One of the most common mistakes Americans make when looking into elder care — either for themselves or an aging parent or a loved one — is assuming that assisted living facilities are a permanent or long-term solution. Not everybody wants to consider assisted living because they think they only need extended care for a few months, even though they might need help longer than that.
Why bother looking into assisted living if you only need support for a few weeks or a couple of months? Well, depending on the assisted living facility, you might discover that they offer respite care options.
What is respite care at assisted living?
When it comes to elder care, assisted living remains one of the best for aging men and women who want to live as independently as possible but still have professional, experienced support on call almost day or night.
When you have a respite care facility, an assisted living community that does offer this option, they may offer the ability for seniors to spend the nights there and then return home or go to a senior center. They may also allow elderly men and women to stay for a few days a week, a week or two at a time, or for some other duration.
In other words, respite care means not having to make a permanent, long-term commitment or a life-altering move.
Don’t seniors prefer to age in place?
Many do, yes, but that’s not always feasible. It also doesn’t speak to the sense of isolation and loneliness that too many elderly men and women face when having difficulty with mobility, chronic health issues, or having no way to get around because they either no longer drive or can’t take public transportation without significant assistance and accommodations.
Assisted living provides the best alternative for those men and women who want to remain comfortable, still maintain autonomy and independence in their lives, and still have support when needed.
How can seniors discover the benefits of assisted living?
If an assisted living community near them offers respite care, this is the best way to try it out and see for themselves just how comfortable, accommodating, and friendly a good facility is. Not only will they have the ability to take part in certain activities, entertainment, and fine dining options at the facility may offer, but they will have the ability and opportunity to make friends, perhaps reconnect with people they haven’t seen in years, and realize that their life does still matter.
The first thing you need to do is contact a local assisted living facility and find out what if any, respite care options they provide. If the community does not have availability or does not offer respite care, then that is not a practical option. However, a growing number of facilities do provide some type of short-term or temporary (respite) care options.
Next, you’ll want to take a tour of the facility. Bring the senior with you so the both of you can see all the wonderful benefits, amenities, and accommodations it provides to residents. When you take a tour, you may be given the option of a virtual tour or one that is in person. Whenever possible, it’s usually best to take an in-person tour, but that may not always be practical.
Also, make sure if there are any questions you have about assisted living that you ask the administrators or other staff members who are available to take questions. Even if you think it’s a foolish question or one that could be laughed at, don’t hold back. This is your time to discover all the wonderful benefits that a quality assisted living community will offer you or an aging loved one for short-term, respite care stays.
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Care Services in Vinings GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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