Taking care of our loved ones is a source of joy. It is one aspect of life that will always be worthwhile and rewarding to both the carer and the one being cared for.
However, there comes a time when they need specialised care and we have to let go and entrust the daily life of our loved ones to professional providers.
This is not in any way to abandon them or to eliminate the burden of caring for them but a much more convenient and practical move to give them the needed care and assistance they need.
Today, assisted living providers are no longer confined to in-home or aged care facilities, but they are now all-mobile and cater to older people needing assistance in their homes.
Assisted living is ideal for families needing special care and home management for older people living alone. In this blog, we share the key benefits of engaging the services of assisted living providers.
The Social Benefits of Assisted Living
It is common for older adults to become isolated as they reach a particular age. Isolation leads to a host of problems, most common are depression, poor health, unhealthy behaviours and habits, poor mobility, dementia, and more.
The availability of assisted living services helps ease the problems of isolation. Older people availing these services receive a dedicated health care practitioner, giving them daily social interactions that can form a connection with other people outside their families.
Limited mobility is also a major factor that promotes isolation. As one gets older and physical challenges arise, driving becomes more of a daunting task and challenge. Assisted living care providers offer transportation assistance that allows clients the ease of getting around, attending to their errands, participating in leisure activities with family or friends or simply just driving to get out and be social.
The Physical Benefits of Assisted Living
Staying active is beneficial to any age group. For older people, it helps in maintaining acceptable cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improved circulation and better heart rate.
Assisted living care encourages clients to do various indoor and outdoor activities to keep them active. Home gardening, physical exercise classes and park walks are among the light activities they can do all under the supervision of a care provider. These different activities also lead to socialisation among their age group.
Mealtime struggles are also common in older adults. They develop from the lack of interest in self dining or cooking healthier options while living alone. This is one of the undeniable benefits of assisted living, clients are able to enjoy nutritional meals prescribed to their dietary needs, hence guaranteeing better nutrition, more variety, and a heartwarming meal experience.
Daily self-care activities for older adults tend to be more difficult depending on multiple factors. The most sought after assisted living services are:
● Bathing
● Dressing
● Eating
● Home management
However, it is still important for clients to retain some sort of independence and control over their daily activities, hence assisted living offers the balance of allowing them to live independently whilst receiving the specialised care they need.
The Family Benefits of Assisted Living
Perhaps the most important benefit is giving the family peace of mind. Assisted living care offers security to families who are otherwise occupied and unable to attend to the needs of their ageing family members. Or, for older people living alone, assisted living could mean a companion in times of need.
If you have questions about assisted living or want to discuss your options, you can email your questions to admin@independentlivingcare.com.au or call us at 1800 254 292.