How Assisted Living Improves Quality of Life for Seniors
Prioritizing quality of life for seniors is just as important as for younger generations. While many seniors fear entering assisted living will lower their quality of life, it can actually improve it in many ways.
Whether you’re exploring assisted living communities in Pennsylvania for yourself or a loved one, finding a place to improve or maintain one’s quality of life is ideal.
When exploring Horsham’s assisted living community, consider these meaningful benefits that help improve the lives of its residents.
Less Anxiety
Seniors sometimes experience anxiety due to the isolation they feel. They may no longer work or have frequent visits with family and friends. Sometimes, seniors experience the death of their spouse and never remarry.
When living alone, aging adults may fear what would happen to them if they need someone but cannot get immediate help due to being alone. The anxiety they feel when they don’t know how to get to their appointments or get medical help after a fall can be debilitating, especially if they also fear burdening their family with their concerns.
However, moving into an assisted living community reduces that anxiety. Residents have a safe place to live that offers help and support when necessary while allowing independence. Seniors won’t experience isolation in assisted living or have to worry about stressing out their loved ones.
Help With Daily Activities and Chores
People may find it more difficult to do daily activities that contribute to their well-being as they age. For instance, they may struggle to prepare meals, groom themselves, put on clothes, or clean their homes. When seniors can’t care for themselves, their physical appearance, living spaces, and general health could decline.
At an assisted living community, seniors receive continuous support for everyday tasks. Some places offer three delicious meals each day to reduce the hassle of meal prep. Communities may also support their residents by providing:
- Transportation to and from appointments
- Assistance with bathing and grooming
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry service
Opportunities To Build Social Relationships
Because social circles tend to shrink over time, aging adults sometimes have problems meeting new people. Socialization is essential for a senior’s quality of life. Residing in an assisted living community offers ample opportunities for residents to meet and connect through shared meals, recreational activities, and communal spaces.
Reduced Loneliness
Isolation doesn’t only produce anxiety and fear. Sometimes, loneliness can cause seniors to feel abandoned or unworthy of love and attention if they don’t have regular contact with people. Over time, the intense loneliness can transform into hopelessness and depression, which drastically impacts the quality of life for seniors.
Loneliness is a serious health crisis for the elderly population due to its complications, which can include poor physical health and functional decline. Living in a community with peers and a supportive staff reduces loneliness and improves overall health.
Help With Medication and Health-Related Issues
Adults often require medication as they get older to manage their medical conditions. Unfortunately, it’s easy for someone to forget to take medicine at the appropriate times and follow the correct dosage when they’re struggling with their memory or completing daily activities. Failing to take medication correctly could lead to severe health consequences.
Assisted living amenities often include medication management. The staff partner with healthcare providers and pharmacies to obtain medication for residents. They may also perform routine medication audits to ensure that residents take their medicine accordingly.
Fun Recreational Activities
Many assisted living communities offer exercise programs and recreational activities to help residents stay active and have fun. Recreational amenities can differ among communities, but they may include:
- Swimming pools
- In-house movie theaters
- Gyms
- Computer rooms
- Libraries
These activities promote social connections, fun, and good physical and mental health, which are essential for a good quality of life for seniors. Communities may take things further by hosting additional activities or programs like cultural celebrations, weekly bingo nights, or stretching classes.
New Learning Opportunities
It’s never too late to learn a new skill or hobby. When seniors stop working, they may struggle to find things to do that will engage their minds. However, assisted living communities often have meaningful activities so residents can learn new things.
Because the community hosts many activities and events, it’s easy for residents to stay close to home and attend classes to learn a new skill. There’s no need to arrange for transportation, which can deter people from taking a course outside their homes.
Increased Safety and Security
Safety and security are major concerns for seniors. Elder fraud is a serious problem because criminals consider aging adults as vulnerable targets. In 2021 alone, over 92,000 elder fraud cases occurred across the U.S., which is more than a 12% increase from the previous year.
Assisted living takes the safety and security of its residents seriously. Residents sometimes have a safety pull cord in their rooms or a piece of jewelry they can press if they need help. The community’s buildings are also mobility device-friendly and include handles and grab bars in areas where seniors may need assistance.
Some communities also have security on-site. However, most of the time, trained staff provide 24/7 supervision, so someone is always available to assist when necessary.
Achieve Life Satisfaction With the Best Assisted Living Communities for Seniors
A lot goes into ensuring aging adults maintain a good quality of life while living in an assisted living community, including fun physical activities and socialization for seniors. At We Care Senior Solutions, we understand the importance of providing a good quality of life for seniors and the challenges families face when looking for an assisted living community. However, we simplify the process.
Pennsylvania has hundreds of assisted living options for older adults, but we have decades of experience helping seniors find the best communities for their needs. Our team will help narrow your options to recommend the right community for your loved one. Now that you know what quality of life for seniors can look like, call (610) 970-4200 to request a consultation with We Care Senior Solutions.
