Resources for Assisted Living Facilities

A Guide to Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities offer many services that straddle the line between medical care and real estate.  They’re often a lot like apartment complexes, with exciting amenities like pools, spas, and gardens, but streamlined and well-equipped for medical emergencies.  They’re often a good next step for the elderly if they’ve become too enfeebled to live at home, and they might be right for your family.  Let’s consider what some of the advantages are, as well as some of the things you’ll want to keep in mind before making it your loved one’s home.

Benefits

For the disabled, assisted living facilities can offer the minimum of practical support they need to get through the day and be productive.  The staff can help with difficult daily routines like cooking, cleaning, and bathing, so that the resident can be free to enjoy their energies more fully.  If there’s an ongoing illness, the support and the monitoring will be systematized, and neglect or laziness will never set in.  It’s a great way to make sure no mistakes are made that could prove troublesome down the road.

It’s also a community that encourages a neighborly spirit.  Everyone has a vulnerability that requires help from the staff, and residents usually find that they do even better if they get to know each other and stick together.  Many assisted living facilities report a heightened sense of community and an esprit de corps that’s sometimes lacking even in the best neighborhoods.

Many elderly people in good health find that assisted living facilities fit their needs as well.  Proper geriatric care is founded on monitoring and prevention, and that involves regular medical testing to assure that all necessary steps are taken.  Blood work for vitamin deficiency, for example, can be as important as any other factor to promote good general health and ward off dementia. 

Pitfalls

Assisted living facilities aren’t for everyone.  They can feel invasive and off-putting to those who aren’t used to having regular medical attention.  If asked to move from a comfortable home, the elderly are likely to be resentful of the move.  It’s a vulnerable situation squared: they’re losing control over their own health, and they have to lose control over their home as well.  If you’re their care coordinator, be sensitive to their frame of mind, and listen carefully to their concerns.  Remember, ultimately they have to feel happier and healthier for making the change – not the other way around.

It’s possible that you find yourself with a loved one who doesn’t like the particular facility you’ve chosen.  Be sensitive to this idea as well.  Not every place will work, and staffs and fellow residents vary.  They may find that the character of this particular place doesn’t suit them, but they might well change their mind in another place.

Conclusion

Assisted living facilities bring a great deal of relief to many families by providing the safety and reliability of professional medical care while making the resident feel happy and at-home.  It could be the right option for you, so consider your options carefully, and discuss it with your family.