3 Reasons Seniors Thrive in Assisted Living
By CarePatrol of Utah
It is no secret that seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible. Varying articles show anywhere from 75%-90% of seniors want to age in place. Many people have challenged that data, as do we. Over the years we have helped thousands of seniors who are reluctant to move only to thrive in an Assisted Living community. That got us thinking - why is this? Our surveys and data found 3 clear reasons.
Safety. Those living in an assisted living community are safer in a number of ways. Besides the obvious of being around trained professionals who can help 24/7, the biggest reason it's safer is the community can take care of and manage all the medication. Most Assisted Living communities are partnered with a commercial pharmacy that will order and pre-packaged medication to reduce administration errors. This is HUGE. The #1 reason seniors go back to the hospital is not getting and taking the proper medication. If medications are an issue at home, we will call seniors to remind them to take their prescriptions.
Proper Nutrition. Let's be frank; my grandma lost her touch in the kitchen years before she passed away. It was tough to want to go eat there, and nobody knew it more than my grandpa. So they didn't eat as much and certainly not as healthy. Cooking and cleaning become very overwhelming for seniors that are struggling just to keep up with basic daily needs. Nowadays Assisted Living communities have amazing food served hot and ready three times a day. Recently I was working with several families at the same time. One had just moved into assisted living and I went by to touch base. They were at lunch and eating a great meal. From there I went to meet with a new family just starting their search. It was about 2PM and I asked if they had eaten anything at all that day. Sadly, they had not. I ran out and grabbed hamburgers for them to eat. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best they'd had in a while.
Social Interaction. Sure, your mom or dad is fine at home, but what are they doing all day? You've heard it many times, "if you don't use it you lose it." This is never more true than with seniors' physical and mental activity. We know, your mom is 'not interested in being social and will not participate in any activities.' You could be wrong. We hear it all the time. But the thing is, being around others their age and ability can really help and they will try to do more. Even if they don't want to play Bingo, or whatever the activity is (most communities have 4-7 activities a day), just being around others is so much better than being home alone watching TV all day. Being around others in similar situations has an amazingly positive effect on seniors. Every senior's needs and wants are going to be different. Working with a CarePatrol senior advisor can help you narrow the search and find the best and safest options for you.