Is Senior Living the Right Decision?

 

Are you beginning to discuss whether senior living could be the right choice for you or a loved one? Is your family wondering how to make the senior living decision that will provide the highest quality of life?

It’s not an easy one to make but there are questions you can ask and answers to consider that will help your family successfully navigate this journey.

The senior living decision: community vs. home

The first question to ask – and decision to make – is where your loved one will receive the best care while achieving an enriched life.

Most families will need to decide whether remaining at home or moving into a senior living community will provide the best foundation.

There are advantages and challenges for both, but you’ll typically find one offers better support. Consider the answers to the following questions as guidance when making your senior living decision.

  1. Is the current home accessible or would it require expensive or extensive renovations?

  2. Are your loved ones able to live independently or do they need daily assistance?

  3. Are your parents eating healthy or beginning to substitute unhealthy food or skip meals?

  4. Are they finding it more difficult to socialize with others or beginning to self-isolate?

  5. Are your loved ones continuing to exercise and remain physically and cognitively fit?

  6. Are they active and engaging with others and their community?

  7. Are they no longer driving or finding it more difficult to arrange for transportation?

  8. Do your parents feel safe or are they beginning to worry more about their security?

The senior living decision: what is assisted living?

If your family decides that senior living is the best choice for your loved ones, understanding the level of care and assistance needed is the next step.

Comparing your answers above to the benefits offered by an assisted living community can help make the right senior living decision:

  1. Accessibility: Designed to be accessible and age-friendly, all residences are move-in ready and will support your parents to live safely and as independently as possible.

  2. Assistance: The staff is trained to offer assistance when needed with the tasks of daily living, including bathing, dressing or help with managing medications.

  3. Healthy dining: Residents enjoy nutritious and delicious dining programs with a wide variety of menu selections and accommodation of special dietary needs.

  4. Socializing: Your loved ones will discover many opportunities to make new friends and build relationships through activities and social events.

  5. Keeping in shape: Fitness centers or classes help residents exercise and keep their minds fit and their bodies flexible, strong and balanced.

  6. Staying active: Take a look at a community’s monthly calendar of activities and discover the wide variety of options and choices to suit everyone.

  7. Scheduled transportation: Your loved ones won’t need to feel dependent on others to attend medical appointments, social events and activities.

  8. Safety and security: Added safety and security features will help your parents feel safe. It’s also reassuring to know that someone is there if help is ever needed.

The senior living decision: what is memory care?

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and is no longer able to receive the needed level of care at home or in an assisted living community, your family may turn to memory care when making this senior living decision.

These communities provide the same level of attention as assisted living, but you’ll find the staff has been trained in the best dementia practices and provides additional, specialized support.

Your loved one will feel comfortable and secure as the residences and communities have been designed to lower frustration and anxiety levels while keeping the residents safe.

Residents can participate in specially designed programs that may include pet, music, sensory stimulation or reminiscence therapies. They will also have the opportunity to interact and socialize with others.

When making a senior living decision that involves memory care, consider asking these questions to learn more:

  1. What type of residences are available?

  2. What is the staff-to-resident ratio?

  3. What type of training does the staff receive?

  4. What type of therapy programs are available?

  5. How does the community promote healthy dining and independent eating?

  6. Are activities available and is assistance provided if needed?

  7. How does the staff respond to different types of behaviors?

Life at a Milestone Community

If you’re looking at options for retirement living, we invite your family to visit one of our Milestone communities – designed to support your loved ones to live their highest quality of life.

We offer studio and one-bedroom private apartments for our assisted living residents as well as private or shared memory care suites for those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Our memory care residents are cared for by our compassionate and specially trained team – who meet them wherever they are in their journey with patience and kindness. The residents also have access to customized activities, programs and an elevated secured courtyard.

Our amenities and services encourage our residents in assisted living to engage with others, remain as independent as possible and be reassured that help is available whenever needed.

In addition to our personalized services, we offer:

If your family is considering retirement living, we hope you will visit one of our communities. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions. Please contact us with any questions you may have or to arrange a personal tour.