Top Assisted Living Facilities

Eco Friendly Assisted Living Facilities Go Green with Care

Posted on 12. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Eco friendly ways of living are becoming more popular and more important to people. Creating eco friendly <a title=Assisted living facilities at Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living facilities</a> or <a title=Adult care at Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AdultCare.aspx>adult care</a> homes are next on the list. You may think becoming more earth conscious just means recycling or re-using paper or plastic. However, for the homes that have that decided to become eco friendly it is so much more than that.

Green Construction
The first step in creating an eco friendly assisted living facility is constructing it in such a way and with such materials that are going to be environmentally friendly. From inception, green materials are chosen and decisions are made about each aspect of its construction. Generally buildings that are built in such a way are known as green buildings and are built with renewable materials, efficient in the way it is built and efficient with the energy used to build it and the energy that is generated within.

Green Systems
Upon completion of the eco friendly facility, decisions are made regarding the systems used indoors as well. From the green materials to the air, water and laundry purification, all are going to be chosen with the environment and resident’s health in mind. This will protect the environment and its resources while removing daily toxins from residents. Creating a pure air quality would also be considered when determining the types of green systems to establish. The benefit of being eco friendly up front in the construction is that it can save a lot of energy costs in the long run. This savings would hopefully spread to the overall cost for each resident.

Green Options
To further the eco friendly environment, all amenities are also made to go green. Facilities that offer Beauty salons or Barber Shops are considered when making the change to an all green facility. This might include any food served or items given to residents at any time. Each facility might make the call on how far it wants to go to stay green. However, residents should be aware that an entirely eco friendly assisted living facility may be more expensive because of the additional cost of making these green options a reality.

Living in an assisted living facility or any senior living facility that is go green can have many potential health benefits while being more safe and friendly to the environment. When considering the types of assisted living options, look into what they are doing to stay green. While many older facilities may not have been built with eco friendly systems in mind you can ask questions regarding what they may do in the future or how they can change their current systems to accommodate resident’s needs in this area. Assisted living facilities should want to provide a healthy, productive environment for its residents. If going green is going to be more economically beneficial in the long run there is no reason that they wouldn’t choose that option when presented with it.

Consider too the ways you can go green in your own home. Little things can help you save energy, conserve resources and promote good health for you and your loved ones. Look into the green options you have so you can begin to make your difference.

Top 3 Benefits of Assisted Living

Posted on 11. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Making the decision to move from your home to an assisted living residence can be a difficult one. Generally it becomes the decision of the elderly individual’s children, who begin struggling to take care of their parents in their own home.

Fortunately, seniors are finding it easier and easier to live comfortably in an assisted living home – mostly because of all the perks they receive as residents.

Here are the top 3 benefits of moving into assisted living homes:

1. Social Activities. An assisted living home is kind of like a big party for seniors. It’s a place where men and women of a similar age can meet, live and experience all the perks of a great social life again. From trivia night, bowling and movie night to everyday games and activities, living in a home with other seniors can actually end up being a really great time. Some residences even offer beauty salons and spas for their residence – now that’s living comfortably, if you ask us!

2. Less Housework. The biggest benefit of moving from your own home to an assisted living environment is eliminating the housework. Cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry and all of the other tasks that go along with maintaining a home are difficult for an average person; imagine what it’s like for seniors. Assisted homes hire staff to do all of these things for you. The only thing left for you to do is enjoy your time. Sounds like a good plan.

3. In-House Medical Care. As you get older (especially once you become a senior citizen), doctors appointments become more and more frequent. Unfortunately, it also becomes more and more difficult to arrange transportation to these appointments (especially considering most seniors no long have driver’s licenses). Assisted living residences offer in-house medical care so you never have to leave because of an appointment. Suddenly those routine checkups don’t sound so bad.

We’re not saying that everything about assisted living is great; there are some cons. While the decision to move opens up many doors for senior men and women, the financial burden can be hard for some to handle. If you have the money, we strongly suggest looking into this type of residence. The stress relief and social aspects of assisted homes are priceless…well, almost priceless.

From Tai Chi to Cooking Classes, There is Never a Dull Moment in Many Senior Assisted Living Facili

Posted on 10. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Senior assisted living facilities don’t have to be quiet, lonely places where life happens in-between meals- in fact; many of them are just the opposite! New senior <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living facilities</a> have a variety of activities ranging from wine tours to concerts, hydrotherapy classes and aerobics.

While a huge majority of the population begins to age, they are not eager to sit immobile and let their golden years pass them by. With the desire to get more out of life, seniors today are looking for assisted living facilities that will help them get the care and therapy they need when they need it, but they also want to live the fullest life they possibly can and they want choices.

Assisted living facilities know that seniors will seek out and pay for private golf lessons, nutrition classes on their own, so instead, facilities are helping out seniors and bringing the activities to them.

Popular Activities and Classes Being Offered at Senior Centers Today
•    Line Dancing
•    Scrap Booking
•    Hydro-aerobics/ swim lessons
•    Nutrition, Medicine and Pharmaceuticals information
•    Outings: Movies, plays, wine tastings, parks and gardens
•    Beauty school visits
•    Golf, croquet, horseshoes and shuffleboard

Nintendo’s Wii Games All the Rage In Senior Centers
Besides experts and instructors coming in to provide stimulus to seniors, Nintendo’s Wii has changed the way seniors play games with each other. Several senior assisted living facilities have brought Nintendo’s Wii into the daily lives of their seniors.
Suddenly, options of whether to play cribbage, bridge or backgammon have come to include Nintendo’s library of interactive video games. Wii games are very popular in senior assisted living facilities and senior centers because the games provide low-impact exercise to an audience who has limited movement or is held back by an injury or illness. Bowling in slippers, playing tennis in a communal living room and swinging a plastic golf club in pajamas has never been easier or more fun.

If you are looking for a senior assisted living facility for yourself or for your parents, you will be happy to know that there are choices on how to spend your golden years. Love the beach and learning how to knit? Want golf lessons and transportation to varying golf courses? There are more choices that can be listed here as to varying degrees of activities, classes and outings that are apart of daily life in senior living facilities today. Management of senior assisted living facilities know that instead of passing the golden years by in front of a television, seniors have demanded more out of their senior assisted living choices.

Making a Decision About Assisted Living Facilities

Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

In the pilot episode of Frasier, Frasier and his brother are debating on whether or not to put their father, who can’t live alone, in <a title=”Let Great Places help you find information on assisted living facilities!” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living facilities</a>.  He pulls a brochure out of his pocket that reads “We care – so you don’t have to.” They decide instead to opt for an <a title=”Great Places can help you locate in-home health care!” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/InHomeHealthCare.aspx>in-home health care</a> professional. Do you hold this same view of assisted living places, nursing homes or senior apartments?   Do you feel that it is a thing people do when they don’t care? Maybe you have the image of assisted living places as cold, unhappy and filled with grumpy attendants? While some of the facilities out there may live up to these rather dismal pictures – some couldn’t be farther from that truth.

Today there are many assisted living facilities that offer a modern way for seniors to live. For some it is a great way to get involved in a community and have an easy, active lifestyle with planned activities and social events. There as many types of assisted living facilities as there are personalities so it is important to ask questions and choose the community that would be right for you or your loved one.

The activities that are available in these types of communities are numerous. With the invention of the new gaming system the Nintendo Wii, many facilities are utilizing it as a great way for seniors to get some exercise. It has also become a great way for grandparent’s to understand more about their grandchildren’s video games. From boxing to golf to tennis, there is a little something for all levels of activity.

The cleaning, upkeep and grounds are all taken care of. This can be especially important for someone who can’t take care of a large house or apartment anymore. For those that need the calming, nurturing activity of gardening, there are many assisted living facilities now providing a place for residents to grow fruit and vegetables on the ground. This may not only provide a much needed break for residents but could possibly provide cost-cutting measures for the community as well.

The social calendar abounds in assisted living facilities. This allows residents to get to know one another, develop deep relationships in the next phase of their life and to get involved in activities that they love. From yoga to tai-chi to cooking classes there is always something for everyone. The transition from independent living to assisted living facilities may be a difficult transition for many. With the ability to get involved and meet people right away, the resident will began to feel much more at home. Many times people choose to live in a facility like this not necessarily because they can’t care for themselves, but simply because they want to ease of having activities available and an immediate social network of people who may have gone through the same things as them and are in the same place in life as they are. The social activities really provide the connection most residents crave.

Assisted living facilities don’t need to hold the “We care so you don’t have to” mentality. While Frasier and his brother chose another route for their father, perhaps this will be the right route for someone you love. Take a look at what all the communities have to offer so you can choose one that is right for you.

Entertaining Easter Ideas for Assisted Living Facilities

Posted on 08. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

There are a lot of different circumstances that must be taken into consideration when it comes to activities within nursing homes and <a title=Assisted living facilities at Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living facilities</a>.Meaning, your activity must be able to appeal to almost every person within a nursing home- meaning, people with disabilities, age level and religious, ethical and political preferences. Here are six great ways to get everyone involved this Easter while making sure that most everyone in the assisted living facility is able to participate.

Spring Time Easter Tea Party
Nothing says Easter like a big Easter hat and white gloves. The other thing that a big white hat and gloves scream is a traditional English tea party, especially one in a spring garden, just in time for Easter. Since an English style spring time Easter party offers a brief escape for every age, mobility and even mental ability to enjoy it, it makes it a perfect activity for an assisted living facility. All you need are tablecloths, a couple tea pots, some tea sandwiches and small cookies and you are set. 

Easter Basket Decorating
It’s likely that many residents living in your <a title=Assisted living facilities at Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living facilities</a> grew up with Easter baskets. Offer an open class on Easter basket decorating for residents to either give away to their grandchildren, donate or keep for themselves. Ask if a local craft store would host a basket decorating class, charging only for supplies or ask if an art student wouldn’t mind donating their time to offer friendly help and suggestions.

Egg Decorating
The ultimate classic Easter activity that is open to everyone! Boil several dozen eggs, create a food grade dye from several Easter egg dying kits and make an announcement one week that there will be an Easter egg dying activity in the main activity area. Lay newspaper over several circular tables and invite everyone who wishes to color and dye eggs. The best part about this is making deviled eggs for lunch the next day!

“Easter Parade” Movie Night
This fun musical for Baby Boomers is an Irving Berlin classic. Seniors who appreciate old black and white romance will love this movie. Serve lemonade and popcorn and project it onto a big screen. Charge a nickel admission for some added nostalgia.

Spring Cleaning For Charity
Active seniors like to be kept busy. What better way to appreciate their skills than to help raise money for a local charity. Invite every active assisted living senior to help organize a local fundraising “yard sale.” Hang flyers in local neighborhoods suggesting community-wide “spring closet cleaning” and offering to collect items for a sale benefiting a local charity. Send church members or other volunteers with trucks to gather the goods and hold the sale in the assisted living parking lot. To offer a thank you to the local church volunteers, offer to place a card with Easter service times in each bag of goods you sell.

If you work in an assisted living facility, don’t let Easter or spring for that matter come whipping through without paying any attention to it. What ever your religion, make it a celebration!

The Rise of Assistive Living and the Demise of Nursing Homes

Posted on 07. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Let’s face it, who honestly looks forward to being put in a nursing home? Not only are most people there against their will, often subject to abuse and neglect because they are inadequately staffed, trained, and poorly regulated, but the costs of living in them are rising at a very alarming rate.

The costs of living in nursing homes aren’t the only thing expected to grow at this alarming rate, the current 65 million U.S. nursing home residents is expected to double within the next 15-20 years. Medicare and Medicaid both help seniors pay for much of this expense, but the costs to the government and to the occupants are just too great to be ignored.More…

The flood of elderly piling into nursing homes and the rising costs have caused seniors and their families to look for alternatives. The assisted living market and assistive living technologies market have been experiencing rapid growth and are growing as sensible alternatives to nursing homes. Assisted living offers apartment style housing options with light medical assistance to those who can’t completely take care of themselves or a home, but don’t need all of the assistance that nursing homes offer. This assistance is specific to each person based on their wants and needs. Assistive living technologies, on the other hand, are designed for use in assisted living homes, but more importantly, to help seniors stay in their own homes longer. These technologies include things like a ceiling mounted harness that moves along a track with its user throughout their bedroom and bathroom area to prevent them from slipping and falling while bathing, getting dressed, etc., voice activated windows, talking pill boxes, height adjustable kitchen counters, the list goes on and on.

The main goal of all assistive living technologies is to increase the independence of the people using them. The extra years that these devices allow people to stay in their homes is priceless, and more companies are beginning to take notice of the premium that seniors are willing to pay for this independence, and the best part is that the cost of implementing these devices almost always ends up saving money for the people using them as an alternative to living in a nursing home.

As the benefits of assistive living continue to increase, global sales by companies producing assistive technology products and services are increasing too. In the U.S., according to BIS data, totaled $2.87 billion in 1999, up from $2.35 billion in 1997 — an increase of nearly 22 percent. In fact, demand for AT products produced in the United States increased from 1997 through 1999 in almost every major market around the world. These figures represent sales by U.S.-owned companies in the United States as well as revenues of the U.S. business units of foreign companies. Since 1999, the industry has been growing even faster. With the baby boomers getting older, the costs of nursing homes rising, and strain this has put on government funding for Medicare and Medicaid, the assistive living market is in an excellent position to experience dramatic growth in years to come.

How to Pick a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility

Posted on 06. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Introduction

Placing a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility is often one of the most difficult decisions we face. As our loved one’s physical and/or mental conditions decline, we are often faced with no alternative but to consider long term care placement. The reality is that many of these facilities lack the staffing necessary to meet the needs of their residents. The following is a list of guidelines which can be used in determining whether a particular nursing home or assisted living facility is appropriate for your loved one. It is not intended as, and should not be used by you as legal advice, but rather a touchstone for reflection and discussion with others about this important decision.

1. First you must assess your loved one’s needs.

Do they require skilled care at a nursing home, or can they live in a semi-independent environment of an assisted living facility? Assisted living facilities cannot provide skilled care, but many of them now have special Alzheimer’s units for cognitively impaired patients that provide for many of the daily needs of their residents. Ask your doctor what type of facility is best suited for your loved one. As a practical matter, any long term care facility is required to do an evaluation of the incoming patients to determine if it can meet their needs. However, this evaluation is not always reliable, and some facilities may accept patients even where they do not have the capacity to fully meet their needs.

2. Start with a list of recommended facilities in your geographic area.

A social worker at a local hospital or employees of your local Department of Aging or Ombudsman Office may be able to provide you with a listing of nursing homes or assisted living facilities in your area. Social Service offices in many states are responsible for regulating assisted living facilities and may also be able to provide you with a list of facilities. Often these professionals have personal knowledge of these facilities and can be a valuable resource. However, you should also check the yellow pages and search the Internet for additional facilities as you want to develop a comprehensive list of facilities that are in your geographic area.

When choosing facilities don’t forget the all important location, location, location! It is important to try and select a facility that is close to the friends and relatives who will be visiting your loved one. The facility also needs to be accessible to those persons who will be visiting your loved one the most. Commuter friendly locations (e.g. parking, public transportation accessible if necessary, near entertainment venues for off-site trips with visitors) encourage the frequent visits that will help insure that your loved one is getting the proper care in the facility, as well as improve your loved one’s mental health.

3. Make a personal visit to the facility.

This will be a prime opportunity to observe the physical characteristics of the facility (e.g. cleanliness, appropriate safety precautions, staff presence). In addition to observing the facility, much can be learned from a personal visit to the facility. Although such visits will generally be coordinated with an admissions director, you may want to consider visiting the facility at a time when your visit is not scheduled. This may give you a more realistic impression of how the facility truly operates. Consider asking the following questions:

A. Ask to speak to the people who are already in the facility. This includes residents and staff members. When talking with staff determine whether they seem friendly, open and honest. Ask them if they could change anything, what would it be? Do they have family members in long term care? Are they in this facility? If not, why? For the most candid answers speak to them when their supervisors are not present. When talking to residents, ask them what they would change about the facility. Ask how long they’ve been there, and if they plan on staying.

B. Ask to attend a meal, and see if you can sample the food. Often, the assistance provided by the staff to residents in the dining room is a good reflection of the staffing patterns in the facility. Does the menu look to accommodate the specific dietary and/or ethnic needs of the facility’s residents? Do they have many choices on the menu? Is the food served hot?

C. Ask for a list of activities provided that week. Most long term care facilities provide various activities in an effort to keep their residents stimulated. This is important for purposes of maintaining good physical and mental health. See if they have a bulletin board with a list of activities. Do they have outside activities or field trips?

D. Ask about the staffing at the facility. What is the ratio of staff members to patients? Are there any state minimum staffing levels, and if so, how does this facility compare? What do they do when a staff member calls in sick? Do they have a procedure in place to assure that a replacement is available? Have the staff members received any specialized training for dementia or Alzheimer’s care? What is the staff turnover rate? What type of rapport do you observe between the staff and the residents? How many physicians are on staff?

E. If your loved one has suffered an injury or disability that requires a physical therapy program, does the facility have a rehabilitative program in place to meet those needs? If so, does the facility have the equipment on site, or are the residents commuted to these services? How often is the rehabilitative staff at the facility, full or part-time? How often can the regular staff provide exercise activities to compliment the rehabilitation.

F. How does the state rate the facility? All long term care facilities are required to obtain and maintain their licenses to provide care. Maintaining their license requires the facility to allow state inspections. Nursing homes are inspected and surveyed annually, and if their care is found to be deficient, they are cited. By law they are required to post these deficiency citations in a public place. You may want to ask to see the surveys going back 3 to 5 years to determine if any pattern of poor care exists. You may also find these surveys online at no cost on the applicable state web-site or at the Medicare web-site. See, http://www.Medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp or for a flat fee at http://www.seniorcarehelp.com/.

Assisted living facilities are also regulated and inspected, but not as stringently or as often as nursing homes. With assisted living facilities, there is much variation among the states and they are typically not required to post their survey results. Under either scenario, the inspections should not be the exclusive source of information about the facility. You should still ask the admissions director to see the surveys, and you can contact your local Social Services Department or the State Department of Health to obtain the information under the Freedom of Information Act. However, there will be a cost associated with copying and producing the survey documents.

G. Is it a for-profit or a non-profit facility? Generally, a non-profit facility will have less incentive to sacrifice patient care for added corporate profit. This doesn’t mean that there are not excellent long term care facilities that are profit based, or horrendous facilities that are non-profit. But as a general rule, you may be better off with a non-profit facility because they don’t have a margin of profit to conflict with the expense of providing adequate care.

4. Do Your Homework – Run a Search on the Internet

If your facility is one of the larger chains, they may have an Internet site. Expect the site to reveal only good things about the facility. However, check out the local newspaper, or try using the facility name when running a search using search engines like http://www.yahoo.com,/ http://www.google.com/ or http://www.infoseek.com/. You may be surprised (pleasantly or otherwise) at what you learn.

5. Make Inquiries About Financing

Ask about the financing of your loved one’s stay. Will they be entitled to receive Medicare? Most nursing homes accept Medicare if they meet the eligibility requirements, however some nursing homes do not. Assisted living facilities will not accept Medicare. Under limited circumstances they may accept Medicaid, under a process called Medicaid waivers.

In most situations Medicare will only pay for nursing homes for the first 100 days of a stay. Thereafter, you will have to arrange for alternative funding. If your loved one has assets of any kind, they may have to “spend down” to show that they meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid. These requirements may differ from state to state.

6. Take a close look at the Admission Agreement or Contract

This agreement or contract will control your loved one’s legal rights while in the facility. In a nursing home your admission agreement usually references the patient’s bill of rights, which can also be found under the federal regulations, 42 C.F.R. § 483.10. Because those regulations do not apply to assisted living facilities, your contract is even more important because it specifically determines the level of care your loved one is entitled to receive, without the federally required catchalls to which nursing homes are subject. Be sure to inquire into any additional costs not explicitly stated in the contract and identify those amenities that you feel your loved one needs for a comfortable living environment. Many facilities include provisions requiring the arbitration of all claims, and waiving your right to a jury trial. You should insist that any arbitration clause waiving your legal rights be taken out of the agreement.

Conclusion

Nobody can guarantee that your loved one will receive the proper care he/she deserves in a nursing home or assisted living facility. However, doing your homework in researching the proper facility will certainly improve your odds. Remember, once your loved one enters the facility you will need to visit as frequently as possible to assure that good care is being provided. Those visits and a good relationship with the staff in the facility will create a support system that helps insure your loved one’s well-being is a top priority of the facility. Above all, don’t be afraid to move your loved one if the care is not satisfactory. Not every facility is compatible with every resident, and there may be another one which better meets the needs of your loved one.

Good luck.

Assisted Living Caregivers

Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

A Colorado assisted living center is a place where people, often seniors, who can no longer live independently, can live in a family-like setting. Generally, these people need help with some of the daily activities of life, such as getting dressed, bathing, feeding themselves, and even going to the bathroom. They are carefully guided through these tasks by assisted living caregivers, who work hard to help their charges maintain some of their independence. These caregivers have been trained to deal with many different types of sickness and other health issues that the people who come to stay at the Denver assisted living center often arrive with.

Denver Alzheimer’s caregivers are especially tuned in to the residents of the assisted living facilities where they work. They have a lot of love and compassion as well as patience with those who are suffering from this disease. Often, they go out of their way to make sure that their charges are as happy as they can be under the circumstances. They realize that it takes more than just attention to the medical needs of a person to make them emotionally stable. They are therefore quite sensitive to each person’s emotional and physical needs. Assisted living caregivers care for your loved ones just as you would yourself if you were able to keep someone with Alzheimer’s disease at home with you.

Most Denver assisted living services are for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and the dementia that develops during the latter stages of this illness. At first, seniors may balk at going to live into an assisted living residence, which can make you feel guilty. They resist the change in living arrangements, and claim they really don’t need help with everyday tasks, even though they do. They wonder if they will have any friends at the Colorado Alzheimer’s assisted living facility, and are concerned as to whether or not their family and old friends will come to visit them. Caregivers expect these troubles, and will help your loved one get used to their new surroundings as much as they can.

Before you take them to the assisted living facility, reassure your loved one as much as you can. Tell them that they will have a lovely private room, and can even bring a few pieces of furniture that are special to them to the facility if they like. It will be almost like they have their own apartment! They can have visitors if they choose. Tell them that the caregivers are there for them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that they have nothing to worry about.
Caregivers are what make an assisted living facility run smoothly. Were it not for them, there probably would be no facilities like this anywhere. They care for our elderly loved ones who can no longer care for themselves, and try their best to bring joy into everyone’s life. Assisted living caregivers are truly one of a kind.

Understanding Assisted Living

Posted on 04. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

Assisted living is much different than a nursing home. A nursing home might be utilized in the event that serious medical attention is needed or if a person needs help with most daily life functions. Assisted living differs in that complete independence still remains yet help is more readily accessible.

Across the country from California assisted living to assisted living Minnesota, people are taking advantage of the benefits offered by living in an assisted living community. Some of the advantages that may be found in assisted living facilities, include: Private rooms with an emergency call system, meals, assistance available at all times, reminders to take medication, transportation and social activities and community involvement.

There are approximately 33,000 assisted living facilities operating in the U.S. today. As the baby boomers enter their retirement years, we may see these facilities being utilized more. It can be a good housing option for many because it is really a middle ground between independent living and entering a nursing home. 

So, you’ve decided an assisted living community is right for you. How do you choose the right one? Ask a lot of questions. Online, you can find many comprehensive checklists that can help you determine if you are making the right choice based on your needs and your desires.

Keep these questions in mind: Is the community well designed? What are the units like? Are they private? Are emergency systems or safety features included? How does the staff treat you? What are their qualifications? What services do they offer?
What community programs are available? What social activities would you like to be involved in? Are all state and local licensing requirements met? Is government assistance available? What does it cost and is it affordable for what is offered?

It can be a hard transition upon moving to a new assisted living home. In order to better settle into the new environment there are a few things you can do to make it your new home. You want it to be comfortable and you want it to be you. Bring things from home, photos of yourself and your family. Decorate like your previous home, bring a little piece of the comfort with you.

If you are moving someone else into assisted living facilities it is very important to listen and maintain sensitivity to their needs. You have to understand that this is a major life adjustment and may be difficult to accept at first. Be sensitive, understanding and helpful. Ask for moral support and be prepared for a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Help your loved one to get involved so they can begin to feel part of the community.

Moving into assisted living facilities is a tremendous step. The benefits are numerous and can be tailored to your individual needs. To find out if the decision is right for you or a loved one you must do a lot of research, ask a lot of questions and you will find a place right for you.

Assisted Living Facilities Today Focus on Living, not Retiring

Posted on 03. Apr, 2010 in Assisted Living Articles

With workout facilities, pools, golf courses and trips, the aging communities today are not looking for their parents assisted living communities of the past. In fact, Baby Boomers are looking to live out their golden years packed full of as much adventure and fun as possible. <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingca.aspx>California assisted living</a>, Arizona, Florida and <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingMN.aspx>Minnesota assisted living facilities</a> are all changing their modern assisted living construction to reflect new attitudes about retirement living.

The New Look of Active Assisted Living Facilities Today
Besides all the modern safety features, furniture and designs of new assisted living facilities, seniors are also given a packed calendar of activities to choose from- encouraging active retirement, not just sitting and watching the days fly by.

From line-dancing instruction, ukulele club and wine tasting trips, senior assisted living facilities today are not so much retirement homes as they are active learning centers. Here are just some of the packed calendar events that are listed in many assisted living centers today.

•    Arts Programs and Events
•    Athletic and Sporting Events
•    Community Social Activities
•    Dance Programs and Events
•    Entertainment and Shows
•    Recreation Coordinated Events
•    Religious Services and Programs
•    Social Services Programs
•    Support Groups

People are living longer, so why should their “living” be any different? That is the refreshing take on new assisted living and senior retirement centers today.
Seniors can learn guitar, learn to speak Italian and tackle that big quilting project they have wanted to finish with like-minded peers around them.

Assisted living facilities all over the United States are focusing on modernizing what used to be called nursing homes and changing the name to active senior communities. Instead of a cold cafeteria every 6 hours for meals, gourmet chefs prepare amazing dishes. Physical therapists and masseuse are often onsite to provide long term care. And if one group is heading out for a round of golf, another group is watching a ballet performance downtown. Just because you’ve reached your golden years, doesn’t mean they have to be stationary.