If you or a loved one need help with daily activities but don’t necessarily need the care nursing homes provide, an assisted living community can be the answer. Assisted living allows seniors to retain some independence while realizing they can use some help occasionally.
Encore Communities provides this type of senior living in two different settings to suit residents’ needs. If you or a loved one is considering moving to an assisted living community, we will let you know what to expect and how to prepare for your move.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is for people who don’t need as much help as nursing homes provide but still need some help with daily care and other tasks.1 Several levels of care are typically available, depending on what each resident needs.
People who take advantage of assisted living usually live in their own apartments or rooms in the assisted living community and share common areas. The size of the facility can vary from as few as 25 to more than 100.
In an assisted living facility, residents can access three meals daily, laundry, housekeeping, and other amenities. They can also get help with medications and personal care. Social and recreational activities are often available on-site to keep residents active and engaged.
How to Prepare for Moving into an Assisted Living Community
Ask Questions & Learn About Various Options
If you’re considering moving to an assisted living community, explore all your options and ask plenty of questions. Not all assisted living communities are the same. Once you have a few you are considering, take tours to see the facility and get a feeling if you think you would fit in. Ask about the pricing model and any monthly fees.
Pack Efficiently
For many, moving to an assisted living community means downsizing. If you need to provide furniture for your new space, take items that will not take up too much space. Sell or donate items you don’t need or won’t fit. Concentrate on taking personal items and the essentials.
Take Care of all Logistics
Whether you are taking care of it yourself or have a loved one’s help, take care of logistics like canceling utility services and forwarding mail.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust
Moving to an assisted living facility will be a transition that will take time to get used to. Give yourself time to adjust to your new surroundings and a new way of life.
What to Expect When Moving to An Assisted Living Community
While each assisted living community may differ in how some things are done, you can expect several common things when moving into one.
Your time is your own in an assisted living community. You can wake up when you want, go to bed when you want, etc. Depending on the level of care you’re receiving, a nurse may visit in the morning to dispense medication or check-in. A care associate may also come in to help with personal care like dressing or bathing.
You can structure your day around activities offered in your assisted living community or go out alone. Most communities will have scheduled meal times. If you miss these meals, some have cafes to grab a snack. Others will bring meals to you. If your living space has a small kitchen or kitchenette, you may choose to prepare your own meals.
Assisted living communities typically offer plenty of activities to keep residents busy. This can include group activities like bingo or games or exercise classes. There may also be art classes or excursions to nearby attractions. These activities keep the mind and body engaged and allow residents to meet others and maintain a social network.
You may also receive help with laundry and housekeeping if you choose these services so that you don’t have to worry about these chores being done. Many facilities also have salons and barbers on site for personal care needs.
Nighttime at assisted living communities is usually quiet, with residents returning to their rooms to read or watch TV. A care associate can usually help people get into bed if needed.
Assisted living allows people to live their best lives while receiving help as needed. They can retain their privacy and dignity while not worrying about basic care. Assisted living also allows for meeting new people and avoiding feeling isolated.
Assisted Living at Encore Communities
Encore Communities offers two assisted living options to allow residents to live as independently as they choose. They can remain active while still receiving help with daily chores and personal care.
Clearbrook Inn in Silverdale, WA, offers private studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments. There are nurses on site as well as restaurant-style dining. Services are available to help with medication, bathing, diabetic care, and more.
At Laurel Cove Senior Community Living in Shoreline, WA, residents can take advantage of assisted living and other types of senior living options. Assisted living provides studio and one-bedroom apartments. Licensed nurses and a 24-hour on-site care team are on staff.
To learn more about the assisted living communities Encore Communities offers, call us today or contact us online to schedule a visit.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/residential-facilities-assisted-living-and-nursing-homes
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.