This month, I am excited to share with you information about the third of the four categories of senior living – assisted living. Assisted living is much like independent living, as discussed last month. However, instead of being left alone in an apartment with no assistance or oversight, Assisted Living communities offer caregivers and med techs who help remind residents of mealtimes or assist them with other tasks such as showering, standing, toileting, etc.
When someone chooses to move to our assisted living community, they will receive a tailored care plan designed specifically for their desired lifestyle. From the dosage and timing of medications to what time of day they like to rise and shine, our residents each have individualized care plans that cater to their specific needs and wishes. While assistance is available around the clock, our residents each have their own independent life and lifestyle. However, if and when the need arises, our caregivers are just a buttonpush away.
At Assisted Living Facilities like Laurel Glen, we make sure our residents are safe. Our community features secure entrances, emergency call systems in every room and on-site staff trained to handle emergencies. Visitors are asked to sign in, and we ensure that when our residents leave for their errands that we will be looking for them if they do not come home when they intended.
Part of that safety and security are the regular health checkups that our med-techs and nurse perform. We monitor our residents’ wellbeing, so we can quickly identify and address any potential health concerns. For instance, an early diagnosis of a UTI can make a tremendous difference in the lifelong health and condition of an aging individual.
While we are not a skilled nursing facility, we do focus on health and wellness for our residents. We make it easy for our residents to stay active by engaging them in a wide range of fitness classes, wellness programs and recreational activities. They eat delicious, nutritious meals provided by our professional chef in a social dining experience that allows them to connect with others, share stories and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with communal dining. Our residents’ health is also influenced by their participation in a variety of social events, from daily group activities to special celebrations, that foster friendships and a sense of belonging. These endeavors allow our residents to keep their body and their mind in peak condition.
I am often picked on
I am often picked on by my friends, who know it irks me when they say I work at a “nursing home.” There is nothing wrong with any of our respected local nursing and rehabilitation facilities. However, an assisted living community is not a nursing home. It is a community where mostly independent residents have their own apartments with someone dropping in often to check on them and a chef that prepares their meals each day. Several of our residents still drive, leaving when they wish to run errands or visit family and friends. Others use our bus to attend doctors’ appointments or join group outings.
I believe the reason I bristle at the miscategorization of assisted living and memory care as a nursing home is because I realize that words matter. When you say a word to someone, they are picturing their understanding of that word in their head. Their experiences and their understanding of the term you use is what builds the message they hear. I know when I hear nursing home, I think of the depressing facilities of decades past. Those with sad noises echoing down the hallways and a grouping of individuals in wheelchairs who are unable to communicate or fend for themselves. Most tragically, I think of the smell that seems to always accompany this memory. Therefore, I project my understanding of nursing homes in the past onto current stories.
I respect those working in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, and know they fight misconceptions daily as they strive to best care for their patients. The truth is, when the time comes that your loved one or you need a specific type of care, the most important thing is that you are able to live where you need to be at your stage in life.
— Amy McDonald is a guest columnist for The Dublin Citizen and can be reached via email at Amy. Mcdonald@ laurelglenatstephenville. com. Have topics you want discussed for Aging Matters? Email her!