Embracing Senior Healthcare Services in Assisted Living
Most older adults across the US have at least one chronic health problem. Social isolation and loneliness run rampant in the elderly population, and eight in every ten seniors struggle with medical documents due to cognitive issues.
A quality assisted living community can help your elderly loved one overcome these issues and retain a high quality of life while aging.
Read on to learn the benefits of senior healthcare services and how you can choose the right community for the aging individual in your life.
The Basics of Assisted Living in Cambridge, Ohio
Assisted living communities are centers that host elderly individuals who struggle to take care of themselves. The main goal of these locations is to allow seniors to retain a high quality of life while getting older.
Assisted care offers a wide range of services, including:
- Help with daily tasks like bathing, cleaning, and using the bathroom
- Housekeeping and cooking to ensure a healthy environment
- Physical therapy and exercise groups to retain mobility in senior health
- Community events to stave off loneliness and prevent isolation
- Occupational and mental health therapy to help preserve psychological wellness
- Memory-related assistance for those with Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's
No senior will need to contend with the difficulties of aging on their own when they have both compassionate nurses and thriving communities at their disposal.
It's also important to note that there are multiple types of elderly care available. Assisted living is the most common and basic plan. These locations aim to help seniors age gracefully and comfortably.
Memory care is another alternative for those with cognitive issues like dementia. These communities are dedicated units for memory care to help seniors stay safe in secure environments. They have special programming for boosting cognitive function and constant reminders of daily tasks.
Both of these are long-term care options for your elderly loved one, but there are also short-term alternatives. Respite care is intended for those who need to recover from injuries or surgery. These units help seniors get better before they can go back to independent living.
Benefits of Senior Healthcare Services
Assisted living communities are above all a senior healthcare service. They aim to keep elderly individuals healthy and ensure that they don't succumb to physical and mental health problems.
Thinking about the benefits of senior healthcare services means contemplating the benefits of these communities.
Medical Care
Assisted living communities are often located near hospitals in case something happens. This means that there will always be readily accessible health care.
Plus, those at assisted care centers can adjust how much attention each resident gets as they age. This care plan can shift with your loved one's needs. This means that every senior will have a medical plan that they can rely on, bringing both them and their family peace of mind.
Accessible Locations
While aging in place is frequently idealized, it is not realistic for many older adults. It also is usually no better than a furnished, well-kept, en-suite apartment in an assisted living center.
This is because elderly communities are specifically made with common mobility issues in mind. Wider doorways, wheelchair ramps, railings, grab bars, and adjustable countertops are just a few of the amenities that can keep seniors comfortable.
Safety
These accessibility features aren't only designed for comfort - they also work to keep your loved one safe.
A multi-story house with stairs means a higher likelihood of falls. Conversely, a one-floor assisted living community lowers the likelihood of fall-related injuries.
This is especially true because compassionate nurses overlook daily operations to prevent injury. Plus, having railings and grips in showers and on ramps lowers the chance of slips.
Medication Management Help
Medication management is a core healthcare service that many seniors need. In fact, about 90% of older adults take at least one prescription drug. 80% take more than that.
This can get confusing for those who need help organizing because of slipping memory or other cognitive problems. Assisted living community experts will ensure that your loved one remembers to take all necessary medications on time.
Tailored Care for Senior Health
Personalized care plans are a major benefit of using assisted living services for your loved one. Knowledgable and experienced professionals will sit down with you and your elderly family member to discuss their specific needs.
If they have cognitive and memory issues, they may need support to help them remember to eat, bathe, and perform other necessary tasks. If they have mobility problems, they might need a plan that focuses on having those tasks done for them.
Whatever your loved one's individual needs are, experts will listen compassionately and come up with a one-on-one plan for effective assistance.
Talking to Your Loved One About Assisted Care
Talking to loved ones about assisted living can be challenging. However, it's a necessary step toward ensuring that they can retain their quality of life.
Make sure to:
- Express concerns about them living on their own
- Listen attentively and empathetically to their concerns
- Do your research about assisted living centers to provide accurate information
- Convey the benefits of senior living
- Show them images of the nice surroundings Cardinal Place offers
- Inform them that tours of the community are available
- Quell concerns about low-quality communities
- Emphasize community and how they will form connections
- Prepare yourself for multiple conversations
- Tell them that you will visit regularly
Pets are important members of the family for many Americans. Stress that the best communities like Cardinal Place understand this and will help them smoothly move their pets into their comfortable apartment alongside them. This can put fears about losing their four-legged companions to rest.
Get Started With Compassionate Elderly Care
Now that you know the ins and outs of assisted living, it's time to reap the benefits of senior healthcare services for your loved one. Cardinal Place Assisted Living offers compassionate care and individualized services to ensure that each senior gets the help they need to thrive.
Our team is excited to talk with you and your family members to determine the best care plan, type of program, and course of action for your specific needs. Contact us to begin discussing these things and get a tour of our community.