Hello, my name is Amelia. Welcome to my site about nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When my mother developed a hip problem that prevented her from safely living at home alone, we started the long search for a suitable place for her to live. We toured each of the facilities in our area to find the one that felt most like home while providing all of the support and security she requires. Through this site, I would like to help other people weed through the options to find the best possible place for their loved ones to live. Thanks for visiting my site.
Exploring Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
Two Living Options For The Aging Adult
John Wilson
As the American population continues to age and medical technology continues to rapidly advance, it seems likely life expectancy will increase as well. With 74 million Baby Boomers, the need for elder care and assisted living services will also likely continue to grow. Here is a comparative look at two options available for senior citizens.
Assisted Living Care
When a senior citizen becomes increasingly unable to care for themselves, they require a higher lever of care. This need may stem from chronic or acute illnesses, injury, such as breaking a hip, or cognitive issues and dementia that make self-care difficult or impossible.
While family members may have been caring for their loved one up until this point, it can understandably become too much to handle. This isn't because family members are unwilling, it is simply because they are ill-equipped to provide the level of skilled care now required.
A person who has a stroke may no longer be able to walk, talk, feed, bathe, and toilet themselves. Not everyone is able to assist with these activities. For example, a wife may desperately want to keep her husband home with her and take care of him herself, but it is unlikely she is physically able to transfer him or provide support without risk to her own physical well-being. She also likely has her own health concerns and limitations.
Assisted living is not a nursing home. Instead, it consists of individual living spaces where the couple can stay together, but they can get assistance with the care they need. An assisted living community generally has medical and therapy services on-site, and professionals can assist with physical care needs, schedule and oversee medications, and aid in other social services, such as setting up meal assistance.
Independent Living
Independent living centers are usually viewed as retirement communities, but they also provide assisted living services. This is ideal for the active senior citizen who is in good health but is no longer willing or able to live completely on their own. Seniors who own their own homes become increasingly unwilling or unable to spend hours mowing the lawn and doing home cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. They may also feel isolated with no sense of community, especially if they don't have family nearby.
With an independent living community, retirees have their own apartment, condominium, or even home, but they no longer need to worry about lawn and home care. They can also continue to be active by socializing with others at the community recreation center, which may provide opportunities for exercise, classes, events, such as dances or golf outings, and dining facilities.
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