When people think about assisted living apartments in Quantico, VA, they often think about medical care. In reality, the needs of older adults go beyond just physical health issues. Many aging family members find that their mental health declines, and that’s where behavioral care comes in. In this article, we’ll explore behavioral care and how it can help improve the quality of life for aging family members who need extra support with their mental health.
Understanding Behavioral Care
Behavioral care is a type of care that focuses on treating behavioral issues and dysfunctions. It is not the same as medical, nursing, or physical care. It’s not the same as social care, either.
Behavioral services are available at some assisted living communities, and it’s essential to understand behavioral care and whether your loved one would benefit from having it included in their assisted living community.
What Senior Behavioral Care Can Look Like
- Residents With Chronic Symptoms
You may have heard that assisted living apartments are meant to provide a home-like atmosphere for adults in their golden years, but what exactly does that mean? One of the main reasons many people choose assisted living apartments is that they want their loved ones to have nursing care when needed. However, there are other benefits as well—including behavioral care.
Behavioral care is an important part of any assisted living facility because it helps ensure that all residents receive the highest quality of life possible while maintaining their dignity and independence throughout the process. It addresses chronic symptoms early enough so that they don’t become more serious later on down the road; this way, you can help keep your loved one happy without worrying about them worsening over time.
One example of chronic symptoms is dementia; if left untreated or undiagnosed for too long, dementia can lead to worse health problems such as memory loss and confusion, which could eventually lead someone to need full-time medical assistance at another facility instead!
- Residents With Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are chronic conditions that require long-term management. If left untreated, these conditions can become worse over time and lead to serious health issues like heart disease or diabetes due to stress hormones being released into the body over time.
It is important to understand that depression and anxiety can be treated with medication. Many assisted living communities will work with residents’ doctors to ensure they take the proper medications for their conditions. Medication alone is not enough to help you manage your depression or anxiety. However, it can help improve some symptoms, making it easier for you to participate in therapy or other treatments offered by your assisted living community.
- Residents With Early-Stage Dementia or Cognitive Impairment
Early intervention is a critical part of cognitive care. Residents with early-stage dementia or cognitive impairment will benefit from a combination of simple, daily tasks that help keep their memory and problem-solving skills sharp. These tasks should be structured to include lots of positive feedback (such as verbal praise) so that the resident feels successful when completing them correctly. Tasks should also be tailored to their particular needs and interests, such as reading aloud from favorite books or playing cards with friends.
- Residents Who Are Lonely or Isolated
Loneliness and isolation are common issues in assisted living, but they can be addressed through behavioral care. Behavioral care can increase the amount of social interaction available to residents by providing them with meaningful activity and entertainment opportunities to increase their sense of community.
