Over 95% of American adults over the age of 60 deal with at least one chronic condition or illness.
If you’ve got an elderly loved one who is starting to deal with health problems, the urge is to help them as much as you can. When you’ve got your own family and a busy schedule, there might not be enough time in the day to give them the assistance they need.
That’s when contacting an assisted living facility becomes a great idea. In today’s post, we’ll explain how assisted living aids in senior health. It’s not easy to decide to get your loved one residential care, but keep reading and you’ll see that there’s a lot more than meets the eye with assisted living.
24/7 Monitoring
The most obvious way that your loved one will improve their overall health is the access they’ll have to monitring. Help in assisted living is a 24/7 service, so you can rest easy knowing that medical professionals are always around to keep an eye on your loved one.
They’ll have regular checkups available. They’ll also have their medication administered regularly. If an emergency occurs, healthcare professionals are always around to help.
When you compare this to having a loved one living at home, the benefits are obvious. At home, a senior is left to their own devices, so it’s incumbent upon them to care for their health and seek out emergency care when needed. In an assisted living community, they don’t have to worry about anything other than enjoying their lifestyle.
A Better Diet
What older adults eat matters so much. Getting the proper nutrients can stave off a wide variety of health issues, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. A balanced diet is also important for maintaining their energy levels and mental well-being.
Seniors who live alone are often unmotivated to cook for themselves. This leads to unfortunate dietary choices that can literally put their health at risk.
In an assisted living community, all residents are given the choice of restaurant-style eating for every meal. All meals are created by an in-house chef with high-quality ingredients and the residents’ dietary needs in mind.
If your loved one prefers to cook for themselves, their room is equipped with a full kitchen. For the times when they can’t bring themselves to do it, they’ll always have the option of eating an in-house meal.
Exercise Programs
Physical activity gets more and more important as we age. If your loved one isn’t getting enough exercise, their physical health can start going downhill. Once this starts, it becomes incredibly difficult to stop.
As with cooking, getting motivated to do physical activity can be tricky. In assisted living, there’s always plenty of motivation around to keep all residents active.
Whether it’s a daily aerobics class or a walk around the neighborhood, your loved one will always have an opportunity to get moving. The community brings in professional trainers and health professionals to make sure residents are getting exercise and doing the right things for their health.
Adults over 65 need at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity. They’ll get this in spades when they live in an assisted living community.
Mental Health and Therapy
Of course, your loved one’s physical health is a top priority, but so is their mental health. Physical and mental health are inextricably linked, but as we age, the need to look after our mental health becomes incredibly important.
One thing that assisted living does really well is provide residents with a community of their peers. Social activity is so important for older adults and even helps to boost memory while staving off feelings of isolation and depression.
For residents who suffer from mental health issues, whether it’s something manageable like social anxiety or something more serious like dementia, the necessary care is available. Memory care programs are available to help those with Alzheimer’s or dementia live the best possible life in assisted living.
Intellectual Stimulation
Intellectual stimulation is another way to keep the aging mind engaged. Seniors need to keep their minds sharp to avoid things like memory loss and other mental issues. Assisted living provides them with a variety of activities and programs to keep them mentally active.
Some of the things your loved one might enjoy include movie nights, educational talks, art classes, and music performances. They could take part in book clubs with other residents or simply engage in lively discussions with friends.
What makes assisted living so beneficial is that residents get to enjoy their independence while being urged to take part in engaging activities. There’s always something to do in a good assisted living facility, but if they’d rather spend some time alone, they’ve always got that option as well.
Safety and Security
A major concern for family members of seniors is their safety and security. If they live alone with physical ailments, you’re forced to think about their ability to move around safely. For those with memory issues, it can be overwhelming to go out and about.
Many people think that seniors lose freedom when they enter assisted living, but the opposite is true. If your loved one has any of the issues mentioned above, they get more freedom from assisted living.
The facility itself is built with seniors’ mobility in mind. They’ll never have to struggle to get from their room to common areas and vice versa. The grounds are secure and monitored by staff to prevent residents with memory issues from putting themselves at risk.
Learning How Assisted Living Aids in Senior Health
We hope we’ve made it clear how assisted living aids in senior health. If your loved one is in need of more frequent care, they can enjoy a happier, healthier life in assisted living. As long as you find a reputable community with dedicated professionals, they’ll experience all of the assisted living benefits discussed here.
For those in Palm Beach Gardens, Discovery Village is the best assisted living community available. We offer customized living plans and healthcare to accommodate anything your loved one needs. To schedule a tour or discuss your loved one’s unique needs with a dedicated professional, contact us today.
