For many seniors, there will come a time when living alone at home is no longer feasible. Tasks that were once easy may become too difficult to conduct without assistance, and it may be time to move into an assisted living community.
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“Assisted living facilities are specific facilities designed for those who need a certain type of assistance with their care,” says Lindsay Dymowski Constantino, co-founder and president of Centennial Pharmacy Services and the Long-Term Care Pharmacy at Home Quality Commission based in Philadelphia.
Unlike nursing homes, where seniors get round-the-clock care, or independent living communities, where seniors have very little hands-on assistance from staff, assisted living communities provide a middle-ground of help that’s typically focused on the activities of daily living. These include bathing, dressing, toileting, meal prep and eating, medication management and household chores.
Assisted living doesn’t just provide needed assistance; it also offers socialization opportunities for seniors who might otherwise become isolated or lonely.
But what’s day-to-day life really like in an assisted living community? Here, we’ll dive into common questions and offer insight about what to expect in an assisted living community.
[READ: Who Qualifies for Assisted Living: Eligibility Requirements]
What Are the Rooms Like?
Each assisted living facility has its own unique approach to living spaces. Some of the more common types of rooms
you may come across are:
— Assisted living condos
— A private or semi-private room in an assisted living building
— High-tech or connected rooms
— Memory care rooms in a dedicated wing or floor of an assisted living community
Depending on how luxurious the community is, some rooms come with lots of bells and whistles, while others are sparse and cover just the most basic needs.
[READ Assisted Living for Couples: What You Need to Know]
What Are the Facilities Like?
Nearly all assisted living facilities have communal dining centers, gathering rooms and libraries, as well as other amenities, such as:
— Fitness and recreation rooms
— A swimming pool
— A movie room
— Arts and crafts rooms
— Multiple dining rooms
— On-site salon or barber shop
— A spa or wellness center
— A chapel or other space for religious services
— Staff offices, storerooms, laundry facilities and other administrative or operations spaces
However, the quality, environment and additional amenities each facility offers vary widely from community to community.
For example, in high-end luxury senior living communities, you can expect swanky accommodations with lots of the finer things in life — fresh flowers every day, bespoke bed linens, gourmet dining options and more.
While such accommodations can be very comfortable and feel like a high-end resort, they tend to cost a lot more than their less expensive counterparts.
Less luxurious assisted living communities may feel more institutional and have fewer amenities, but they can provide just as high-quality care and support. It all depends on the staff, their training, how many residents they are tasked with looking after at once and other factors.
[Common Problems in Senior Living Facilities and How to Handle Them]
What Is the Food Like?
Assisted living facilities cater to a wide range of dietary and health needs, and most of them can make just about any kind of meal.
One of the key components of selecting the right assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one is to go during meal time so you can test the food and see how it all works.
When you do visit, consider the following questions:
— Do residents sit together and converse?
— Is the setup more like a restaurant or a family dining experience?
— Is there a buffet, or do you have to order a specific meal ahead of time?
— Is the food tasty and healthy?
— Will the chef cater to health-related or religious dietary restrictions?
Answers to these questions and many others can help you determine whether an assisted living facility you’re considering will be a good fit for your needs.
What Do People Do? What Are the Activities?
Most assisted living communities work very hard to provide engaging activities for their residents.
Types of classes and activities assisted living communities can offer include:
— Fitness and exercise classes
— Cooking classes
— Computer-based games and other tech-based activities
— Learning opportunities, such as guest lectures or book readings
— Crafting classes
— Theater productions
— Art therapy or painting sessions
— Music classes
— Gardening
— Board games, card games and puzzles
— Excursions to local cultural offerings
— Volunteering opportunities with local non-profits or charities
— Identity-based clubs, such as gatherings for LGBTQ+ residents
— Spiritual and religious practices
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
In most assisted living communities, seniors can start their day when they want, but most develop a fairly consistent routine.
— Personal care. Toileting, showering and/or getting dressed, taking any medications that are needed and getting ready for breakfast are typically the first orders of business. A staff member will help with these tasks as needed.
— Daytime activities. After breakfast, the world is your oyster. Many seniors get some exercise or take part in a class or club activity. Crafting, knitting and gardening, for instance, may be popular activities. Some communities have on-site barbershops, salons or spas where you can get your hair or nails done or have a massage.
— Go around town. Some seniors also leave campus to engage in other activities in the wider community, such as going to the movies or a museum or going to a doctor’s appointment.
— Mealtime. Lunch and dinner are times when seniors can congregate together in a communal dining room or have a quiet meal in their own living space. Depending on the community, the chef may offer a list of options for each meal that you can choose from.
— Personal time. Throughout the day, seniors are free to engage in various activities on their own — reading, watching TV, napping or taking a walk around the grounds. They can also attend classes and sessions arranged by the community. These could be lectures or instructional sessions, trivia or bingo games and other interactive group activities meant to provide social connection and intellectual stimulation.
What Are the Transportation Options?
Most assisted living communities provide residents with transportation options, such as a shuttle bus or van that makes regular runs to commonly visited locations, such as restaurants, shopping centers and doctor’s offices, in the surrounding area.
In some communities, transportation is included in the cost of the residence. In others, it’s accessible with an additional fee.
Shuttles may run on a set schedule to the most popular destinations. You may also need to arrange for a ride to a specific location ahead of time, and the driver may make several stops en route to assist other residents who are also traveling off campus.
The larger the community, generally speaking, the more transportation options you’ll have.
In addition to accessing transportation options through the community, you may be able to hire a taxi or use a ride-sharing app to get a ride when and where you need one. These options obviously aren’t included in the cost of the community and can get pricey if you’re going far away or use them often.
What Is the Scope of Care Provided?
The scope of care provided to seniors in assisted living facilities often includes:
— Assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting and other activities of daily living
— Meal preparation and nutritional planning
— Medication management
— Housekeeping and laundry service
— Social and recreational activities and programming
— Emergency response if needed
— Transportation
Some assisted living communities may provide a certain level of care, such as memory care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. But most assisted living communities look after a spectrum of seniors — some of whom need just a little help with one or two activities of daily living, while others need more intensive assistance with many tasks throughout the day.
“In assisted living, medical services are often limited to basic health checks and medication management, with more specialized therapies provided by outside providers,” adds Brandon Blakeley, a northern Virginia-based senior care specialist and co-founder of senior living platform Mirador. “While assisted living communities are great for providing moderate assistance, residents may have to be moved if their care exceeds this range.”
In providing this care, most assisted living communities group residents with similar need levels together. For example, one floor might house residents with minimal needs, while another floor caters to residents who require more hands-on assistance.
What Other Amenities Are There for Residents?
The sky’s the limit when it comes to other amenities that might be on offer at a specific assisted living community. Some cater to specific hobbies or interests while others offer more general options. Some have pet-friendly policies and let you bring your beloved companion with you.
Generally speaking, assisted living communities aim to provide more than the base comforts of home and helpful assistance when seniors need it.
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What Is Life Like in Assisted Living? originally appeared on usnews.com
