As you age, you may find that you require more help or support in certain areas of your daily life. This is incredibly common, and senior living options are there to provide the support and care you, or a loved one needs to continue to increase and maintain the quality of life. The type of senior care you choose will depend on many factors, and physicians and adult care social workers can help to assess your individual situation and help you make further choices. Here are a few options for senior living, and some basic information about each one, what it may consist of, and who it may be best for.
Memory Care
Memory care is aimed at those who have Dementia, Alzheimer’s or other memory-related illnesses. Residents live in a safe and secure community where they can receive care and support from specialist caregivers in a vast range of activities and areas. These can include daily tasks (ADLs/IADLs), medical care and also social activities. At many senior living facilities, the emphasis is put on the residents’ quality of life, autonomy, and dignity, and in memory care communities, all of these things apply.
At Frontier Senior Living, focus is also put into developing and maintaining cognitive functions, supporting memory retention through structure, and keeping residents safe and healthy. Frontier are able to tailor their services to suit the needs and requirements of your loved one. They also provide a range of engaging activities and social events that make their life exciting and purposeful.
Respite Care
If you care for a loved one, you may find yourself needing a break and some time to yourself. Respite care means that you can spend some time for yourself – going on vacation, resting, running errands – whilst your loved one is cared for at a senior living community. This allows you to take a break while you are comfortable knowing that they are receiving high-quality care in a vibrant, engaging, and appropriate community.
Respite care can also be a great way to explore the senior living options that are available, which can help you make further decisions in the future if more care is required. It is important for everyone to have a break, and respite care allows you both to do this and get a change of scenery.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is another very common form of senior living. Residents usually have a private room and are assisted with many daily tasks and activities, as well as personal tasks. Meals are provided in a dining room setting, with menus that may cater to a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements. Frontier’s assisted living communities provide support in medical and residential care, with residents having access to a huge range of support in many different areas of life. This can include laundry and housekeeping, medication management, social activities, and personal care services.
Independent Living
In an independent living community, residents can live in a resort-like facility with their own rooms and sometimes even their own kitchens, giving them as much independence as possible. They are surrounded by like-minded people who enjoy their freedom and social events but critically can access support and assistance when they require it. This is another widespread senior living option, and again has a big focus on autonomy and dignity, as well as increasing and maintaining quality of life.
Independent living at Frontier communities focuses on independent living skills, as well as providing many engaging social activities. They have 120 locations across 19 states, meaning you can find a community that is perfect for you or your loved ones. Independence and autonomy are very important to many people, and enrolling in an independent living program allows for life to be lived with almost the exact same freedom you are used to, but there is extra support available when it is needed.
Who are senior living options for?
Senior living communities are incredibly common, and there are a vast range to choose from. Different levels are appropriate for different people, and there is no one size fits all answer, as everyone varies. As you age, you may find it harder to complete certain daily tasks on your own. This is when senior living options may be required to help you to live safely and healthily. A physician or adult care social worker can help you to make these decisions for yourself or a loved one by assessing a variety of factors. These include ADLs and IADLs, as well as factors such as mental and physical health. The type of senior living you choose will depend on the needs and requirements that are identified.
ADLs, or Activities of Daily Living, are a set of 6 tasks that the majority of people can complete with no help or prompting. They can be used to give an indication of the level of independence of an individual. They are:
- Bathing
- Feeding
- Toileting
- Continence
- Moving
- Dressing
The IADLs, or Instrumental Activities for Daily Living, are a further 8 tasks that can also be used to assess independence and can reveal disabilities that the ADLs may not be able to. They are:
- Using the telephone
- Cooking
- Managing medication
- Managing finances
- Shopping
- Housework
- Driving/using modes of transport
- Laundering clothing
These are all tasks that are necessary for independent living and self-sufficiency and are used by professionals to decide what kind of living support a senior individual requires. There are other factors that also come into consideration, and so it is important to consult a physician or adult care social worker, as they will be able to help you make the right decisions and inform you as to what type of senior living would be best.
There are plenty of options available when it comes to senior living, so you will be able to find somewhere that works for you and your loved ones. There are a lot of factors that will influence your choices, and it is essential to consult the experts, as they will have plenty of experience and will be able to answer any questions you may have.