Many individuals pay for assisted living using their personal funds or private long-term care insurance policies; others may receive assistance through Medicaid (through its Assisted Living Program in NY); still others find help through home and community-based waiver programs.
Understand that transitioning to assisted living may be upheaval for your loved one and is bound to bring feelings of grief and loss. Stay in contact to reassure them they remain loved and valued by you and keep in touch regularly to show support and assurances of care from family members and other loved ones.
Socialization
Socialization is crucial to mental wellbeing and helps support cognitive function, meeting emotional needs that may otherwise be hard to express or cope with as we age.
Assisted living communities strive to offer their residents ample socialization opportunities. Group events, like holiday parties, picnics, crafts projects and meals out can foster bonds over shared interests while interest-based social clubs such as book clubs or gardening groups help residents feel connected while offering them an important sense of purpose and belonging.
Furthermore, communal spaces like game rooms, movie theaters, and hobby rooms provide the ideal setting for neighbors to meet each other and start conversations easily. Furthermore, lifelong learning has been proven to increase neuron growth while supporting memory retention, reasoning skills, and cognitive functions.
Meal Preparation
Food preparation can be an enjoyable way for seniors to form bonds with both friends and family while learning essential cooking skills and making healthier food choices on their own.
Many assisted living communities offer restaurant-style meals tailored to the residents’ dietary requirements and preferences, providing healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks in between meals.
Some communities provide residents with easy access to food by providing small kitchenettes in each room, filled with fruits, vegetables, yogurt, ice cream, cookies, cold cereals, soups, deli meats and more. Staff, families and residents alike can use these kitchenettes throughout the day and night; special holiday meals such as Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Fourth of July Thanksgiving or Christmas meals may also take place here.
Medication Management
Assisted living providers may offer medication management to their residents, ensuring their prescriptions are filled and delivered on time. This service fills an important need for senior residents who may take six or more prescription pills daily.
Medication management offers operators an opportunity to stand out from competitors. While many communities use state-licensed pharmacists for the task of administering medications, others take an innovative approach which goes beyond simple dispensing of pills.
Partnering with an expert in eMAR can increase efficiency and accuracy during medication disbursement processes, enabling staff members to concentrate their care efforts elsewhere. Furthermore, an integrated eMAR solution reduces risks by making sure each resident receives medication on time and at their proper address.
Transportation
Most assisted living communities provide transportation services that assist residents in reaching medical appointments, social activities and nearby stores. Some vehicles even accommodate individuals using motorized wheelchairs.
Question the facility about what types of transportation they provide and their respective costs; some may partner with independent services that offer low rates while others include the costs as part of monthly fees. It is also essential to determine if there is one-on-one transport available and when booking rides should occur; additionally check if age eligibility criteria exist among transportation services as many volunteer-based programs offer free or donation-based rides but only provide service for limited ridership while private ride services provide more flexible scheduling services with same-day or on-demand scheduling capabilities.
Personal Care
Losing one’s independence can be an excruciatingly painful part of growing older, yet many seniors find assisted living allows them to regain some freedom while receiving assistance they require. Most facilities also provide home care services which assist with everyday tasks like bathing and dressing.
Staff at senior care facilities often oversee medication administration to ensure seniors take their meds correctly, thus minimizing potential side effects like dizziness or drowsiness that could put them at risk of falls.
Seniors contemplating moving into an Assisted Living residence should become informed about its fees, services and admission/discharge policies before making their decision. Many states also maintain online facility-complaint databases. If families wish to explore Medicaid-funded options they should consult a Medicaid planning professional.