A step up from independent living, assisted living continues to prioritize independence while offering support with activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed. ADLs are the primary tasks a person must do every day to stay physically healthy and comfortable. Some of the most common ADLs seniors in assisted living receive help with include bathing (64%), walking (50%), dressing (49%), and using the bathroom (43%).2 In assisted living, residents may live in their apartment or have a private/semi-private room in a larger house. Residents receive nutritious meals and snacks daily and typically have access to various on-site activities and social events.
There are more residential senior care options for Americans than ever, from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing and memory care.
With 57.8 million seniors aged 65 and older in the United States as of 2022, 1 it’s hardly surprising that the senior care industry continues to expand. This expansion is not just in numbers but also in the level of personalization and attractiveness of retirement lifestyles, offering seniors and their families an optimistic view of the future.
Assisted living is one of the most popular levels of residential senior care, currently housing more than 800,000 seniors in the U.S.2 In this month’s blog post, we’ll help you decide if assisted living is the right choice for your parent or loved one.
What Are the Key Senior Care Options Available in 2024?
Independent Living
Independent living offers a more convenient living setup for seniors with good health and mobility. A designated ‘village-like’ community for older adults, residents live independently in their own apartment but have access to additional conveniences like meal plans, activities, and on-site amenities (e.g., dining, fitness facilities, salons). With additional security and safety measures, moving to independent living can offer peace of mind to seniors and their family members.
Assisted Living
A step up from independent living, assisted living continues to prioritize independence while offering support with activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed. ADLs are the primary tasks a person must do every day to stay physically healthy and comfortable. Some of the most common ADLs seniors in assisted living receive help with include bathing (64%), walking (50%), dressing (49%), and using the bathroom (43%).2 In assisted living, residents may live in their apartment or have a private/semi-private room in a larger house. Residents receive nutritious meals and snacks daily and typically have access to various on-site activities and social events
Skilled Nursing
Skilled nursing is a higher level of residential senior care for those with chronic medical conditions that require 24/7 support from registered nurses. It can also be a short-term solution for seniors recovering after a stay in the hospital. This is common following acute illnesses (e.g., stroke or heart attack) and surgical procedures (e.g., joint replacements).
Who Is Assisted Living For?
Choosing the right senior care option is a collaborative process that takes time, research, and consultation with medical professionals who know your loved one well. As a family caregiver, your role is crucial in this process. In the meantime, the following checklist may help you get an idea of whether assisted living is suitable.
Part A
If both of the following statements are true when thinking about your loved one, assisted living may be a great fit:
- They need help with one or more ADLs (e.g., bathing, grooming, using the bathroom, eating, getting dressed, moving around, getting in and out of bed).
- They don’t have a condition requiring a registered nurse’s daily care.
Suppose only statement A is valid (i.e., they have a condition requiring nursing care). In that case, residential, skilled nursing may be more fitting.
Part B
Suppose one or more of the following statements are also true. In that case, this further indicates that assisted living could be the perfect choice:
- They feel lonely or socially isolated.
- They’re not able to get out of the house often.
- They get overwhelmed by medication management.
- They need more adequate transportation.
- They don’t have a family caregiver who can manage their care safely.
- They struggle to manage home maintenance (e.g., housework, laundry, gardening)
- They’re struggling to manage their finances and keep up with bills.
- They’re vulnerable in their home (e.g., they may have suffered a fall or fallen victim to a scam)
Austin Assisted Living at Silverleaf Eldercare
Silverleaf Eldercare is a small, assisted living community in Austin with a beautiful ‘private home’ feel. With just a few residents in our care, we can offer the most compassionate and personalized residential senior care experience possible. What’s more, we’re proud to have an exceptionally high staff-to-resident ratio, providing you with the reassurance of the quality of care your loved one will receive.
Here are four ways we go above and beyond standard assisted living:
- Providing competent medication management. According to 2019 research, more than 8 in 10 American seniors aged 60-79 take one or more prescription drugs, with more than 3 in 10 taking five or more medications every day.3 Managing multiple medications can become overwhelming and confusing, so our care staff are trained to track, order, and administer residents’ medications electronically. A registered nurse also provides medication delegation training and consultations.
- Co-ordinating healthcare provider visits. Our team is happy to be a central point of contact, organizing visits and relaying information between residents, family caregivers, and medical professionals (e.g., audiologists, geriatric specialists, counselors, and physical therapists). We also understand the value of building trust in a care provider. Therefore, we’re happy for our residents to maintain their relationship with a visiting home health provider for ADL support if they wish.
- Serving chef-prepared meals. Our dedicated chefs craft delicious, hearty, and fresh meals for residents. They are happy to cater to individual likes and dislikes for a truly home-like experience. They can also provide delicious alternatives for residents following specialty diets (e.g., low-carb,diabetic, vegan, vegetarian).
Improving care and safety with modern technology. Our CarePredict AI technology allows us to keep close tabs on each resident’s health, addressing any issues as early as possible to avoid negative consequences. This commitment to technology gives you the confidence that your loved one is in good hands.
Give our friendly team a call today to arrange a tour of our close-knit Austin assisted living community. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will guide you through the process, answer any questions you may have, and ensure that your visit is informative and enjoyable. We look forward to helping you experience that ‘private home’ feeling for yourself!
References
- National Council on Aging. Get the facts on older Americans. Published June 1, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-older-americans.
- American Health Care Association, National Center for Assisted Living. Facts and Figures. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.ahcancal.org/Assisted-Living/Facts-and-Figures/Pages/default.aspx#:~:text=RESIDENTS%20%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B,24%2D7%20skilled%20nursing%20care.
- Hales CM, Servais J, Martin CB, Kohen D. Prescription drug use among adults aged 40-79 in the United States and Canada. NCHS Data Brief. 2019;347. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db347.htm#:~:text=Use%20of%20one%20or%20more%20prescription%20drugs%20was%20more%20common,53.3%25)%20(Figure%203.
- Wilmink G, Dupey K, Alkire S, et al. Artificial intelligence – Powered digital health platform and
wearable devices improve outcomes for older adults in assisted living communities: Pilot
intervention study. JMIR Aging. 2020;3(2):e19554. doi:10.2196/19554.