Updated 5/6/22.
Researching the facts about assisted living facilities can help you make an informed decision about them. Some patients may need assisted living support. The length of a nursing home stay will vary substantially. On average, many individuals will spend about 835 days in nursing homes.
However, there are other patients who will spend several years in national assisted living and personal care facilities. The people who need short-term rehabilitation care may only spend about 270 days in these facilities, which can have an effect on the average statistics related to nursing homestays.
Some patients might need specialized personal care services. Certain services might not be available at all nursing care facilities. But some types of disability accommodations are common at almost all of these organizations. They’re usually accessible for patients who have mobility problems of all kinds, including the individuals who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
It’s always important to visit a nursing care organization before ultimately deciding to choose it. These facilities often make it possible to take effective virtual tours online today. You can certainly start by looking at these recordings. However, you and your family members and friends should still see the facility in person.
Having to make the decision to send ourselves or a loved one to a senior assisted living facility can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. As we age, taking care of ourselves becomes a challenge, and it’s often easier to move into a place with care provided for us. From everyday responsibilities such as providing meals and distributing medications to harder tasks like handling transportation and ensuring 24/7 care, senior assisted living communities can cover a variety of needs for the elderly.
Are you trying to determine whether you or a relative will need to move into a senior care facility? If so, here is some information about these centers that may help you make a more better informed decision:
- Assisted living communities are in demand for over one million seniors in the United States. Current estimates state that approximately 70% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care services or support at some point in their lifetimes. Over half of the residents in these facilities are 85 years old or older, and at least 40% need assistance with three or more daily activities. These tasks can include getting dressed, taking medication, having meals, bathing, walking, and other day-to-day responsibilities.
- Senior assisted living facilities can handle a variety of patients. The three most common chronic conditions found among the residents in senior living communities are high blood pressure in 57% of residents, Alzheimer’s or dementia (42%), and heart disease (34%). Depression (28%), arthritis (27%), osteoporosis (21%), diabetes (17%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allied conditions (15%), cancer (11%), and stroke (11%) all round out the top 10 conditions. While some of these, such as diabetes and arthritis, can be managed with medication, others may require more intensive treatments. Depression can be managed with therapy, medication, and group activities, the latter of which is a big advantage to staying in a senior living facility.
- Senior living facilities can provide a sense of community. Because many elderly people are on their own, they can often suffer from depression and feel isolated from others. Living in a senior community can give them the opportunity to participate in group activities and special events.
- Assisted living is cost-effective. The median length of stay for assisted living residents is about 22 months, or 671 days, so the need to pay a low fee for nearly two years is essential in choosing the right senior home. For the 77 million Baby Boomers retiring within the next two decades, the ability to move into an affordable senior home means receiving excellent care and an easy living situation in the golden years.
If you are looking at senior assisted living options, be sure to visit several homes to determine which one is the right fit. Assess which services you or a loved one may need, and meet with a home’s staff to find out if they can accommodate those requirements. Have questions about senior living? Leave a comment below. More.
