When Is It Time To Consider an Assisted Living Community?

When you hear the term “assisted living,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you recall images from film and television, which are often rather bleak and, thankfully, not an accurate reflection of the vibrant communities available to families today. Or, you may be new in your search and unsure of the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite care and more. We’ve designed this blog post to cover the basics of assisted living and empower you as you seek out the ideal setup for this season in life. The right community will help cultivate what you or your loved one holds dear while maintaining a sense of freedom and strengthening family relationships.

What is Assisted Living?

A helpful definition, courtesy of
AARP: “Assisted living facilities provide care and supervision for older adults who can no longer live on their own but do not need the level of personal or medical care found at a nursing home.” According to the
National Institute on Aging (NIA), living arrangements usually translate into individual apartments with residents sharing common areas.

Services To Seek Out

We recommend ensuring your community provides the following:

• Dedicated staff available around the clock to assist with personal care needs
• Activities of Daily Living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, ambulation and nutrition oversight
• Medication administration
• Scheduled transportation to doctors’ appointments
• Communication between community and healthcare providers to ensure a well-rounded care plan

Additionally, a community with an array of life-enriching activities means its residents’ social, spiritual, intellectual and physical needs and overall wellness are covered. Determine what amenities and services are most important and those that would add a bit of luxury to the day. For example, access to restaurant-style dining, personal laundry service, an on-site salon and barber and WiFi, to name a few.

When To Consider an Assisted Living Community

Whenever possible, begin your search for an assisted living community before you find it absolutely necessary. Forget the myth that being in a wheelchair is a requirement to be eligible for assisted living. Give yourself time to visit a variety of options so that you will better understand you or your loved one’s likes, dislikes, must-haves and nice-to-haves. The objective is to make life easier so that you or your loved one can maintain a sense of independence and fill the day with uplifting activities and interactions.

Positively Impact Family Dynamics

Being responsible for the care of your loved one can sometimes become overwhelming, especially when they rely on you for assistance with bathing, dressing, meals and more.

Similarly, feeling as though your needs are putting a strain on cherished relationships can be challenging to bear. Assisted living communities allow family members to once again focus on being the son or daughter, husband or wife again instead of the caretaker. Endless check-ins with the home nurse or siblings also come off your plate. This restoration of family dynamics is a welcome and significant change that leaves everyone feeling lighter and more themselves.

Elevate Your Life

Liberty Senior Living, LLC, is a division of Liberty Healthcare Management that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. Based in North Carolina and established in 1875, Liberty Healthcare Management is an experienced, family-owned company that has been assisting people to manage their healthcare and residential needs for over 145 years. To learn more about
Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, please visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com.