Before the invention of assisted living facilities (AFL), people had a choice of aging at home with a family caregiver, a home health nurse/aide, or going into a nursing home. The idea of assisted living facilities is loosely based on group homes and apartments that were available for disabled and special needs individuals. Many of the residents, in these types of homes, needed limited help in their everyday activities (activities of daily living or ADLS). Most of the time this help is very limited and may only mean that an aide stops in to do a check on the resident or other minor things.
Life in Assisted Living
Alzheimer’s in Assisted Living
Monday, January 23rd, 2012, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
Can someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live in an assisted living facility (ALF)? According to most facilities: yes.
Visiting Your Friend or Loved One
Monday, January 2nd, 2012, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
Preventing Falls
Monday, December 5th, 2011, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
Preventing falls is not as challenging as one might think. Sometimes what prevents the falls are things that are overlooked, or unnoticed by those who tend not to trip easily.
Resident Rights: Know Them!
Monday, November 28th, 2011, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
Rights cannot be enforced if they are not known. Whenever anything is in question regarding the care of a resident in a care facility, ask questions and keep the lines of communication open. Otherwise, the resident’s rights may be compromised. Make inquiries with your loved one frequently about their care as a resident, how they are treated and if all of their needs are being met.
Caregiving and Sex
Monday, November 14th, 2011, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
Intimacy and sex play key rolls in relationships, including those who are disabled or frequently visiting ALFs (adult living facilities). Do you feel too tired? Are you too overwhelmed with everything going on? Does fear creep in each time you think about sex and intimacy?
Gadgets To Make ADLs Easier
Monday, October 31st, 2011, Life in Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Care, Resident Care
What makes an ADL (activities of daily living) easy varies from person to person, so while this information is useful, it is important to do independent research in order to find out exactly what will help and what might hinder. Keep in mind the needs of the individual, as well as what their personal levels of comfort are.
Alternative Alzmeimer’s Treatments
Monday, August 8th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living
Some individuals choose to try alternative treaments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Below you will find a list of a few treatments.
Coenzyme Q10-
An anti-oxidant known that is manufactured by the body and is used to promote proper reactions in cells. It has been determined by some studies that Q10 does not have a prfound effect on Alzheimer’s, though some physicians do encourage their patients to use the supplement. Too much Q10 can be detrimental to the body and self treatment without the aid of a physician should not be undertaken.
Angels Among Us
Monday, June 27th, 2011, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
All across the nation there are angels quietly enriching the lives of seniors. Men and women that sit and chat with lonely seniors, walk dogs, clean, and even buy groceries for those that cannot afford them otherwise. These angels may be young, middle aged, or the same age as the people they are helping. Age and sex have no bearing, only their desire to help others.
Spirituality and Aging
Monday, May 16th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
As we age, we often find that our beliefs grow stronger. Some researchers attribute this new found sense of spirituality to the approach of the end of our lives. They note that the same strengthening in beliefs occurs after a near death experience or after the death of a loved one.
Spirituality Evolves
Not all individuals believe this to be true. They feel that a lifetime of struggle with beliefs, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, exposes a senior to far more choices than younger people. More experience, more choices, and an education on how beliefs can affect their well being.
ALFs and Federal Regulation
Friday, May 13th, 2011, General Info, Life in Assisted Living
We have discussed regulations regarding Assisted Living Facilities in a previous article. Many questions concerning ALFs and regulations are asked by both residents and their families. The most frequently asked question is “Are ALFs regulated by the Federal Government?”
Green ALFs?
Monday, May 9th, 2011, General Info, Life in Assisted Living
People are becoming much more aware of how their interaction with the world around them impacts their health. Not only their health but the health of our entire planet. Conserving energy, growing their own food, and doing whatever they can to create a smaller eco-footprint.
Unfortunately not all businesses are on board with this. Big business, such as car makers and even companies that make cleaners have been jumping on the green bandwagon. But hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are some of the worst offenders when it comes to eco-infractions.
Suicide Risk Increased For Seniors In Facilities
Monday, May 2nd, 2011, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
A study earlier this year pointed to an increased risk of suicide for senior in facilities. The facilities included in the study encompassed Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Facilities. The study can be found online in the May 18th edition of PLoS Medical Journal.
Who Will Watch Over Us?
Thursday, April 28th, 2011, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
Many of the seniors that moved into an Assisted Living facility did so for the added safety of being ‘watched over’ during the night. They do so with the assumption that ALFs have the same staffing requirements as a skilled facility and that there will be several aides per hallway or floor to answer any calls for assistance late at night in case of an emergency.
Volunteering: An Important Gift
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, General Info, Life in Assisted Living
We have covered social activities, but we have not spoken very much on the topic of volunteering. Sometimes older adults living in assisted living feel that they are wasting their time. Joining in on activities that they feel are somehow still not fulfilling. They miss the enrichment that having a job gave their life, but not all of the stress.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Monday, March 14th, 2011, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living
Many families are turning to Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) as a solution to a significant issue for seniors: moving from one facility to another to extend care. Many Assisted Living facilities do not provide medical care beyond handing out medications. The CCRCs available today go beyond assisted living.
Time for a new hobby!
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, General Info, Life in Assisted Living
If you have considered taking up a new hobby after retiring, now is the time to do so. While ALFs and retirement communities offer a wide variety of social opportunities, there are times when a resident wishes to be alone. Hobbies create a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment. Every person, regardless of age needs to be satisfied in their life. Hobbies help fill voids that work and other stressful environments can create in an otherwise happy life.
ALF Names Resident as “Artist of the Month”
Monday, February 21st, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
There is a new trend in assisted living to bring art to senior residents in long-term care. Caregivers are recognizing the benefits seniors reap when involved in creative activities. They are working to bring beauty and inspiration to many elderly residents who are unable to visit exhibits and museums by bringing the art to the seniors instead.
New study: Medicare and Heart Failure Patients
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011, Life in Assisted Living, Medicare, Resident Care
When it comes to patients on Medicare, there is both good and bad news to report. The bad news is a recent study from Yale reports that deaths outside of hospitals and readmission rates are on the rise. Also, the number of patients being discharged to nursing home facilities is also going up.
Mechanical Seal Sparks Debate Over the Role of Robots in Eldercare
Monday, February 14th, 2011, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
Paro is a robotic baby seal that was designed by Takanori Shabata of Japan in 1993.The robot has sensors which allow it to respond to petting by wiggling its tail and opening and closing its eyes. It can even show emotions like anger, happiness and surprise. It also makes sounds like a baby seal.
Annual Momma Duck and Her Ducklings Nest at an ALF
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
The residents of the Broadmore Assisted Living Center in York, PA were delighted to watch as a momma duck and her 12 baby ducklings made their way through the corridors of the senior care center in early June.
Drinking Apple Juice May Decrease Alzheimer’s Behaviors
Friday, February 4th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living
In 2006, experts at Johns Hopkins University estimated that over 26 million people globally were living with Alzheimer’s disease. They also projected that instances of Alzheimer’s disease would increase globally to more than 106 million cases by the year 2050.
Study Finds We Get Happier With Age
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011, General Info, Life in Assisted Living
Miriam Russell, 91, a resident at The Harrison, an Indianapolis area retirement community says she is the happiest she has ever been. “I know young people think all old people are grumpy,” Russell laughed, “but I am really smiling more and enjoying life more than I ever have.”
How Music Helps Seniors
Monday, January 31st, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
Assisted Living Co Hit with $670 Million Judgment for Understaffing
Friday, January 28th, 2011, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
A Humboldt County, California jury instructed nursing home and assisted living firm, Skilled Healthcare Group, to pay a stiff fine for understaffing over 20 assisted living facilities throughout the state. On Tuesday, the company was ordered to pay over $670 million.
Miss Assisted Living Contest
Friday, January 21st, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
At St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Orange Park, Florida seventeen senior women participated in the recent Ms. Clay County Senior and Ms. Assisted Living Facility Pageant. The competition is hosted in order to promote the inner beauty and share the life experience of nursing home and assisted living facility residents in the Jacksonville area. The senior beauty pageant is co-hosted by several assisted living facilities and nursing homes in Clay County.
Incorporating Children into ALFs
Monday, January 17th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
Many assisted living facilities have noticed that children have a way of bringing sunshine and smiles into a nursing home or assisted living facility. Some schools and assisted living facilities are teaming together so that seniors and children can reap the many benefits and rewards of interacting together.
What you need to know about housekeeping services in Assisted Living
Friday, January 7th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
“I mopped my kitchen floor every day for sixty years,” says Irene, a resident at an assisted living facility in the South. “One of the criteria for choosing a new place to live was that I didn’t have to clean anymore. That part of my life is done.
ASL Adds Disco Dancing Therapy
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011, Assisted Living Activities, Life in Assisted Living
One Wichita assisted living facility has decided to have residents rehabbing from strokes, bypass surgery, and more keep up and active…by getting down. At Medicalodge, Otis Dailey “I don’t like to see nobody hurting or in pain or anything like that,” says Dailey, “and just to see these people get out of bed and see these people move around and see these people try to carry on a semi-normal life, it makes me feel good.”
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