The decision to take your parent or loved one to an assisted care facility is extremely difficult, especially concerning the factors that can contribute to their stay. In any situation, the loss of independence associated with going into an assisted care facility can be a main deterrent for individuals who require this level of care. Other factors, ranging from spousal death to general illness and aging, can also make it hard to care for your parents as they age. Luckily, top-of-the-line assisted living facilities are available, and being able to provide the best care for your parent or parents is extremely easy.

What Is an Assisted Care Facility?

An assisted care facility is an environment where individuals who require more attention or specialized treatment can regain their autonomy while still having access to top-notch healthcare and monitoring services. By providing the seniors in our care with their own rooms, along with free common amenities like game rooms and salons, an assisted care facility allows for aging seniors to have control over their daily lives in an environment designed to keep them safe.

For particular patients, especially those suffering from different kinds of dementia, adapting to daily life can be stressful. This stress can be amplified when they are living alone or with just a spouse.

In an assisted care facility, those with dementia are provided access to different amenities that can help them feel like they are actively taking part in society without the stressfulness or unpredictability brought on by the real world. That way, if they do have an unfortunate episode related to their neurocognitive ability, trained specialists are present to help them calm down and nurture them back to a place of comfort.

Types of Assisted Care Facilities

As people age, their needs for their daily lives change, and certain aspects of living independently can become increasingly hard. Between requiring constant healthcare to general feelings of loneliness or isolation, various forms of assisted care facilities and retirement living situations are available and adjustable based on an individual’s direct needs. Some of the most common types of facilities include:

  • Independent senior communities. These communities are generally composed of multiple groups of seniors, couples and singles, living in separate apartments or townhomes. Besides a more direct sense of autonomy, mostly by allowing the seniors in these communities to plan trips outside of the grounds without supervision, independent senior communities allow for seniors to bond with others and make friends within their own age range. Plus, community-exclusive events like group field trips or vacations are all planned and offered to those living in the community.
  • Retirement communities. Similar to independent senior communities, retirement communities allow seniors to have access to more self-gratifying services, like independent living quarters, along with the medical benefits of a nursing home. Those living in retirement communities often share different recreational rooms or communal amenities, allowing for the seniors in these living situations to choose the activity they’d like to partake in. This ability to decide what they want to do can help create a feeling of control over their life. As an added bonus, living with other seniors helps them make friends and socialize with a wider range of people in their own age group.
  • Nursing homes. Nursing homes are the most well-known form of assisted living, and they are typically used to help monitor people with extreme health issues. Similar to a hospital, nursing homes are fully staffed with registered nurses who assist patients with various basic needs. From bathing to eating, trained professionals are available to create a nurturing environment for seniors who are dependent on care from other people. That being said, living in a nursing home as a more high-functioning senior can be draining and can contribute to depression-like symptoms in some individuals due to a lack of autonomy.

Although there is a broad spectrum of options, with varying levels of supervision from staff, no single assisted living situation can accommodate all aging seniors collectively. Before considering an assisted care facility, talk to your parents and their doctor to determine the level of care needed for them to live out their golden years as comfortably as possible. Factors such as health, expenses, relationship status, and general mental health all impact the kind of assisted care facility that fits your parents’ specific needs.

Why Do Older People Need Assisted Care Facilities?

As people age, certain aspects of their life may become more difficult, especially concerning important factors like socialization, self-image, and mental health. Typically, as individuals age, their connectedness to other seniors starts to fade, which can lead to self-isolation and feelings of loneliness or desertion. In an assisted care facility, these feelings can be mitigated, if not completely taken away, by providing seniors with easy access to social gatherings and common time spent with others in their age group.

Frequent reminders of your own self-sufficiency and abilities to do regular, day-to-day tasks are important for maintaining your own mental health, and when it comes to seniors, this is more important than ever. In an assisted care facility, that autonomy can be maintained in a safe environment with trips to different common areas or on-campus facilities, making the transition from independent living a bit smoother and less complicated.

When to Seek an Assisted Care Facility

If you notice your parents are reaching an age where they cannot live independently, or if shifts in their health have prevented them from maintaining a safe level of independence, an assisted care facility might be the best option for them. Between inclusive activities and top-of-the-line medical care, making the decision to commit your parents to assisted care can help them become more comfortable during their golden years.

At Rocky Mountain Assisted Living, our premier team of medical professionals is well-equipped to handle any health issues that come with aging, in addition to providing a safe, comfortable environment for all of our residents. To schedule a consultation, see a brief overview of our services, or speak with a representative about our facilities, contact us online today.