July 26th, 2022
Assisted living facilities provide housing and help with daily activities for older adults. The facility also creates a congregation of people in the same age bracket, enabling them to interact and avoid seclusion at home. Assisted living facilities are also a great way to retire, reduce expenditures, and ensure you are in a safe environment during a vulnerable period in your life.
There is no specific age when a person should go to an assisted living facility. Therefore, you must remain cautious and monitor your loved one. This piece shows signs that your loved one needs an assisted living facility.
Falling
Falls are a significant cause of injuries among the elderly members of the population. If your loved one falls once, they are at a high risk of falling again. Some of the major causes of accidents among older adults include poor eyesight, poor hearing, muscle stiffness, and loss of coordination. These factors deteriorate as a person gets older, and thereby, they increase their susceptibility to accidents.
An assisted living facility has ample space in corridors and common areas. Nurses and caregivers monitor individuals closely and help them when moving around. In addition, the home takes care of issues such as food, shopping, laundry, and transportation. This assistance reduces duties for older adults and makes them less susceptible to falling accidents.
Poor Nutrition
Elderly adults have unique nutritional needs. For example, the person needs vegetables, legumes, grains, lean meats, and foods without fats. One must also limit intake of foods with added salts, alcohol, and accessible foods such as pizzas, burgers, fried food, and cordials. The person might not adhere to such a strict diet due to personal preferences or inability to shop around and access the right foods.
If you realize your loved one has problems maintaining good nutrition, you can recommend an assisted living facility. The facility has access to the person's medical records, and thereby it can create a special diet and schedule for the person. Assisted living facilities also have dieticians who consult with elderly adults to ensure they eat items that promote their well-being.
Poor Response to Treatment
If a person has ongoing treatment, the doctor can inform you about their response to medicine or therapy. These results help you determine whether the treatment is successful and narrow down the cause of poor clinical outcomes. For example, the person might forget a doctor's appointment or skip medication.
One of the major causes of poor health outcomes is dementia. People with dementia forget medication and appointments due to brain changes such as the unusual accumulation of proteins. The best way to boost the effects of healthcare intervention is to create a conducive environment where the person is under supervision. The facility books appointments and ensures adherence to medication.
Transportation Issues
Some health issues might result from an inability to walk, drive, or order available transportation methods. If a person has poor eyesight, they cannot drive safely to doctor's appointments, the market, or social events. In addition, you may not be around to drive your loved one around all the time. Therefore, you can resolve transportation issues by admitting them to an assisted living facility.
Assisted living facilities provide a variety of transport options. The staff can order a taxi or help the person access local public transport. Assisted living facilities also have volunteer drivers and rideshare services to help your loved one make it to doctor's appointments, church services, and social events.
A facility provides a variety of services for residents. If you or your loved one experience the signs discussed in this piece, perhaps you may consider checking into an assisted living facility. At Haven in Allyn, we can help you determine various accommodation options and assisted living features that keep you healthy and active.
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