Are you familiar with the range of living options for seniors? This blog addresses how assisted living differs from other senior care arrangements and what services these types of communities offer.

In general, assisted living communities include more care support than independent living but less care than skilled nursing or memory care communities. Those seniors needing help with some activities of daily living will find assisted living their best choice. Support with bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting is provided as needed.

There are certain health requirements for admission to an assisted living community, mainly mobility capabilities. States license and regulate the facilities. You’ll find levels of care vary from one community to the next even if they are in the same state.

Many assisted living facilities offer dedicated memory care programs for residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

What Do They Do in Assisted Living?

Along with care differences, assisted living communities will vary by style and services provided. Some communities may be towering apartment-like buildings in a city while others could be homelike settings in a residential neighborhood area. Resident size varies as well and could be as few as 20 or as many as 200.

Assisted living residents are typically mobile and those who are bedridden usually require skilled nursing care. Most provide meals, housekeeping and maintenance services to ease seniors’ everyday burdens.

Is Assisted Living a Good Idea?

According to the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), trends in senior living show there is a renewed focus on wellness. The care-first mindset of yesterday is changing. Instead, seniors and their families are moving towards a wellness lifestyle with options for care still available and many wellness opportunities are included. This is in part due to the fact that seniors are living longer than ever, and they desire not only physical health but purpose and contentment. Assisted living communities have proven to be beneficial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing stress. Downsizing, simplifying lifestyles and getting the extra care support when you need it all help diminish everyday pressures and help seniors reap long-term benefits.

A study from ProMatura found that those who live in retirement communities are happier overall and often healthier than older adults who haven’t moved into one.

When possible, when you’re choosing a new living space for a loved one, it’s important for families to visit the community to get better acquainted with the level of care needed and the ambiance of the place. Pay attention to the staff’s demeanor and responsiveness, and the residents’ attitudes.

What’s a Typical Day Like in Assisted Living?

At Windsor Estates, our setting in beautiful St. Charles, Missouri, sets the stage for a relaxed lifestyle. Welcoming common areas offer friends and family plenty of space to visit. An elegant dining room serves meals to match your tastes and barber and beautician services make sure everyone can feel stylish and pampered.

Residents can stay as busy as they like thanks to a range of inspiring events, programs and activities including:

• Book clubs
• On-site performances
• Educational seminars
• Cultural opportunities
• Fitness classes
• Games
• Wellness programs

Our approach is person-centered, so residents structure their daily schedules, and we honor their preferences. All our programs are in addition to the family and socializing events which residents plan for themselves. A typical day might include an on-site activity or two, conversations with neighbors over meals, walking, attending a birthday party and game night. Our lifestyle is brimming with multiple opportunities for engagement to lead a more meaningful life.

Personalizing Your Apartment.

Going beyond assisted living, we also provide independent living apartments, senior rehabilitation, skilled nursing and memory care. Our assisted living accommodations are specifically designed to meet seniors’ care level needs. The one-bedroom floor plan is a bright space that you can personalize with your own furnishings and belongings. We’ll help you arrange a setting that’s comfortable for you, hang your pictures, and display your treasured mementos.

If you need more explanation about what our community offers on a daily basis,
contact us for more information.