Life is a beautiful journey with euphoric highs and enduring lows that challenges and molds us into becoming our best selves. But life isn’t beautiful because it lasts forever. It is so because there is a time limit, and this limit makes every moment of every day something precious. Towards the end of this journey, when the wear and tear from decades of adventure take its toll, extra personal and medical care is often necessary. This can put significant strain on seniors and their loved ones. In times like these, it is worth looking into assisted living.
Assisted living is a community-based alternative to living at home where the needs of seniors can be met by individuals trained in senior care. A wide variety of assisted living services have been proven to increase the quality of life and socialization while also providing medical, personal, and psychological treatment for residents. Learn more about assisted living services by reaching out to the Westminster Place team today at 903.329.6520.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a form of housing designed specifically to care for seniors whose needs go beyond the capabilities of family members and loved ones. Residential living quarters can come in a variety of different forms, whether it be apartments, shared apartments, or individual rooms, and are often developed to feel as much like home as possible. While these facilities offer various levels of care, they can also encourage independent living with limited interference from facility staff. Assisted living is typically reserved for those who have growing troubles with daily tasks and chores that can make them more susceptible to injury or accidents.
Before committing to an assisted living program, one should consider what activities require additional assistance and how often this assistance is needed. They should also have specific questions in mind when reviewing different facilities, such as:
- How does a facility handle medical emergencies?
- What is the visitation policy?
- What is the difference in costs for various levels of care
- Are staff members appropriately trained?
- What services are offered?/
- What are the limitations of these services?
- What activities and events do they offer?
- What is the social atmosphere like?
- Does each resident receive a care plan tailored to their needs?
In contrast to nursing homes, whose services focus on medical care, assisted living programs focus on personal care, which meets the needs of residents while promoting their independence.
Assisted Living Services
Assisted living programs offer various services for residents’ personal, medical and psychological needs. Depending on the facility and the resources available to them, these services can differ depending on the program. However, some services that are likely to be included are:
- Regularly scheduled meals
- 24-Hour emergency care
- Housekeeping
- Laundry services
- Various medical services
- Medication monitoring
- Pharmacy delivery
- Dressing assistance
- Bathing assistance
- Mobility assistance
- Eating Assistance
- Transportation to other services such as doctor’s office or chiropractor
One of the most significant benefits of an assisted living program is socialization. When living at home, getting out and socializing can be complicated. Unfortunately, this can lead to isolation, which has been proven to further cognitive decline and worsen other medical issues such as Alzheimer’s.
Senior Living Solutions at Westminster Place
Finding an assisted living program can be difficult. A lot of pressure comes with committing to one program over another. Whether someone is searching for themselves or an elderly family member, there can be a lot of anxiety from that final decision.
At Westminster Place, we believe that every moment in life matters, and we aim to put these worries to rest. Not through gimmicky advertisements or catchy slogans but through the quality of the services we provide to our residents every day. We welcome any and all questions about our facility and are open to tours. For more information or to schedule an appointment today, contact us at 903.329.6520 or via our online form.