While many seniors express a desire to age at home, there are just as many potential risks as there are benefits. Aging at home can lead to social isolation, and many residential properties aren’t set up for senior safety.
Transitioning to assisted living can eliminate many of these risks without jeopardizing a senior’s independence. If you’ve only recently considered leaving home, you may not know how to get started.
We’re here to talk about your options for senior care living and how to navigate the path forward. Read on for an overview of the steps to take when seeking your ideal senior living community.
Understand Your Options for Senior Care Living
Choosing a senior care community starts with understanding what your options are. Here are the three main types of senior care you’ll find today.
At-Home Senior Care
For seniors who decide to age at home, at-home care is crucial. At-home care providers come to your home on a scheduled basis and assist with ADLs while also providing you and your family with third-party insight into your well-being. Even with at-home care, many seniors will need to transition to a more hands-on care environment with time.
Tiered Assisted Living
Assisted living communities are a popular choice because residents have their own private living quarters with easy access to professional assistance. These communities may also offer dining plans, organized activities, and transportation services. Plus, they may have tiered accommodations, allowing seniors to receive care that evolves with their needs.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes may offer private or semi-private rooms with basic amenities like a bed, bathroom, and television. Nursing homes have round-the-clock staff that provide residents with constant care. This is ideal for seniors who have serious chronic conditions but may not be suitable for healthy, active seniors.
Evaluate Your Needs and Desires
Many seniors choose to live in tiered assisted living communities because they offer the perfect balance of assistance and independence. Before you choose your senior living community, consider what qualities you’re looking for in a new home environment.
ADL and Medical Support
Even if you don’t need it now, it’s useful to live on a campus that provides assistance with activities of daily living. ADLs include things like:
- Grooming and dressing
- Cooking and eating
- Cleaning
Given that nearly 95% of seniors have at least one chronic condition, it’s also important that your senior care community provides medical support. Things like medication management and transportation services can help you get the most out of your healthcare and manage or prevent serious health conditions.
Activities and Events
Another highlight of moving to an assisted living community is the potential increase in socialization and variation. We’re talking about organized activities and events such as:
- Game or movie nights
- Themed parties
- Live performances
- Trips into town
- Art and music therapy
- Classes and lectures
While you may not see a robust activity schedule as a necessity, it is an asset that can improve your overall quality of life. Getting together with your neighbors and learning something new or enjoying an event makes life a little more fun.
Nutrition and Fitness
Seniors living alone may not put as much time and effort into their daily meals as they used to. Mobility issues may impact their ability to cook or they may find it challenging to cook for one person.
A great senior care community should provide residents with optional catered dining. When professional chefs are in charge of the food, seniors can expect more flavor and nutritional variation.
Exercise is another important component of a senior’s holistic well-being, supporting both physical and mental health. Consider prioritizing assisted living communities that offer group fitness programs with classes and modifications for all physical abilities.
Transitional Care
When you’re already making one big move, you probably don’t want to make another in the future. While a private apartment with occasional assistance may be enough for now, consider communities with tiered transitional care options.
Memory care is an important component of elderly care. Designed for seniors with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s, memory care wings offer more security as well as activities and medical support designed for cognitive changes.
Assess Your Financial Situation for the Types of Assisted Living Available
It’s also important to assess your financial situation to determine how you will fund your transition and cost of living. Here are two factors every senior should consider before making their next move.
Does Insurance Cover Long-Term Care?
Some types of insurance may help to cover the cost of assisted living. Long-term care or life insurance with a long-term care rider typically provide the most coverage. Some residents may be eligible for Medicaid support or Veteran benefits.
Estate Planning
Working with an attorney or accountant before choosing your senior living community can give you a better sense of your spending power. Estate planners can estimate the value of your home, car, and other assets. Many seniors use the profits from selling their assets to fund their assisted living lifestyle.
Make the Transition to Your New Community
Finally, it’s time to move into your new senior care community. Here are two ways to make the transition smoother and less stressful.
Get Your Family Involved
There’s no need to navigate this transition alone, especially when it involves moving to a new town or state. Let your family know what your plan is and what kind of help you’ll need in the process. Family members often accompany their loved ones on tours of different communities and participate in move-in days.
Take Time to Downsize
Depending on the size of your current home, you may be downsizing. Start the process of going through your belongings and giving or throwing away what you don’t want to bring. This can reduce your moving costs and give you a fresh start in your new apartment.
Why Choose Discovery Village at Deerwood for Florida Senior Care?
Though many seniors express a desire to age at home, most will benefit from additional levels of care. Assisted living is a great alternative that preserves independence while supporting resident needs.
There are many options for senior care living in Florida, and we’re proud to say that Discovery Village at Deerwood is one of the best. We go above and beyond to make our community fun, rewarding, and safe. Contact us to schedule a tour and see what makes us different.
