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Reaching your retirement and not having to work a day in your life anymore is something we all see as our future. Living out the golden years in peace, quiet, and relaxation is what you should strive for no matter how much you have been working, stressing, out, and helping others. It is a natural human response to want to be free and have time for the people and things that make you happy. Therefore, after a lifetime of providing and caring for others, it is high time you sit back, relax, and let others take care of you.
Now, in the perfect world, those would be your younger family members, but of course, they have their own obligations like work, school, and taking care of the kids. If you do not have to, it is not really polite nor okay to rely on them completely and ask them to be there for you all the time. If you want or need others to look after you and a place where you can spend quality time with others while having healthcare close by, assisted living may be for you. On the other hand, if you as the reader have an elderly person in your life who would benefit from this, think about such an arrangement.
To help you with this big decision, we will talk about the biggest benefits of moving to assisted living. Make sure to read the article carefully and pay close attention. In case you wish to find out more about this topic and explore additional options for yourself or a retired elderly person in your life, make sure to check out Assured Assisted Living.
1. Goodbye Boredom
After decades of getting up late and spending half the day at work and the other half caring about other family members and your home, you may find it difficult to fill out your newfound free time. Eight more hours to fill is a lot of time every day, and older people also tend to wake up earlier. This means even more free time and a lot to think about.
Therefore, boredom is a serious problem for most. With assisted living, you will have your days filled out with fun activities like movie nights with popcorn and drinks, music and art classes that stimulate learning new things and creativity, book clubs, and of course, poker and bingo tournaments and competitions. Group walks and communal gardens are also a thing in most homes. With such a rich selection of activities throughout the week and numerous other people living close to you, you will never again be bored.
2. Medical Help and Assistance on Demand
Activities of daily living, or ADLs, is a crucial part of every assisted living program. No matter what kind of help a person needs, a trained medical professional will be close to react and give a helping hand. From occasional assistance as a result of some chronic issue or injury to daily inconveniences like getting dressed and walking up the stairs, the staff will be there for you.
On-site, quick, and around the clock, their help is ever-present and readily available. The services include but are not limited to caregiver aid like bathing and escorting transportation to and from the home site, medication management and prescription tracking, and any kind of emergency requiring the assistance of a nurse or other staff members.
3. Security, Safety, Protection
Assisted living communities, homes, and programs, make it a priority to maximize safety in all areas when caring for the elderly is concerned. This means that there will always be friendly and helpful security on the premises so no danger of mugging and break-ins should worry you. There is minimal risk of fall danger and injuries that frequently happen to older people, especially those who need assistance with walking.
Accessibility and mobility including ramps, railings, and thresholds are a common sight in every hallway and shared area. The toilets are raised, there are special showers in place, and grab bars throughout the building. What is more, centers are always prepared for disasters and unlikely scenarios like installation failures, fires, and natural disasters. If you simply need somebody to talk to in order to calm down and relax, the on-call staff is available around the clock.
4. No More Loneliness
While it may be often connected to boredom, loneliness is far worse than simply not knowing what to do to fill out the time. Older people tend to be lonely for numerous reasons. It can lead to depression, hypertension, and even premature death. Despite good health and all the living conditions and needs fulfilled, somebody who is in their late 60s and older may suffer from feeling lonely and forgotten. Younger family is busy, many of their friends and older family members are not around anymore, and many more have already lost their partners.
In assisted living situations, the number of peers and personnel means they are never alone. Not only that, but the aforementioned activities and the assistance from the nurses and staff can be tailor-made to suit the needs of each individual, whether they prefer more peace and quiet or more fun and group activities.
5. Peace of Mind for the Rest of the Family
Having an older family member comes with a set of worries and potential problems to think about. If you think about it, life is much harder for them now that they move slower, require more, and can no longer support themselves as well as they should. If the family is busy or lives far away, they constantly worry about whether or not their mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather are okay, if they need something, if they are safe. If you introduce assisted living into their lives since you cannot always be there, you will know where they are 24/7 and that they are cared for, safe, and entertained. Best of all, you will be able to plan visits more efficiently and drop by whenever you can.
