Seniors For Living

A previous post, Know the Assisted Living Basics, covered three fundamental components of care in this setting: first, how the activities of daily living (ADLs) form the basis for the level of assistance needed (and drive the cost), second, the importance of budgeting for unforeseen, future care needs, and finally, the roles and responsibilities of assisted living caregivers.

Here, we’ll look at a few more of the assisted living ABCs:

Assessment: Those who are considering assisted living care for parents, spouses, siblings, or other relatives and friends should prepare for this part of the process. As mentioned above, an individual’s ability to manage ADLs and IADLs (bathing, dressing, laundry, making phone calls) will determine if assisted living care is truly appropriate and how much help the person will need on a daily basis.

Bathing: Your loved one may be able to manage most daily tasks with ease, but self-care has become a challenge, perhaps even a risk. Conditions like arthritis, dementia, or COPD certainly add a level of difficulty to bathing and grooming; some find that help with these ADLs a major reason for considering assisted living care.

Community: Residents of assisted living are part of a larger community, and for some considering a move here, this concept is crucial. There are some seniors who may be fully capable of living on their own but are lonely, depressed and isolated; assisted living provides engagement and socialization opportunities that are essential for good health.

Check out our blog tomorrow for Part 2.