It’s not unusual for adult children to hem and haw about relocating their beloved older parents to assisted living. Here’s one reason why: They only consider the most obvious benefits, like having reliable food and shelter and being able to relinquish most of their caregiving duties.
While assisted living communities benefit seniors with those obvious services, the less obvious ones are also important. And at The Retreat at Alameda, our approach leaves no stone unturned. Our services and benefits complement each other for a holistic living experience that addresses all aspects of a senior’s well-being.
That being said, not all Phoenix senior living communities are the same. We’ll list the general ways these properties help residents thrive, including some of our offerings.
1. Personalized, Not Generic, Care
These settings have trained caregivers who work with residents, family members, and medical professionals to create personalized care plans. If your mother needs assistance with bathing and dressing, she will have that support; another resident might need less help with that and more assistance with medication management.
The team members get to know residents personally and are attuned to any evolving needs. The personalization also applies to nutrition and leisure pursuits. And once a caregiver gets to know a resident, they can help them make new friends.
2. Protection and Security
If you cannot care for a senior family member 24/7, then you know how unsettling it can be when they’re home alone, especially if they need assistance. One of the great benefits of assisted living communities is the peace of mind of knowing your loved one will always be taken care of. It gives you peace of mind knowing they’re protected in an accessible private apartment with available help if needed.
Assisted living caregivers also protect seniors from wandering off, especially those who need memory care and monitoring. Because they won’t be home alone, you won’t have to worry about them having an accident and no one to assist them.
3. Housekeeping, Linen Services, and Home Maintenance
Aside from receiving activities of daily living (ADL) support and medication management, assisted living residents also get housekeeping assistance. Their private apartments are cleaned, and their laundry and linens are taken care of. If a lightbulb goes out or they need a picture hung up, the maintenance team takes care of that. There’s none of the stress associated with home ownership.
4. Socialization Opportunities at Their Doorstep
For many seniors, loneliness is a reality as their children move out; they begin to feel isolated from others. That isn’t an issue at The Retreat at Alameda. Another one of the benefits of assisted living communities is consistent access to senior-friendly socialization opportunities.
These activities vary by community, depending on the on-site amenities and activity calendar. Some might have movie theaters, while others have arts & crafts workshops; we have all that and more. Seniors have the luxury of joining specific activities based on their hobbies and interests, and afterwards, they return to the privacy of their apartments.
5. Healthcare Coordination
Assisted living serves seniors who need certain levels of on-site healthcare support; it’s not a nursing home environment that offers high-level medical services. If your loved one needs third-party medical care coordination, the on-site team can set that up. Many assisted living facilities benefit their residents with consistent health care monitoring and on-site rehab services, too.
6. Independence and Dignity are Prioritized
For seniors, constantly asking family members and friends for help can feel frustrating. They might also feel embarrassed about asking for help with cooking, cleaning, or getting to medical appointments. Doing those things without help could put them at risk for injuries, especially if they shouldn’t be driving.
Therein lies the beauty of personalized care plans. Team members help as needed, encouraging seniors (and showing them easier ways) to complete certain tasks. And because these residents have all the services they need under one roof, they don’t have to rely on others to help them.
7. The Setting Feels Like Home
Assisted living communities benefit seniors because they offer homelike atmospheres that are different from utilitarian nursing home settings. Seniors relax in comfortable living quarters decorated to their taste when they feel like getting some space. They also have access to many of the same luxuries they had at home, like delicious food, individual climate control, and Wi-Fi. Many of these campuses are pet-friendly, too.
8. A Freeing Retirement
Seniors living at home have to worry about mowing the lawn, cooking, doing laundry, running errands, and being bored. One of the most-loved benefits of assisted living is having enough free time to pursue one’s passions and learn new ones. They don’t worry about normal chores that normally take a chunk of their time; some of these tasks can also be taxing for older adults.
Instead of shopping for groceries, putting them away, cooking, and cleaning, they simply show up and get to choose from a menu. A resident at The Retreat at Alameda might spend the morning in a history class, followed by a trip to a local attraction (transportation provided) and a restaurant-style meal in our dining room.
9. Fulfills Nutritional Needs
Seeing a beloved family member’s empty refrigerator and half-empty pantry is disheartening and worrisome. Countless seniors can’t cook for themselves at home or have limitations that don’t allow them to have balanced nutrition.
Assisted living seniors have access to delicious and nutritious foods cooked by professional chefs. These residents choose meals based on dietary requirements and personal taste. That means eating healthier food and feeling better.
10. Peace of Mind for Family Members
Now that you see how much assisted living communities benefit seniors, think about what you need. When life gets hectic, family members often get pulled in too many directions to care for their loved ones as much as they should. The benefits of being able to sleep at night, being able to carpool on time, and completing your work projects without frequent interruptions are invaluable.
The benefits of assisted living facilities are unquestionable. Think you might be ready to start a conversation with someone about it?
We Can Help You Start the Conversation
The benefits of assisted living outweigh the desire to hesitate or procrastinate, but we know that this transition can be challenging. We invite you to contact our team and arrange a tour of our community, and we’ll help you explain the advantages (and show them) to your loved one. We look forward to meeting you and showing you all that The Retreat at Alameda offers.
