You’ve determined that you or a loved one needs some form of long-term care to provide the assistance needed each day. You’ve heard of assisted living, but you’re not quite sure what it offers or if it’s the best choice for you or a loved one.
Understanding how assisted living communities benefit older adults is essential to finding and choosing a community that fits your needs. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about assisted living.
What is assisted living?
Assisted living is a type of long-term care for socially active older adults who need assistance with their daily activities but don’t require more intensive daily medical care. Seniors in assisted living communities want to remain independent but need help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming. These communities offer beautiful home-like settings where residents can live in beautiful private apartments designed for the comfort and safety of older adults.
How do older adults benefit from assisted living communities?
As we age, mobility issues and chronic health conditions can make it more challenging to manage daily responsibilities such as household tasks, running errands, home and yard maintenance, grocery shopping, and meal preparation.
Assisted living communities provide a safe and secure environment with round-the-clock care, professional staff, and immediate assistance in case of emergencies, all while providing seniors opportunities to meet and socialize with peers.
In addition, family members have the peace of mind of knowing that trained and compassionate professionals are available to support and care for their loved ones.
Seniors who live in assisted living communities often thrive thanks to social connections, a worry-free lifestyle, and high-end services and amenities available in senior living communities.
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Assisted living services and amenities
Assisted living communities provide a range of services and amenities tailored to meet the needs of older adults. Depending on the community, you’ll typically find the following services and amenities:
- Restaurant-style dining with fresh chef-prepared meals
- Hair and nail salons
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Scheduled transportation to shopping, medical appointments, and local events
- Assistance with personal care
- Outdoor patios and gazebos
- Juice bars
Social opportunities in assisted living communities
According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately one-quarter of Americans aged 65 and older are socially isolated. Isolation and loneliness are a significant problem for older adults in the United States, but not for seniors living in assisted living communities.
If you think assisted living communities are full of bored, lonely seniors, think again! Here are some activities you’ll find residents participating in vibrant senior living communities like Seasons Assisted Living:
- Happy hours with live entertainment
- Poker
- Movie nights
- Sports bar
- Billiards room
- Pet therapy
- Full calendar of planned activities and fun outings
- Fitness classes
How to find and choose an assisted living community
Although finding an assisted living community can be daunting, here are a few tips that will help:
- Ask friends, family, or even your physician for recommendations
- Perform an online Google search of assisted living and your city
- Make in-person tours of several communities in your area
- Ask a lot of questions and talk to residents during your tours
- Make a list of wants vs. needs before visiting communities
- Be honest about the amount of care you’ll require
Wrap-up
Life in an assisted living community allows older adults to enjoy life without worrying about the mundane daily responsibilities of life. These communities allow residents various opportunities to meet and socialize with their peers in a safe, active, and supportive environment.
Contact the caring senior living team to learn more and schedule your tour. Download our free Family Decision Toolkit for helpful tips about choosing the senior living lifestyle.
