Assisted Living Homes Make Life So Much Easier

| Tuesday, September 18, 2012
By Joseph Stevenson


Assisted living homes allow and encourage seniors to remain active and independent, while offering assistance as needed. They serve 3 home cooked meals a day. It's a community with friends and activities. It's a home with a private room or rooms.

Consider this option if you need more help than family members and friends are able to provide. If you're overwhelmed trying to maintain your home, if transportation is a problem, or you're feeling lonely and isolated, an assisted living community might be a good choice. You're not abandoning or being abandoned by family and friends. You're freeing up everyone's time so hours spent together are enjoyable.

Rooms are private with a locked door. Some facilities do offer a double room with a roommate. Residents furnish and decorate their rooms. Some communities allow residents to bring their pet. Some have a resident pet. Staff takes care of housework and laundry, and assist with personal care on an as needed basis.

Residents enjoy activities such as concerts, sing-a-longs, bingo, crafts, socials, barbecues, movie nights, and Nintendo Wii games. There are fitness classes, and sometimes a gym. There may be a beauty salon. Many communities offer transportation services. Residents retain their independence, choosing social activities or relaxing alone in their room when that's there preference.

Make a list of what services and activities are necessary or important, then tour several homes. Visit with residents and staff. Staff should be friendly and relaxed, willing to take time to talk with you. Ask to see the calendar of events and activities. It should feel like home. It should be a safe place.

There are advantages to the lifestyle provided in assisted living homes. Residents remain independent with staff available to provide assistance when needed. There are social activities and friends down the hallway to visit. There are home cooked meals. Beverages and snacks are in your room. It's a safe, worry free environment. Some communities require residents to share a room which many residents consider a disadvantage. Also living in a community does expose residents to contagious diseases. For some seniors, a communities pet policies, or no smoking policies might be a problem.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment