Many families struggle with the decision to move a loved one into an assisted living home. It’s understandable. You want your loved one to be able to stay in the home that they have lived in for all these years and you worry about whether it is going to take some of the individual’s independence away from them.
The truth is that for many seniors, living in an assisted living center is the best option. Far from taking the person’s independence from them, a good assisted living center will actually help to restore independence that would be difficult for the individual to maintain on their own.
When a senior has reached a stage in their life where assisted living is the right option, it can improve their quality life in many ways. In this post, we are going to look at some of the advantages that come with making the transition to a senior living community.
Assistance with Daily Needs
Many seniors are still independent in most ways. But they might need help with some of their daily needs. It could be things like maintaining a clean home, doing laundry or it could be help with their personal care and preparing healthy meals. At an assisted living center, the staff will be able to help them when they need help, but they will also encourage them to be as independent as they possibly can be. Finding this balance is the key to the ideal assisted living situation.
A More Fulfilling Social Life
One of the drawbacks to leaving a senior in a home where they live alone is that it can have a negative impact on their ability to maintain a social life. They might start to have trouble getting to the places where they used to meet with friends. Some of their friends may have even passed away or moved away. At a senior living community, they are surrounded by people in their age group, and most facilities will provide ample opportunities for residents to socialize.
Health & Safety
Families often find that they have to worry about the safety and wellbeing of older loved ones. Maybe they don’t keep their house as neat as they used to, and you worry about various hazards. You might be concerned about them having some type of problem with their health, and you wonder if they would be able to get help in a moment of crisis. At an assisted living center, the staff is there to look out for the safety and wellbeing of the residents. If they have a problem, they are not home alone. Someone will be there to make sure they get the help they need.
Nutrition & Medication
Nutrition and medication can be a significant problem for many seniors that live on their own. They might have trouble getting to the grocery store or they just lack the ability to cook safely and manage their medications. At a senior living center, the staff can help residents with managing their medication. They can also provide assistance with food shopping and the preparation of healthy meals.
A More Active Life
An active lifestyle is important for people of all ages. As some people age, it can get more difficult to maintain an active life. They might have a hard time getting around or they might worry about what would happen in they had some type of emergency when they were away from the home. Most assisted living centers make an active lifestyle a big part of what they offer. They might have an exercise program for the residents, maybe they arrange trips to parks and other places, they might have paths and walkways where the residents can take a walk. With more opportunities for an active life, an assisted living home can improve the health and quality of life for seniors.
Assisted living is all about providing residents with the support they need, while allowing them to maintain as much independence as possible. At Angels on Tracy, we are committed to getting this balance right for every resident. Contact our team to learn more about the services we provide for seniors that need assisted living in Simi Valley.