Assisted Living
Facilities (ALF's) are housing facilities for the elderly with any sort of
disability that would prevent them from being able to live independently. ALF's
provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living or better
known as ADL's. These tasks can be simple as brushing ones teeth to more
complicated tasks like eating, bathing or using the restroom. ALF's also
supervise the residents to help ensure their health, safety and over-all well
being. They also have a trained staff licensed to regulate and hand out
medications.
There are 4 major
benefits to staying in an Assisted Living Facility.
1. Safety. Assisted living
centers are set up to provide a safe, comfortable environment for elders. Many,
though not all, have secure entrances. Nearly all are monitored enough so that
elders aren't vulnerable to attack or burglary as they may be if they stay
alone in their home. Just the fact that there are other people around makes
communal living safer than being alone in a house. Also, most assisted living
centers have alerting systems so if residents have emergencies in their own
apartments or rooms, they can summon help.
2. Meals. Appetites can
diminish as we age, plus many people don't enjoy eating alone. Elders home
alone often warm up something in the microwave or on the stove rather than
preparing a nourishing meal. They then may eat in front of the TV for company.
In assisted living, meals are provided and they often offer many choices of
food. But the biggest plus may be that people have company for their meals.
Many centers offer kitchenettes, so people have the option
of preparing some meals in their apartments if they choose, which some do,
especially breakfast. However, the pull of communal dining is pretty strong
once they get used to company. When people have company for a meal, they
generally eat better, so these communal meals can help keep a senior healthy.
Also, many assisted living centers keep an eye on how well the elders eat to
see if supplements seem to be necessary.
3. Transportation. Most assisted living
centers provide group transportation for shopping and to community events.
Also, they can generally arrange transportation for seniors who need to get to
clinic appointments. Each center is different, but the ability to go where they
want is important to elders, and many seniors can no longer drive, or choose
not to drive in heavy traffic. Assisted living centers can be a big help
getting people where they want to go.
4. Socialization. Socialization is
perhaps the most important reason why many people who insist that they will
hate assisted living end up thriving. Many elders have slowly gotten so they
don't want to go out of their home because it's too difficult to get where they
want to go. Significant lifelong friends have health problems or have died.
When not actively used, social skills can decline, causing
anxiety when elders do go out among people. Depression can set in, furthering
their reluctance to be socially active. Elders without social exposure can
become virtual hermits, except for those who have family visits. While family
visits are fun, seniors needs peers, as well. In assisted living, even those
who swore they'd hate it often find, once they adjust, that they again enjoy
the company of peers. They play cards, listen to music, exercise, have snacks,
go to community events and have people come in to entertain them.
A good facility provides choices. They
don't force involvement, but they encourage residents to try different
activities. The facility staff should find out what activities the senior has
enjoyed in the past and try to find something similar that they can do at the
center. The vital ingredient, however, is that the elders are around peers. The
chance to form new friendships grows with each day they live in a good center.
Socialization has been shown to keep many people active and healthier than they
would be if they remained alone at home.
While assisted living isn't the answer
to every elder's living problems, it does help many have a healthier, happier
life. This, in turn, often increases life expectancy. However, quality of life
may be the key factor in the growing success of good assisted living
facilities, as it should be with every service we provide for our elders.