Assisted living communities offer a wide range of personal care services and amenities, and are licensed by the state. They provide social activities, meals, housekeeping, laundry and medication assistance.
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Assisted living is a popular choice for seniors who are frail but not sick and need help with daily tasks like eating, bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. It also provides peace of mind for families who don’t want to place their loved one in a nursing home.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living is a long-term care option for seniors who require assistance with their daily activities but do not need round-the-clock nursing care. This approach promotes independence and encourages wellness in a warm, dignified, community setting.
Unlike nursing homes, which offer a more hospital-like environment, assisted living residents are encouraged to maintain their independent lifestyles by enjoying services like housekeeping and laundry, meals, and social and recreational activities.
In addition to offering a variety of service options, many assisted living communities provide on-site transportation.
Families are often involved in the process of helping their loved ones move into an assisted living residence. This can be an emotional experience as your parent loses the space they’ve lived in for years, but a careful planning and transition process will help your parent adjust to their new home.
If your parent is eligible for Medicaid, New York State’s Assisted Living Program (ALP) can pay for the cost of room and board in participating assisted living residences. This program is a win-win for residents and the State, as it’s less expensive than a nursing home and saves NY Medicaid money by reducing costs at the same time.
What are the Benefits of Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities offer many benefits to seniors, including help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating. They also provide a variety of social and recreational opportunities.
Often, residents have access to transportation services that make it easy for them to get where they need to go. This saves them the hassle of driving themselves and helps prevent accidents or falls.
In addition, a regular schedule of social and entertainment opportunities provides physical activity that is beneficial to both body and mind. It combats the negative cycle of inactivity and muscle loss that can lead to chronic health conditions and decreased functionality.
Having a sense of community is crucial for seniors, and assisted living communities often provide a variety of social activities, which encourages new connections and a positive mood. They also have disaster plans that help seniors in the event of an emergency. This provides peace of mind to family members and allows them to relax knowing their loved one is safe.
What is the Difference Between Independent Living and Assisted Living?
The main difference between independent living and assisted living is the level of care and services provided. Assisted living communities are designed to provide the support that older adults need to stay active and healthy.
In contrast, independent living communities encourage residents to remain as independent as possible while offering a variety of social activities and amenities. These include a gym, fitness programs and even bus or taxi services for doctor visits or shopping trips.
Assisted living residents are given regular assistance with daily tasks like bathing, dressing and eating. They also have access to medical care and are able to receive help with their medication management.
Assisted living communities usually offer three meals per day, prepared by chefs with individual residents’ medical and nutritional needs in mind. They also offer snacks throughout the day.
What is the Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care?
When older adults have memory loss or cognitive decline, they often need more assistance than a traditional assisted living community can provide. That’s where memory care communities come in.
Unlike assisted living, these senior homes offer round-the-clock care and specialized nursing support for seniors with dementia. Personalized nursing care plans help keep a resident with dementia safe and well-nourished, maintaining their mental and physical health for as long as possible.
These facilities also offer calming therapies in soothing spaces to reduce agitation and confusion that can lead to aggression or self-injury.
Generally, communities that specialize in memory care have a smaller number of residents than you’d find in a regular assisted living community. This ensures that each person gets the personal care they need. And enhanced safety features, such as secured entrances and courtyards and motion-sensored lighting, are added to give residents peace of mind.