Assisted Living: What It Is, How It Works and Why It Might Be the Right Choice

You’ve probably heard the term assisted living. But what, exactly, is assisted living? The short answer is that assisted living gives seniors who want assistance a place to thrive and grow while receiving individualized care services.

Although people sometimes confuse assisted living with nursing homes because they’re both residential options for older adults who need support, they are distinctly different. Designed with long-term care in mind, assisted living communities like Royal Atrium Inn are residential, private apartments, offering activities, dining programs, fitness and health programs, and much more. For many seniors, assisted living is the best of both worlds, providing them with a home-like experience that leaves them free of a private home’s upkeep, yet independent and still part of a community.

Findings suggest that assisted living communities can improve residents’ lives by creating a cohesive social environment and encouraging social participation and family involvement. The community dining experience and activities with neighbors helps to combat the isolation that so many seniors feel while living in their homes alone. The programming also helps residents keep their brains active and engaged.

Continuum of Care

Another term you may hear is continuum of care. At Royal Atrium Inn, the continuum includes independent living, offered at our sister community Royal Park Place, and assisted living, offered at Royal Atrium Inn. It helps to have an understanding of each level of care.

Independent living is for older adults who need little to no support in their daily lives. They enjoy services and amenities that free them from the maintenance required in a private home, make life more convenient and enriching, but don’t require assistive services.

Assisted living provides help with cooking, cleaning the house, and other daily chores, or a reminder to take their medication in a community setting. It doesn’t offer full-time medical care, but at Royal Atrium Inn, healthcare staff is present 24/7, just in case an emergency arises.

Who should consider assisted living?

One of the determining factors for whether assisted living is needed is considering a person’s ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLs). The main ADLs include:

• Personal hygiene and grooming
• Dressing and undressing
• Movement and mobility
• Toileting: continence-related tasks, including control and hygiene
• Eating: preparing food and feeding

If someone you love struggles with one or more ADLs, it may be a signal to begin the process of reviewing options for assisted living.

What does assisted living include?

The services and amenities at Royal Atrium Inn include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Dining programs
• Social activities and events
• Utilities
• Transportation
• Healthcare

When is it time to consider assisted living?

For some and their families, the thought of moving from their beloved home is agonizing, while others look forward to a life with fewer maintenance responsibilities. For many adult children, the decision to talk to their parents about moving is based on realizing that they may need a little extra help and would benefit from a wide array of individualized services and new social outlets to combat the isolation they experience living at home alone.

Moving to an assisted living community does not mean a loss of independence. Quite the contrary, it’s a place that can maximize a senior’s freedom within a community. If you answer yes to three or more questions on the checklist below, it may be time to consider assisted living for your family member:

1. Is completing housework, yard work and home repairs a struggle?
2. Is showering, bathing and dressing regularly without help a concern?
3. Is mobility or balance a problem? Have there been increased incidents of falling?
4. Are bills not being paid?
5. Is scheduling and getting to regular medical appointments on time a problem?
6. Are medications not being taken when they should be? 
7. Is preparing proper nutritious meals a problem?
8. Is it challenging to maintain a healthy weight and get some form of regular exercise?
9. Do you worry about your safety when you are alone? Do you worry that you may not be able to always reach a family member if you have an emergency?
10. Is it difficult to maintain a social life?
11. Is isolation a concern?
12. Are there vision issues or physical limitations?

What's life like in an assisted living community?

At Royal Atrium Inn, assisted living is all about the people. Residents are free to set their schedules in the privacy of their apartment. They can spend the day however they like, from taking a stroll through our indoor atrium, to feasting on restaurant-style meals, to visiting with friends and enjoying one of the many events offered.