursing home is more clinical in atmosphere and operation. It feels more like a hospital than a home. The residents require full-time monitoring. This is available to those with greater medical needs than assisted living can provide but do not require hospitalization.
Nursing homes offer 24-hour medical services and with private or shared rooms. Assisted living offers an apartment-style living situation with social activities and assistance for daily activities.
Senior Support for Activities of Daily Living
Activities of daily living refer to the basic things we do to stay clean, healthy, and safe each day. These are tasks that most adults do without thinking, like eating or going to the bathroom. For some seniors, these tasks can become difficult. Health problems and limited mobility can be a serious obstacle.
Assisted living communities provide a way around those obstacles. Here, staff members are available to provide support for activities of daily living, which include:
- Dressing and Undressing
Changing our clothes is essential to cleanliness and comfort. Assisted living staff can help with these tasks as required. They will ensure that your loved one is wearing clean clothing that’s comfortable and will keep them warm.
- Meal Prep and Dining
Buying and preparing food can become nearly impossible for some seniors. Assisted living homes handle the grocery shopping and cooking. The facility buys ingredients and prepares home-cooked meals three times per day plus snacks.
Nutrition is essential to senior health. Some conditions make it hard to eat, which can lead to weight loss and weakness. Assisted living will ensure that your loved one is getting the calories and nutrition they need to thrive.
Casas Senior Assisted Living also welcomes seniors with dietary concerns.
- Grooming and Hygiene
Hygiene and grooming are connected to cleanliness. A clean person is more likely to be healthy and comfortable. They are also less likely to suffer from skin problems and infections.
Assisted living staff are available to assist with all aspects of grooming and personal hygiene.
Seniors who feel well-groomed and hygienic have more confidence and feel overall happier and more content.
- Bathing and Toileting
Going to the toilet or getting a shower or bath can be dangerous for seniors with mobility risks. A fall injury can lower a person’s quality of life. Getting assistance is a good way to prevent a slip and fall.
Assisted living communities are built with safety in mind. Bathroom facilities are equipped with grab bars and non-slip surfaces.
- Walking, Standing, and Sitting
Seniors with mobility limitations or frailty may struggle to stand, sit, and walk. Living in a place with staff available 24 hours a day to help with ambulation and general movement will make a huge difference in the life of an aging adult.
It’s also reassuring for older adults to know that they are not alone when facing struggles with mobility.
Assisted Living Addresses the Social Needs of Seniors
Assisted living does more than provide comfort, cleanliness, and safety. It also addresses senior emotional and mental health.
Living independently makes it harder to reach out to peers and rebuild social circles. An assisted living community puts seniors near their peers. They don’t have to travel anywhere to meet new people and make friends.
This is especially important for seniors who don’t have many family members in the area who can visit them. Loved ones can also try 8 ways to reach a loved one in assisted living when you can’t be there. Family combined with the social resources of assisted living have a positive impact on a senior’s mental wellness.
Assisted living homes also schedule social events for residents, including:
- Fitness groups
- Classes and clubs
- Birthday celebrations
- Arts and Crafts sessions
- Movie and game gatherings
- Holiday dinners and parties
- Community events and fundraisers
Assisted living addresses the physical, mental, and social needs of seniors by providing a long list of services that help them live better every day.
