Assisted living is about giving older adults the opportunity to live their lives with dignity. It is about giving them a choice to live at home or in a retirement setting, to remain connected with family and friends, and to participate in their communities.
Assisted living can help make life easier for both seniors and caregivers. The benefits of being independent are well known for older people who want to stay healthy, active, and engaged in their communities.
The key benefits of assisted living are:
- Independence
- Participation in community life
- Increased quality of life
An independent person is someone who can see things more clearly. The expectations of others do not blind them. They are not living someone else’s life, and they know what is best for them. It is important to have a sense of purpose in life, and it is harder to find this if you are constantly dependent on others. Assisted living offers seniors an environment where support for day-to-day tasks is available while maintaining a level of independence that might not be so easy if they remained in their old home. For example, assisted living communities offer a senior-friendly lifestyle by providing access to amenities such as:
- Housekeeping
- Laundry services
- Wellness programs
- Beauty salons
Residents may also have access to personal assistants who can do anything from getting groceries to accompanying them on trips around town.
Participation in community life
The key to living a healthy life is being actively involved with the local community, like those at the Frontenac assisted living community. It doesn’t always have to be strenuous activities. It can include things like spending time with friends, taking leisurely walks, or eating healthy meals.
Participation in community life is an important aspect of our well-being. It has been shown that people who participate in social activities are happier and healthier, particularly important in old age.
Restaurant dining services
One way for people to participate in the community and maintain a social life is through restaurant-style dining. This provides a way for people to socialize around food, which can be a really great experience that brings people together.
Another popular participation activity is day trips to the local restaurants or hiking trails because these are things that can be enjoyed by everybody regardless of their age or physical abilities.
Spending time with friends
Staying connected with friends is often important to seniors, but unfortunately, it’s not always possible. However, more centers are offering short-term rehabilitation services. These services are designed to support you after a hospital stay or medical event that makes staying in your home difficult. Once the rehabilitation has been completed, it may be feasible for the individual to return to their home and remain in touch with friends.
However, if returning home isn’t really an option, assisted living facilities provide several activities, such as exercise classes, games, and arts and crafts where you can meet other residents. This is an easy way to make new friends in your community.
Excursions and activities
Residents in this area have access to a variety of programs that promote physical activities and keep residents engaged through educational activities. Physical programs generally include activities such as yoga, cardio, walking, and chair exercises. Educational activities are likely to include dance classes, cooking workshops, and painting workshops.
In most assisted living facilities, there is also a calendar for social events where residents can take part in card clubs, excursions to local attractions, happy hour, and Sunday brunch.
Importance of a good quality of life
A good quality of life is important for everyone, but it is especially important for seniors. Removing some of the day-to-day tasks involved with looking after a home can help seniors maintain a relatively active lifestyle. Assisted living facilities provide a range of options to reduce the daily tasks for their residents. In addition to dining services already mentioned, they offer laundry services, transportation, personal care, medical support, and exercise classes.
Transportation
Stay connected with friends, or take a drive to a favorite landmark. Assisted living facilities provide transportation services so that their residents can maintain a level of independence. In addition, relatives have peace of mind knowing the transport will be safe.
Personal care
Everyone feels better when they are looking good. Residents should have access to onsite facilities to take care of their personal appearance, whether it is access to a beautician or barber.
Medical support
In healthcare, nurses provide medication to residents and document the drug administration. Nurses are in charge of educating and counseling patients on how to take their medications and what side effects they could experience. However, it is often challenging for seniors to keep up with all of their medication, which is where nurses based at the assisted living facility can help. They will remind residents of what medicine is needed and when to take it.
To sum up
The assisted living communities can help to make life more enjoyable and preserve a sense of independence for resident seniors. They can help with daily activities, like laundry and cooking, and provide companionship for those who might be struggling to maintain their independence without feeling too dependent on others.
Providing quality of life options is heavily dependent on the individual’s needs. Individualised care allows for a better quality of life because it is tailored to each resident. When each person is treated as an individual with their own special needs, they are not just one of many residents in an institution that will have the same set of tasks completed every day.
