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 Victorian Village 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 Victorian Village, the continuum includes independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care. 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 Victorian Village, healthcare staff is present 24/7, just in case an emergency arises. Memory Care is also available for those dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia.
Skilled nursing care, or what may be referred to as a nursing home, is a more advanced level of care for people who need full-time healthcare or therapy services and support for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This is available at Victorian Village Health & Wellness Center in our unique “Small House” style of care.
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 you struggle 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 Victorian Village 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?
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:
- Is completing housework, yard work and home repairs a struggle?
- Is showering, bathing and dressing regularly without help a concern?
- Is mobility or balance a problem? Have there been increased incidents of falling?
- Are bills not being paid?
- Is scheduling and getting to regular medical appointments on time a problem?
- Are medications not being taken when they should be?
- Is preparing proper nutritious meals a problem?
- Is it challenging to maintain a healthy weight and get some form of regular exercise?
- 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?
- Is it difficult to maintain a social life?
- Is isolation a concern?
- Are there vision issues or physical limitations?
What's life like in an assisted living community?
At Victorian Village, 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 community, to spending time in our community garden, to feasting on restaurant-style meals, to visiting with friends and enjoying one of the many events offered.
