Memory Care Decision Toolkit:
Assisted Living

When grocery shopping and meal preparation start to feel like too much of a challenge, a senior might skip meals or rely on convenience foods. It’s easy to understand their point of view. Preparing healthy meals for one or two people can be time-consuming and expensive.

For seniors who have given up driving, making frequent trips to the grocery store for fresh fruits and vegetables often means asking a loved one for transportation. Assisted living communities have dining services that offer well-balanced meals and snacks. They can also accommodate most special diets, such as those for diabetics. As an added benefit, residents can enjoy companionship and socializing in the community dining room during mealtimes. No more eating at home alone unless a resident chooses to.

Isolation is a known health risk for seniors. It contributes to health conditions ranging from obesity and depression to high blood pressure and falls. Unfortunately, older adults are more likely than younger people to experience loneliness and isolation. Mobility challenges, vision loss and a lack of transportation can all contribute.

When an older adult moves to an assisted living community, however, they have opportunities to join fellow residents in planned life enrichment activities, as well as informal gatherings. Both allow seniors to stay active and engaged with life. You’ll find everything from community gardening to woodworking groups to watercolor workshops, religious studies and book clubs.

Resident participate in a wide range of wellness programs every day. You’ll find classes and programs designed to nurture the body, mind and spirit, from Pilates and chair yoga to walking groups and meditation. These enrichment activities purposefully do not rely on short-term memory, allowing residents to feel successful. Professional caregivers also keep a watchful eye on blood pressure, temperature, weight and other vital health information. Because they get to know residents well, team members are often able to spot small problems and intervene before they become big ones.

While adult children frequently cite a parent’s physical safety and health as their top priorities, seniors themselves often worry more about losing their independence. But aging usually brings physical changes that can make living alone risky.

Unlike older houses that may have many stairs to climb, poor lighting, outdated bathrooms and laundry rooms located in the basement, assisted living communities are designed with safety in mind. Safety benefits include grab bars in bathrooms and near the bed, handrails in hallways, emergency call systems, and step-free showers. Caregivers are available on-site around the clock in case the senior needs help to and from the bathroom or experiences a medical emergency.

Another benefit assisted living communities offer is transportation. Most communities provide or coordinate services to get residents to and from medical and other appointments. That means families don’t have to take time off work to transport their senior loved ones.

Scheduled outings to area attractions, shopping centers, events and restaurants are also offered at most communities. For example, residents can sign up for a trip to a local museum or an afternoon matinee at a movie theatre. These outings help residents continue to feel connected with the world around them.

Fewer residents than in traditional assisted living, making for a quieter environment. Security features that lower risk of wandering, common among people with memory loss

Employees undergo training to learn the best practices for working with residents with dementia and memory loss.