Supportive Senior Care: A Gift for the Entire Family
Holidays bring families together in the most magical of ways. Laughter and memories and special moments are the makings of a season filled with good cheer. Yet once the table is cleared and the gifts unwrapped, there may be an undercurrent of unease if you’re dancing around a discussion about whether your loved one needs more care than you can provide at home.
It’s quite common for older adults to resist the idea of transitioning to senior care. The specific reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves, but almost always, there’s an element of fear that along the way, a move will eliminate the independence they hold dear.
The reality is, assisted living is actually a safety net of sorts. It’s a new place and it involves lots of change, to be sure, but more often than not, assisted living helps older adults retain their independence longer than when they’re living alone.
Helping hands and watchful eyes that can catch minor concerns before they become full-blown problems go a long way toward protecting and preserving a senior’s quality of life. Transitioning to senior care can bring peace of mind that serves as a gift for the entire family.
Shifting Roles and Responsibilities
As a child, you probably thought your parents were invincible. Only later in life did you begin to recognize them as the humans they are, strengths and weaknesses and all. Fast forward, and you’ve begun noticing signs that one or both of the heroes of your youth are having trouble navigating the demands of daily life.
A once-tidy kitchen is piled high with dirty dishes. Medication doses go forgotten. Scrapes and bruises suggest injuries that get brushed off as a “little spill.” A significant weight change suggests nutrition isn’t what it should be.
When the occasional red flag becomes a more constant stream of concern, you may find yourself taking on the role of caregiver for your parent, whether by living with them or managing their care from afar. As your parent’s needs increase, you may find yourself worrying more and wondering if there’s a better way to protect their quality of life while easing some of the stress you carry.
Meanwhile, you may be walking a fine line of respecting your parent’s wishes to remain independent and avoiding heated discussions about making any changes to their living arrangements.
How a Transition to Senior Care Can Help
You won’t likely find a crystal ball waiting under the tree, but if you’re anticipating a conversation about your parent’s future this holiday season, consider this list of 10 benefits of assisted living that bring peace of mind for seniors and their families.
- Increased Safety and Security
An assisted living residence is equipped with more safety features that you could even think of retrofitting into your parent’s home. Each living space is thoughtfully designed for the needs of an older adult, from accessible bathrooms and floor plans that promote autonomy to lighting that accommodates age-related vision changes.
That translates into a lower risk of injury and access to 24-hour emergency help if the need arises. Most senior living communities also have sophisticated around-the-clock security systems that keep older adults in place, safe from wandering, and prevent unknown guests from bothering the residents. It’s reassuring to know your loved one—and their belongings—are safe and secure. - Personalized Care
The role of assisted living may be one of the biggest misconceptions in senior living. When a resident enters an assisted living community, a care plan is designed to give a level of support necessary to protect their safety or improve their quality of life. Often, the helping hand that assisted living provides actually increases a resident’s independence. For example, with regular physical therapy, a resident may build enough strength and mobility so they can move about their apartment and the community more freely than they did when living alone. - Quality of Life
While your parent may be more or less self-sufficient at home, that doesn’t mean they’re enjoying an optimal quality of life. Frustration over not being able to keep up with the house the way they used to and limited social interaction are just a couple of the ways living alone can be detrimental to your parent’s well-being. Physical, mental and cognitive decline are also common among older adults who don’t often get out and about. - Maintenance-Free Living
Keeping up with a private residence is a big job at any age. Over time, a house requires ongoing repairs that can become increasingly physically demanding and costly. At Canterbury Court in Atlanta, Georgia, assisted living residents enjoy ongoing housekeeping and linen service, as well as interior, exterior and grounds maintenance.
That means no more scraping leaves out of the gutters or waiting on parts to repair the lawn mower. Instead, residents are free to spend their time as they wish—for example, engaging in social activities, exploring the 11-acre campus or participating in educational and recreational wellness programs. - Social Connections
A significant body of research supports the importance of maintaining social relationships later in life. Loneliness is closely linked to depression and other mental health concerns, and there is ample evidence that mental health and physical health are deeply intertwined. Living among dozens of peers in the same stage of life makes it easy to nurture friendships with others who have similar interests and passions. Ongoing social events also provide a natural setting for connections to form, and staff can play an important role in introducing new residents and making them feel welcome. - Engaging Lifestyle
For a senior living alone, it’s all too easy to let the days slip away. “Just one more episode” of a favorite TV show becomes three then five, and suddenly the whole day is gone with nothing productive accomplished. And while it’s true that retirement is supposed to be a break from a lifetime of hard work, most humans still need a sense of purpose to feel fulfilled and maintain healthy self-esteem.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of engaging activity for residents in an assisted living community. They can explore new hobbies and participate in lifelong learning programs. They can share their time with others, playing games or chatting over a cup of coffee in the common area living room. They can even join fellow residents for outings such as scenic drives and visits to area dining, shopping and entertainment. - Wellness Programming
Maintaining physical wellness is an important aspect of aging gracefully, but there’s so much more to wellness than fitness classes and cardio. Wellness also encompasses the body and mind, and residents of assisted living communities have access to programs tailored specifically to seniors’ mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Wellness programming also focuses on healthy habits and plans that help residents achieve their personal goals.
Some communities, including Canterbury Court, also offer ongoing preventive care and regular physician visits to ensure medical needs are continually monitored. In addition, several specialty services are offered via mobile care in areas such as dental, optometry, podiatry and audiology. - Predictable Finances
While each assisted living community determines what’s included in its monthly rate, residents can count on a predictable amount with less fluctuation than the cost of maintaining a private home. For example, at Canterbury Court, the monthly rates for private one- and two-bedroom assisted living apartments are inclusive of care.
Wireless internet, expanded cable, housekeeping, laundry and medication management are just some of the other services included in the package, along with personalized dining and an array of community amenities. That makes it easy to set a realistic budget for the short- and long-term. - Respite for Caregivers
Most adult children who serve as caregivers agree there are many rewards in repaying their parents’ love and support. However, even the best intentions can get drowned out by reality. For example, safely transferring a full-grown adult in and out of the shower is a job that may exceed your physical abilities. Beyond physical factors, planning for and maintaining a second household comes with a heavy mental load.
What’s more, adult children are often pursuing careers and raising their own families while simultaneously caring for a parent. There are only so many times you can pour from a cup before it runs dry, and it’s a reality that caregivers know well. Burnout and exhaustion are real concerns, and many caregivers acquire mental and physical conditions directly connected to the stress and demands of their role.
Even so, a successful transition to senior care requires adult children to process their own emotions about the change. Your role as a caregiver won’t end with your parent moving into assisted living. However, going forward the responsibility will be shared. Your role may become more supervisory and behind the scenes so you can shift back into the more familiar role as your parent’s child. - Stronger Family Relationships
Working through your parent’s fears and concerns together will pave the way for a transition that brings a sense of relief to everyone involved. The decision to move can be an emotional one, and discussions surrounding the topic may cast a shadow on time that would be better spent making happy memories together. Once your parent feels confident in embracing a transition to senior care, the family can shift its focus back to enjoying meaningful, fulfilling relationships.
A Gift That Keeps Giving
Knowing that your parent is well-supported and living their best possible life in a vibrant community is a blessing beyond measure. It’s an arrangement that brings peace of mind for you, but also for your loved one, whose days will be filled with good tidings and cheer this holiday season and many more to come.
To learn more or to schedule a personal tour, give us a call at 470-847-5142