What Are Assisted Living Nursing Homes Really Like?
Designed to provide assistance with daily activities without infringing on their independence, these homes are ideal for elderly people without serious medical conditions.
There are many misconceptions and thoughts about this kind of arrangement and it is best to clear them up before you ask your parents or loved ones to move in.
The first benefit of assisted living nursing homes is that they allow the residents to maintain their privacy and independence.
Residents are either assigned independent apartments, cottages or floors and are allowed to furnish them as they like.
They are also given complete control of who goes in to the apartment, as assistants need to ask permission to enter and cannot simply use their keys.
Living alone can get very lonely especially if one spouse has passed away.
These facilities offer the resident the company of other people in the same age group, the family is encouraged to call and visit often and medical care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Most facilities organize activities to help the residents interact and get to know each other.
You will often find your loved ones going out on picnics and outings.
Residents are also encouraged to continue pursuing their hobbies and interests, be it gardening, reading or golfing.
Some centers even offer classes and sessions for residents to learn new things.
The facilities strive to maintain a clean, relaxed, supportive, and stress free environment to enable their residents to live healthier, happier and more active lifestyles.
Not all assisted living nursing homes are created equal however some things to look for when arranging an impromptu visit are: • Is the environment pleasing and friendly, do you feel warm and welcome? • Are the people who work there, warm and friendly; are they approachable? • Are the residents addressed by their names, do they seem to have a good relationship with the staff? • Do the people that live there appear happy and engaged; is there a lot of chatter and activity? • What about the apartments or rooms, are they clean and tidy, is the environment safe and secure? • What are the services that they provide; what about medical care? • What extra activities do they provide to help new residents mix into the community? Remember when it comes to choosing an assisted living nursing home for your loved ones, take the time to explore different options, ask questions and involve them in the decision making process.
After all you want them to feel good about moving into an environment where they will have the chance to interact with more people their own age and receive the care and attention they need.