A recent AARP survey found that 77% of seniors express a desire to age at home. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the best option, and many seniors have to make a different choice as they get older.
Moving into a senior living community can be a major transition. Though seniors may feel resistant to the idea at first, many will enjoy a boost in their quality of life in assisted senior living.
If you have aging parents who are on the fence about downsizing and moving to assisted living, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn how assisted living can benefit our residents’ quality of life.
Safer Living Quarters
According to the CDC, one out of every five senior falls results in an injury. Many of these injuries involve broken or fractured hips, which can result in long-term mobility impairment.
The layout of a senior’s home can greatly affect their overall safety. Stairs, area rugs, high-walled step-in showers, and tight corners can all increase their fall risk.
Assisted living communities offer a variety of floor plans, all of which foster resident safety. Not only does the layout support ease of mobility but bathrooms are equipped with modifications like safety rails. With staff on-site, seniors can also receive help right away if an accident does occur. You can have peace of mind knowing that your loved one isn’t isolated if they need help.
Residents will also benefit from added financial security. Since your loved ones will live in a community instead of alone, the chances of them falling victim to a scam is lower.
Nutritious Dining Options
Seniors living alone may start cooking less often or eating a less diverse array of foods. Eating a bland diet or relying on processed foods may harm a senior’s nutritional intake and health.
While residents in assisted living have the option to cook at home, they also have access to professionally prepared food every day. With advance notice, staff members can prepare meals with dietary restrictions in mind.
Assisted living dining programs encourage seniors to eat meals together. This can foster a deeper sense of belonging, reduce loneliness, and make mealtime more pleasurable.
Assistance with ADLs
Activities of daily living are all those small but crucial steps we take each day to maintain our health, dignity, and happiness. Common examples of ADLs include:
- Cooking and eating
- Cleaning and organizing
- Grooming and dressing
- Getting in and out of bed
- Shopping
- Making telephone calls
- Using the toilet
Aging can lead to a variety of conditions that make ADL completion difficult or impossible. Something as simple as a diminishing range of motion can prevent seniors from washing their hair, putting on clothing, or reaching cabinets and shelves. In assisted living communities, staff members can help with or take over ADLs so seniors can maintain as much independence as possible.
Scheduled Entertainment
Many assisted living communities provide residential entertainment programs that get seniors out of their homes to spend time with their neighbors. Popular activities include:
- Game nights
- Book clubs
- Music and art therapy
- Classes and lectures
- Parties and events
- Special meals
- Performances
A busy schedule keeps residents physically and mentally engaged. A wide variety of activities ensures that there’s something for everyone, no matter their ability or interests. For example, music and art therapy sessions are accessible to seniors with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s.
Social Engagement
Research shows that social isolation and loneliness can have negative impacts on health. A lack of socialization may increase the risk of developing issues like heart disease, cognitive decline, and depression. Seniors in assisted living communities have easy access to social opportunities.
Social isolation is a common problem for seniors aging at home. This problem intensifies when seniors can no longer drive or access transportation or don’t have family and friends nearby.
An ongoing schedule of activities encourages socialization. Residents can also organize their own get-togethers by visiting one another at home or taking advantage of communal areas like dining rooms and spacious lawns.
Medical Support
Senior healthcare is an integral part of the well-being of aging populations. Many seniors have a variety of medications they need to take at certain times of day, some with food and some without. Keeping up with this schedule alone isn’t always easy.
Residents can seek help with medication management in an assisted living community. Staff members can call or visit to ensure each medication is taken as prescribed.
Residents can also access transportation to get to and from appointments. This ensures that they manage and prevent conditions with the help of their doctors.
Fitness Programming
Regular exercise can support good physical and mental health at all ages, but it takes on a new level of importance after age 60. Exercise can reduce pain, bone loss, and more.
Examples of senior fitness programs offered in assisted living include:
- Balance and strength training
- Chair yoga
- Chair aerobics
Aging can impact physical abilities, which can change the forms of exercise that are safely available to seniors. Guided fitness programs take these factors into account, making exercise more accessible.
Transitional Memory Care
Some seniors may eventually need more assistance than they can receive in an independent living setting. Assisted living communities like SummerHouse Vista Shores simplify the transition to memory care.
Memory care involves round-the-clock medical supervision. Our memory care community offers more security to keep residents safe, no matter their mood or state of mind.
Finally, memory care units offer a variety of activities that keep seniors with memory loss engaged. Family members and close friends are always invited to visit and participate in everything from on-site activities to their loved one’s care plans.
Boost Your Loved One’s Quality of Life in Assisted Senior Living
Many seniors want to age at home because they’re worried that moving will diminish their quality of life. We’re here to assure you and your loved one that residents enjoy a boost in their quality of life in assisted senior living thanks to the programs discussed above.
SummerHouse Vista Shores is one of the highest-rated assisted living communities in Louisiana. Our staff is proud to offer ongoing support while putting together entertainment, fitness, and dining schedules. Contact us to schedule a tour and find out more about why our residents love SummerHouse.
