Deciding on Assisted Living: The Importance of Healthcare Services
Studies show that about 2% of the senior population live in assisted living communities. These communities are ideal for maintaining independence and quality of life while not sacrificing safety and care.
If you're looking into assisted living communities with healthcare services, you may feel overwhelmed by the industry. It's crucial to understand the topic so you can pick the assisted living services that your aging parents or loved ones most need.
While it can feel overwhelming, we're here to offer our help. Read on for a quick overview of healthcare services and whether assisted care is right for you and your loved ones.
Providing Safety
One of the greatest drivers of seeking out assisting living communities is out of safety concerns. As we age, simple tasks can become not only difficult but dangerous to our health. Here are some of the ways that assisted communities help with improving safety.
Handling Emergencies
Studies show that seniors and older adults are significantly more likely to experience injuries in the home. Of these, falls are the most common, with seniors being about six times more likely to go to the emergency room as a result of a fall. These falls reach up to 1.5 million ER-treated injuries, with about 1,800 deaths.
As a whole, according to the same study, Americans over the age of 65 comprise 71% of consumer product-related deaths annually. These injuries most often lead to emergency care.
In an assisted living community, emergency care is much more readily available. Should a senior live alone when an emergency occurs, they may not be able to reach a phone to call for help. With assisted living, there are always people nearby to provide or contact emergency assistance.
Preventing Accidents
The best way to treat an injury is to stop it from ever happening. Many assisted living communities focus on keeping their residents safe rather than reacting when they're hurt.
One of the best ways to do so is with fall prevention. Here are Cardinal Place, we make sure all flooring is carpeted to provide better traction when our residents are walking. Additionally, the carpet provides a softer impact should a resident suffer an unfortunate fall.
To improve visibility, we also illuminate the entryways of our apartments. Doing so makes it so that our residents have a better vision of where they're walking at all times of the day. It also helps to cut down on any instances of residents being turned around and losing their entryway.
Issues like fires and CO2 poisoning are also common threats to senior citizens. Our apartments come with smoke detectors and sprinkler systems to detect and react to any threats of this sort. By living in a community, you ensure that there's always assistance nearby in case of an emergency.
Improving Health
Senior care is more than preventing falls. If you have aging parents, you likely have concerns for their health.
As we age, we become vulnerable to many more illnesses than we were in our youth. Some common diseases include Alzheimer's and dementia, osteoporosis, and more. Proper healthcare services can help provide residents with the care needed to manage and fend off these diseases.
Wholesome Diets
Proper nutrition is one of the ways that many assisted living communities will encourage health. Some communities have preset menus and will help with portion control and healthy, wholesome diets.
Others may allow you to order in-room meals. These are ideal for any senior with mobility challenges who struggles to travel to food or carry it back to their apartment. Of course, sometimes it's nice to eat food in bed - you don't have to have a medical reason for room service.
At Cardinal Place, every room is equipped with a refrigerator and freezer, as well as kitchenettes. These make sure that you can prepare your food however you prefer.
Access to Medical Assistance
Another great benefit of most assisted living communities is that they often have doctors on staff. Medical professionals can help with ongoing care or handling any new conditions.
At Cardinal Place, we offer transportation for scheduled doctor appointments. We also can help you find and schedule an appointment with a medical professional who can help you with anything you need. Our assisted care doesn't stop at the door - we're happy to help you in every way.
Encouraged Socialization
Socialization is one of the most important things for any human, but particularly for the elderly. Elderly loneliness occurs when seniors feel left out of their community or estranged from their family.
The best cure for loneliness is visits from loved ones. Because of this, we suggest using an assisted living community that's nearby so family members can easily visit.
However, that isn't always possible, and some aging parents may be in completely different states from their families. Regardless of the family situation, it's good to have a healthy social circle in your community.
At Cardinal Place, we offer community events and outings that help our residents get on their feet and out on the town. You won't have to worry about spending all your time cooped up in a small room. We also provide transportation to these events for residents who don't have a vehicle or aren't able to drive.
Finally, we also offer outdoor amenities that help our residents get some fresh air. Outdoor social areas, fitness regimens, and relaxation locations help to keep spirits (and health) in the best condition.
Using Assisted Living Communities with Healthcare Services
While searching for assisted living communities with healthcare services can feel overwhelming, making a prioritized list can help. Do your best to understand what services are most important to you and your loved ones. Working from there can ensure you don't invest in a community that doesn't offer the service you need.
At Cardinal Place, we're proud to offer one of Ohio's most vibrant assisted living communities - and we even allow pets! Our services range from medical professionals and safe buildings to generous room accommodations to maximize your comfort. Contact us today to see how we can help you take control of your golden years.