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A Beginner’s Guide to Assisted Living
Relocating to an assisted living community can be a life-changing decision.
8 March 2021
Relocating to an assisted living community can be a life-changing decision. Therefore, it is natural to have questions like what facilities it offers, when is the right time to move, how much it costs, and how long the process takes.
Assisted living facilities are for patients who don’t need intrusive care. Those who enter assistant living can often carry out most activities independently, but not enough to comfortably and safely live alone.
When is it time for assisted living?
Look for the following signs to determine if the time is right for you to move to an assisted facility.
1. Feeling of isolation: Apart from occasional loneliness, chronic loneliness can lead to health issues like depression, dementia, excessive smoking, and prescription medication abuse.
2. Worsening medical condition: The AARP reported that over 70 million people aged 50 and older suffer from at least one chronic disease. The potential for medical emergencies increases with age, and when that happens, it’s not safe for seniors to be living on their own.
3. Monetary issues: Older people find it challenging to keep up with financial responsibilities like utility bills, insurance, taxes, etc. Diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s affect their ability to handle complex tasks.
4. Poor hygiene: When aging family members can no longer take care of themselves, it’s a clear sign that they need to shift to assisted living. Poor hygiene signs include poor grooming habits, unpleasant odor, undone laundry, dirty dishes, etc.
Where to start?
Once you have decided that assisted living is the right choice for your aging parent, it’s time to examine options in your desired locations. While looking for an assisted living facility for your aging senior, it’s essential to find out as much as possible about the services, quality of care, and safety measures.
Resident rights: Assisted living facilities allow their residents autonomy, privacy, and safety while encouraging community involvement. Your family member’s new home will treat them with dignity and respect. The residents will have the freedom to interact with individuals both inside and outside the facility, practice or abstinence from religion as per personal wish, and control their finances independently.
Living arrangements and services: You can book furnished or unfurnished semi-private and private apartments complete with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. The staff can help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating. They will also perform regular housekeeping and maintenance tasks.
Quality of care: Ensure that the assisted living facility complies with the federal and local regulatory requirements. Ensure that the administrators and support staff are adequately trained and experienced in professional caregiving.
Are you looking for a residential care home?
Tilsley House Care Home is a 31-bed residential care home in the famous seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. We have an open and enabling environment that lets the residents retain their independence as we take care of their daily needs. To know more or arrange a visit, you can call us at 01934 419300 or email us at [email protected].