Quality of life can be measured on many scales, and for seniors one way to do it is to assess what life at home offers versus what assisted living brings to the table. When seniors at home need help living a fulfilling and carefree life, it’s time to look deeper into assisted living and the features that improve quality of life.
Ways assisted living communities improve quality of life
Maximizing independence
Living at home may seem like the best path to staying independent but as the years tick by, that independence may wither as more and more help is needed. When getting dressed and bathed requires assistance, managing medications safely is a challenge, and keeping a clean and well-maintained home becomes too much to handle, assisted living begins to look pretty appealing.
In assisted living, residents have exactly the help they need day and night, medications can be dispensed by a professional right on , time and housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance and repair responsibilities vanish. Instead, residents spend time doing what they enjoy most and families can spend visits actually visiting rather than doing chores. For more about assisted living check out our blog, “Assisted Living: The Why, The How, and The Now.”
Banishing isolation
Losing the ability to get out and about is a common lament of seniors who no longer drive and don’t want to bother friends and family. So, one by one favorite pastimes and friendships are lost and seniors find themselves at home alone in front of the television more than they would like to be.
This one aspect of assisted living can make a huge difference in a senior’s well-being because it makes isolation a thing of the past. In assisted living, life is designed to be full to the brim with things to do, places to go and people to enjoy them with. In fact, there are so many things to do right at home that many seniors quickly realize how much they were missing out on. More importantly, however, is that the repercussions of isolation defined in our blog, “Isolation in Seniors and Why Socialization Is So Important for Their Overall Well-Being,” are no longer a concern so seniors can just kick back and have fun!
Download our free guide: Senior Living Options: A Step by Step Guide for Making an Informed Decision.
Prioritizing wellness
The greatest asset for aging well is to maintain a mindset that embraces wellness, and that doesn’t just mean seeing a doctor regularly and taking medications as prescribed. Wellness should be a daily endeavor that includes the physical and mental stimulation that older adults need to stay at the top of their game.
A culture of wellness is a top priority of assisted living and it can be seen in everything from a clean and safe environment to staying physically fit to getting proper nutrition. When everyone is on the wellness track it’s much easier to join in and get in the groove. Find out how we embrace wellness in our blog, “It’s Your Time to Thrive! 5 Ways Senior Living Can Improve Your Retirement Years.”
Savoring fine cuisine
Another key way that assisted living beats living at home can be found at the dinner table. Unlike in the past, today’s luxury assisted living communities have truly amazing meals designed to not only meet or exceed nutritional needs but to be appetizing and appealing as well. Chef-prepared meals are now the norm so seniors can choose from meals that are on par with top restaurants and that can be tailored to meet each resident’s dietary needs. When nutrition takes a back seat at home it is time to consider if the assisted living quality of life is a better choice. Get the facts in our blog, “Why Good Nutrition in Older Adults Is So Important and What It Might Mean When Overlooked.”
Ensuring safety and security
For many families, a senior’s safety and security is a major concern, especially as they need more help and have mobility concerns. Typical homes are simply not designed for aging in place and when falls and other mishaps occur they can quickly challenge even the most loving family’s resources.
Safety and security are built into assisted living from living spaces with wide hallways, bright open public areas, and apartments with aids like grab bars, walk-in showers and other safety features most homes do not have. Add to those, 24/7/365 emergency assistance and security and the value of the assisted living quality of life is easy to appreciate. Take a look at what to expect in our blog, “We’ve Got Your Back: Safety & Security in a Senior Living Community.”
At Thrive Senior Living, quality of life is at our very core so contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit. For more information on assisted living and other senior living care options, download our free guide: Senior Living Options: A Step by Step Guide for Making an Informed Decision.
