Assisted living is designed for adults who need help with day-to-day activities but don’t need around-the-clock care. They may also want to maximize their independence without losing personal space and control.
Besides providing care, these communities also have social programs and activities that keep residents engaged and connected. These benefits are why many seniors prefer to live in an assisted living community.
1. Peace of Mind
The benefits of an assisted living community come in all forms, but one of the most significant is peace of mind. This is a result of having all of your care needs met under one roof and having a team of professional caregivers around to provide you with the attention that you need when you need it.
While we often associate peace of mind with a certain level of calmness and tranquility, it is a very broad term. In fact, the phrase “peace of mind” actually refers to a variety of mental states, including stress relief and anxiety reduction.
In addition, peace of mind is often accompanied by positive thoughts and feelings. A person who feels peace of mind is often able to handle difficult situations with ease and grace.
Having a good night’s sleep is also important to maintaining peace of mind. Getting enough sleep helps to calm the brain and reduces racing thoughts, anxiety, and depression.
Another way to get peace of mind is by doing acts of kindness. There are millions of ways to help people, and choosing to do something nice for someone else is one of the easiest ways to bring happiness into your life.
2. Personalized Care
The personalized care that comes with joining an assisted living community gives seniors a sense of security and peace. Whether it’s providing transportation to doctors’ appointments, emergency response systems in each room, or a host of other health services, assisted living communities are here to provide the support and resources older adults need to live safely at home.
Personalized care planning is a novel patient-centered practice that intimately engages patients in their treatment and aligns it with their personal priorities. Yet, successful implementation of this new approach requires more than just embedding plans in an EHR. Rather, healthcare teams must thoughtfully and collaboratively engage patients in the plan development, communication, and dissemination process.
To do this, stakeholders must embrace a one-of-a-kind collaboration across payers, providers, and research institutions, with a focus on scaling precision medicine insights and tools to all of the patients who can benefit from them. This transformational model can help the health system achieve its quadruple aim of enhancing patient and provider experiences, improving population health, and lowering costs.
3. Social Interaction
One of the most important benefits that comes with joining an assisted living community is social interaction. Seniors often experience isolation as they age and this can have a negative impact on their mental and physical health.
This is why it is so important to find an assisted living community that will provide your loved one with the opportunity to build new relationships every day – with staff and fellow residents. This can include group activities such as exercise classes, book clubs, cooking courses or outings around town.
Besides helping them to meet people, these opportunities can also help your loved one stay active and engaged. These social activities can improve their mental health, boost their confidence and keep them physically fit, says FitzPatrick.
In addition, many assisted living communities have a variety of programs that can improve cognitive function and stimulate the brain. These programs can help your loved one stay healthy and avoid dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
When choosing an assisted living community, remember that amenities don’t matter as much as the people who work there. Look for a facility with friendly and caring staff members who are dedicated to providing quality care for their residents.
4. Health Care
When a loved one can no longer handle the daily activities of living without assistance, they may benefit from moving to an assisted living care center. They can receive help with preparing meals, toileting, bathing and dressing. These services are provided by a trained team that is available around the clock to support their safety and health.
Assisted living communities can also provide health care and pharmacy access through on-site services or via an agreement with a nearby hospital. These facilities offer a variety of wellness programs, including physical and mental fitness, as well as socialization.
Seniors who participate in these activities tend to have improved health and cognitive function, according to a report by the Aging Life Care Association (formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers). Plus, seniors who live in an assisted living community can attend classes that focus on health and wellness and improve their independence.
The key to choosing a facility is getting the right mix of services, amenities and pricing. To do this, the National Center for Assisted Living advises touring multiple facilities and asking questions about the staff and residents.
5. Meal Preparation
Assisted living communities typically offer on-site dining services. This means that residents can enjoy meals prepared by talented chefs that are beneficially nutritious, based on their specific dietary needs.
These services can help seniors maintain a healthy diet, which can be essential for their overall health and well-being. Depending on the community, dietary options can include low-sodium, diabetic, and halal or vegetarian diets.
Many assisted living communities also offer on-site fitness classes and physical therapy sessions. These activities can be a great way to boost mental health and social connections, while helping seniors stay active and engaged in their day-to-day lives.
In addition to dietary services, some assisted living communities specialize in providing care for individuals with certain medical conditions or other special needs. These may include Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, autism, intellectual disabilities, or specialized needs related to an orthopedic condition (e.g., hip replacement).
For some seniors, preparing their own meals can be difficult and stressful. They may have dietary restrictions or be unable to safely heat or prepare food, and they may not be familiar with cooking techniques. Caregivers can provide meal preparation services that ensure senior’s dietary needs are met while also taking care of other household tasks like grocery shopping and cleaning.
6. Personal Care
One of the most important benefits that come with joining an assisted living community is that your loved one will be cared for by dedicated staff members. These dedicated professionals work around the clock to ensure that all of your loved one’s needs are met and that they feel safe and secure.
Personal care services are an essential part of helping seniors remain independent and live safely at home for as long as possible. They help your loved one with critical day-to-day tasks that would otherwise be difficult for them to perform, such as bathing, eating and dressing.
This helps your loved one stay in their own home for as long as possible, and allows them to enjoy a higher quality of life. This type of in-home care is often more affordable than other options, such as assisted living or a nursing home.
In-home care is also an excellent option for seniors with health problems that require a greater level of medical attention than a standard home health aide can provide. A professional personal care agency or assistant will evaluate your senior’s needs and recommend the right level of service for them, according to their unique situation.
7. Transportation
Having a reliable transportation service can take some of the stress out of traveling around town. Whether you need to go shopping, visit a doctor or simply get out of the house for a bit, this can be a lifesaver.
According to an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, lack of transportation can lead to missed or rescheduled medical appointments and delays in medication administration. This can have serious health implications, especially for seniors.
Many assisted living communities provide transportation services to their residents. Whether it’s a scheduled bus or town car, this benefit can help residents feel safe and independent while also being able to participate in social activities and local events.
In addition to helping residents get to and from their destinations, these benefits also promote social interaction, which can have positive impact on a senior’s overall health. For example, going on a group outing to a local community center can keep a senior’s mind active and may stave off memory loss or dementia.
