As you get older, it may become more difficult to complete certain daily tasks. There are many senior living options available to provide support and care on a variety of levels, and assisted living is just one of these. Many people value their independence and autonomy, but when daily tasks become too difficult to complete on your own, or you have to be reminded and prompted to do them, senior living allows you to retain as much freedom as possible whilst receiving care and support in your everyday life. Here are just a few basic pieces of information about assisted living, what it consists of, and who it is for.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities to allow residents to live in a safe and secure environment whilst placing emphasis on autonomy, dignity, and quality of life. The services offered by Frontier Senior Living mean that residents can live a purposeful and enriched life whilst they receive the care and support they require. At assisted living facilities, personal and medical care is offered. This includes things such as medication management, laundry, and housekeeping. There are also plenty of engaging social activities and events to encourage socializing, creativity, and enjoyment. At Frontier, residents have private rooms, and meals are provided in a dining-room setting.
Who is it for?
The majority of people will find that as they age if becomes more difficult to complete specific daily tasks. You may need assistance completing them, or prompting to remember to do them. There are several factors that will affect whether a person needs extra support, and what level of senior living support they will need. A specialist such as a physician or adult care support worker will be the best person to consult. They will have plenty of experience in this area, will be able to assess you or your loved one, and let you know what kind of senior living option would be most appropriate.
People age differently and there is no one size fits all solution to aging; therefore, the senior living options need to be flexible and adaptable to an individual’s requirements. Frontier work to make their services operate for the individual, to provide a high level of support and CBA Training.
There are a lot of different factors that will determine whether senior living options are needed, and what level of support may be required. One of the ways independence and ability to live properly in an independent community is assessed is through ADLs. Activities of Daily Living are six self-care tasks that most people can complete with no help or prompting. As you age, it is common for this to become more difficult. They are:
- Bathing
- Eating
- Dressing
- Moving
- Continence
- Toileting
How many of these tasks an individual can independently complete can inform whether they require extra support and care. As well as these tasks, there are IADLs that can further the assessment and reveal disabilities that the ADLs may not be able to. The Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are:
- Using the telephone
- Driving/using public transport
- Laundering clothing
- Managing medication
- Managing finances
- Shopping
- Food preparation
- Housekeeping
Other factors that may be considered include physical and mental health, as there are specific senior living options for those suffering from memory-related illnesses, for example. It is important to get an assessment from a professional to make sure that you or your loved one is receiving the appropriate level of care. Many people decide to care for their loved ones at home or by using a professional carer. However, there are many reasons why this may not be possible, or the needs and requirements of an individual may grow to become more than can be cared for in a home setting. This is when senior living options like assisted living come in.
What are other senior living options?
As well as assisted living communities, there are many other senior living options available. Which one you use will depend on a number of factors, and there are different levels of senior living, which means you or your loved one can experience the appropriate amount of support and assistance.
One other option is memory care. This is an option specifically for those who have Alzheimer’s, Dementia or other memory-related illnesses. At Frontier, it is similar to assisted living but has a large focus on developing and maintaining cognitive functions. There is also an emphasis on creating an environment that provides a structure that supports memory retention. Residents receive the care and support they require, as well as social events and activities to encouraging socializing and purpose.
Respite care is a short-term stay in a senior living community that allows an at-home carer to have a break and take some time for themselves while being sure that their loved one is being taken great care of in a high-quality community. This is also an excellent opportunity to explore what senior living options are available to you, as you and your loved one may be able to test them out with respite care options.
Independent living allows residents to live with almost the same levels of independence as before, but with added support when they need it. These communities are often resort-like, with residents having private rooms and even sometimes their own kitchens. They are surrounded by like-minded people, and assistance is available if it is required. There are plenty of social activities, events, and programs available for residents, which allows for socializing, creativity, inspiration, and purpose.
There are many options to choose from, and your physician will be able to recommend which option is best for you or your loved one. Frontier puts the quality of life, autonomy, dignity, and purpose at the heart of everything they do, providing different levels of care and support for you or your loved one. They are able to tailor their services to suit the needs and requirements of an individual so that you or your loved one will receive the assistance and support you need.
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