Retirement can be an exciting time in your loved one’s life, full of possibilities, travel, and social time. Yet, those golden years can also come with health challenges that make enjoying the time and remaining fully independent difficult. Because of this, many seniors and their loved ones begin to discuss whether moving into a senior living community is right for them.
That’s why we’ve put together the information you need to make a decision on which care community best suits your loved one’s needs during their golden years, so that they get the care they need, while you get peace of mind knowing they are safe and happy.
Choosing the right level of care
The most important factor to consider when you’re picking a senior community for mom is the level of care she needs. You’ll need to take into account her ability to bathe, dress, take medications without reminders, handle light housekeeping, get to and from doctor’s appointments, and more.
Many communities go the extra mile and offer multiple levels of care. This allows their residents to remain in their communities even as their needs change with age and advancing health problems. So if this is a concern for you or your loved one, choosing a multi-level care community should be a priority.
Independent living
If mom is still quite independent and able to manage the tasks of everyday living safely, yet could benefit from a more social environment, an independent living community could be just what she needs. These communities are often set up as “apartment-style” homes, offering amenities such as restaurant-style dining as well as professional housekeeping staff, along with fun community events to keep mom involved.
Assisted living
On the other hand, if mom needs more help in order to keep her safe, happy, and healthy, an assisted living senior community might be a better choice. These provide far higher levels of care options to meet the needs of their residents.
In a senior living community, mom can get help with everything from meal preparation and housekeeping, to personal hygiene, managing her medications, and much more. And like with an independent living community, assisted living also gives mom the social interaction she needs to keep her engaged and active at the level she prefers.
Assisted living communities offer a social calendar full of fun events and educational opportunities to keep her feeling young and ward off the loneliness that can cause her health to deteriorate further.
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Memory care
It’s also important to consider whether or not mom is living with Alzheimer’s or dementia when choosing a senior community to meet her needs. Communities that offer memory care cater to the specific needs of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and are trained to deal with the physical, cognitive, and behavioral issues that come with the conditions.
The communities also provide a safe environment with 24/7 care and secured entrances and exits to give you peace of mind, knowing that mom won’t wander off, but instead is cared for at all times.
A feeling for the community
Once you have narrowed down your list of communities that meet mom’s needs, be sure to visit so that both of you can determine how you feel about the atmosphere, living environment and staff. Mom’s new home should feel just like that “a home for her”, where she is safe, cared for, and happy.