Independent Living for Seniors

Common Concerns with Nursing Homes

Many seniors have the fear of going to a geriatric facility. There are those that are particularly wary of nursing homes.

 

 

There are many reasons behind this. But more often than not it stems from the stigma that nursing homes have. There’s this thinking that it’s the place you go to when there’s no family left to take care of you. A place of last resort, you might say.

 

 

While nursing homes do cater to seniors in this position it offers so much more. This article will discuss some of the most common fears about this type of geriatric community and how it promotes living independently.

 

 

Before jumping into all that, a quick definition of nursing homes.

 

 

The Advantage of Nursing Homes

A nursing home shares all the traits of a standard care home. But you have the added advantage of a facility that’s supervised and staffed by registered nurses 24/7. They are much better trained to recognize symptoms and changes in a person’s condition, so are better qualified to decide when to call a doctor or other health professionals.

 

The amenities in a nursing home are also typically better than a care home. Aside from having highly trained medical staff, a nursing home is equipped with specialist beds and a range of equipment for moving and handling people.

 

Overall, a nursing home is ideal for seniors who have a severe medical condition or severe mobile difficulties.

 

 

Common Fears

 

“I’ll have nothing to do.”

 

Today’s senior living communities have a wide range of activities that will leave you with no time to be bored. Not only will it keep you occupied, but having all these options promote independent living.

 

 

You’ll find a whole range of things to do. There are field trips, fitness classes, and continuing education programs.

 

 

“I’ll feel old and get sick faster”

 

It’s isolation that often leads to anxiety and depression. The social contact you get from living in a senior community is the key to better health and a better quality of life overall. If a senior is already ill with a certain disease, a nursing home will be able to offer specialized treatment.

 

 

For example, someone suffering from Alzheimer’s can be given memory care that includes daily stimulation, planned activities and customized care, all of which can actually slow down the progress of an illness or even improve health and behavior.

 

 

“I’ll lose my independence”

 

Geriatric communities promote the opposite of this. In fact, the goal is to empower seniors by providing an environment that promotes independent living. If you don’t require frequent medical care, you can opt out of a nursing home and choose an IL or independent living facility.

 

 

Here you’ll get help with chores that become more onerous over time like cleaning and cooking. You get greater freedom with the precious time you do have. Senior communities also provide ample opportunity for social activities on-site as well as transportation around the area when you need it.

 

 

 


Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

assisted living - richmont

Identifying the Differences between Independent Living and Assisted Living

Making the decision to move aging loved ones to a senior or assisted living facility is never easy. The prospect of having one’s parents reside in a geriatric facility permanently can take its toll. Not all children or siblings want this for a beloved family member. There are physical, emotional, and financial adjustments that will come with it and will have to be dealt with.

 

Another daunting aspect of this is finding a new living arrangement. This is especially true when you’re unfamiliar with senior living and its nuances.

 

There are two main categories in the senior living spectrum. There’s independent living (IL) and assisted living (AL). This article intends to make it much easier for you by identifying the key characteristics of two.

 

 

Living Spaces

Independent living facilities are where residents live in their own private dwelling spaces. And these encompass a wide range of housing arrangements. You can choose from apartment-style communities to housing co-ops.

 

Other names for an IL facility are an active adult community, senior apartment, a retirement home, or +55 community.

 

Meanwhile, assisted living facilities are typically apartment style. Each unit may or may not be equipped with a full kitchen.

 

 

Features and Amenities

IL facilities are designed for seniors who are still able to leave independently. As such, the features found in individual dwelling areas are comparable to those in a typical small home.

 

Independent living communities aim to let their residents live independently for as long as possible. This is done by making their day-to-day lives a little bit easier. Seniors’ daily responsibilities are minimized by having landscaping, laundry and housekeeping services, on-site dining facilities, as well as security and surveillance. It’s also typical to have a centralized hospitality building for socialization.

 

Assisted living, on the other hand, leans more toward helping geriatric residents who need some form of assistance with their daily activities. These could range from bathing to taking medication. Staff members and at least one medical professional (usually a certified nurse practitioner) are on call 24 hours a day in AL residences. It’s worth noting that assisted living facilities and communities don’t provide intensive hands-on care or skilled nursing care for older adults with serious mental or physical ailments unless otherwise specified.

 

Both independent living and assisted living communities have recreation schedules unique to their residents and their abilities.

 

Here’s a list of typical activities

  • Game nights
  • Field trips
  • Support and discussion groups
  • Holiday celebrations
  • Exercise classes
  • Continuing education courses

 

 

Paying for Senior Care

Since IL communities don’t provide medical services to residents, seniors must pay for their stay privately. They can use funds from their pension income, retirement savings, life settlements, annuities, and Social Security benefits.

 

AL communities provide a greater amount of assistance so there are more options available that can help cover costs. In addition to using savings or their personal funds, seniors can look to certain long-term care insurance policies. There’s also the Aid and Attendance benefits available for war veterans. Medicare does not cover assisted living, but Medicaid offers some financial assistance for low-income seniors but eligibility and coverage rules vary from state to state.

 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers low-income seniors help with paying for both independent and assisted living through the Housing Choice Voucher (formerly Section 8) and Section 202 programs respectively. However, because of the high demand for these programs, the waiting lists are often very long.

 

 

 


Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco