There
is a reason they call man a ‘social animal’ because he is meant to live with
people and among people. He can’t spend his life along, but they sure do need a
bit of liberty staying with the rest. This is where assisted living or
Independent living comes in to make things workable after a certain age.
Most
people tend to mix Assisted living with nursing homes, though they are two
completely different set of living. In Nursing homes you are constantly
monitored and cared by the staff around you, whereas in Assisted Living you get
help for things you only need or as per your choice. For instance, there are
many people who seem to lose their memory with the passage of time, though they
are all good with their physical health but they need help with their
medication etc. Moreover, Assisted Living can help you take care of you as well
as your chores, starting from people who have trouble making food, getting
dressed, bathing or even maintaining your room or house.
Facilities
in Assisted Living come with a cap, there are only certain facilities that are
provided and people who are in need of care 24X7 round the clock will have to
knock the doors of Nursing Homes. Nursing Home is the place for people
suffering from diversified health issues along with continuous supervision and
are unable to take care of themselves.
Some
of the basic things you should consider in your decision include the admission
requirements, comfort of other residents, safety at the facility, amenities
available, activities for the residents and resident financial
responsibilities.
In
resemblance to any other important decisions of life, shifting to an Assisted
Living for your loved one can be another trance. As you are the one taking the
responsibility of locating and deciding which place is the best for them, you
first need to get in touch with well-known agents. Ask your friend and family
to refer you the best ones from their personal experience or firsthand
knowledge. Consider visiting the Assisted Living Homes as much as you can and
inquire questions about the facilities available, the medical treatment to day
to day routine things. Making sure they will be happy and comfortable there is
your foremost aim. Having a quick conversation with the residents can be a
great source of help and deciding factor for you.
It
is a general thing for your family members to deny the thought of moving to an
Assisted Living. As most of the people still have the misconception of relating
Assisted Living with Nursing home, so they tend to have the same image. They
are afraid of losing their liberty and independence so they resist the idea of
Assisted Living. What you need to do is to have them involved in the entire
process and provide them with the best knowledge. Take them to a few Assisted
Living Homes so they can judge what kind of environment they will be going for
and what exactly waits.