According to recent census data, 16.3% of the Nacogdoches County population is 65 or older, making our senior population larger than the state average. As a result, it’s crucial that our community provides adequate senior care services.
Assisted living services are ideal for seniors who:
- Have disabilities
- Need assistance with activities of daily living
- Can no longer live at home for health or safety reasons
What should you and your family look for in Nacogdoches assisted living communities? We’re here to help. Read on for our comprehensive guide to assisted living services that best serve our seniors.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a specific type of senior living option that seeks to balance privacy and independence with supportive care.
To account for privacy and independence, many assisted living communities provide private quarters, like one-bedroom or studio apartments, for residents to enjoy. They can bring their own furniture (though downsizing is a must) and personalize their own space.
However, assisted living should not be confused with independent living. While seniors do have private quarters, they’ll also receive a variety of daily and weekly services that support their health and overall quality of life.
Health-Oriented Assisted Living Services
First, let’s take a look at some of the health-oriented assisted living services that communities may offer. These are some of the most important services to prioritize when selecting a community for you or your loved one.
Personal Care Assistance
A defining feature of assisted living communities is assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are tasks we need to complete to maintain our physical and mental health as well as our living quarters. They include things like:
- Bathing and grooming
- Toileting
- Dressing
- Cleaning
- Ambulation
Many seniors are unable to complete these tasks on their own. Difficulties with ADLs often stem from physical or cognitive disabilities. For example, a limited range of motion caused by arthritis may inhibit your ability to brush your hair or put on a shirt.
Professional caregivers can provide assistance with ADLs on an as-needed basis. As residents’ needs increase, so can the help they receive.
Medication Management
Many seniors take one or more medications on a daily basis. Under the umbrella of medications, we include:
- Prescription pills
- Insulin shots
- Over-the-counter medications
- Vitamins and supplements
The more medications you need to take, the harder it can be to manage on your own. This is especially the case when you have to take medications at certain times or with food.
Well-rounded senior care services include medication management. Professional caregivers help residents track their list of medications, store them properly, and take them on time. Medication management can play a vital role in the continuity of care residents receive.
Wellness Programs
It’s no secret that diet and exercise play important roles in our health. For example, the CDC reports that seniors who get regular exercise can see positive effects on things like sleep, heart health, and bone strength.
Diet and exercise are two facets of senior health that can also become difficult to manage alone. For example, seniors may struggle with:
- Loss of taste, which leads to higher sugar or salt intake
- Diminished hunger signals
- Difficulty cooking meals
- Changes in balance and mobility, which can make exercising difficult
Look for senior living communities that offer robust wellness programs. This may include prepared meals and communal dining opportunities. It may also include age- and ability-appropriate exercise classes.
Assisted Living Services That Boost Quality of Life
A great assisted living community will take a holistic approach to resident well-being. Here are some of the services to look for that can enrich your life and increase feelings of fulfillment.
Social and Recreational Programs
Some of the best elderly care options offer community amenities like social and recreational programs. Some examples of activities you may enjoy in assisted living include:
- Guided arts and crafts
- Music sessions and performances
- Book clubs
- Organized games like bingo and mahjong
The majority of these activities happen within the community, making attendance easy. The goal is not only to add a little fun to each day, but also to help residents get to know their neighbors. Many seniors find that increased socialization puts them in a better mood and makes the transition to a new living environment easier.
Community Outings
What about getting out into the wider Nacogdoches community? Driving and using public transportation isn’t always an option for assisted living residents. The best communities organize and facilitate community outings so residents can enjoy:
- Dining options like Butcher Boys and Auntie Pasta’s
- Shopping centers like Southgate
- Parks like Pecan Acres Park
The California Institute of Integral Studies reports that novelty can keep the brain active and healthy. Visiting a new place and having new experiences can add novelty to residents’ lives while keeping them connected to Nacogdoches.
Community-Provided Property Maintenance
Moving to an assisted living community requires you to downsize. It also gives you the opportunity to leave chores and home maintenance behind, leaving you more time for the hobbies and interests you love.
A great service to look for is weekly housekeeping. This may include tidying and sanitation services, as well as trash removal and laundry.
Ideally, you should also get to enjoy community-provided property maintenance. This includes 24/7 maintenance for residential private quarters and shared spaces. For example, your community should take care of the dining room, lounge areas, and landscaping so you can enjoy your campus at all times.
Looking for Nacogdoches Elderly Care? Tour Our Community
Nacogdoches County has a bigger senior population than the state average, which can make it difficult to find great assisted living services with immediate availability. Meadowview Place Assisted Living seeks to address this problem while providing a holistic environment for our residents.
Our professional caregivers work hard to ensure the health, safety, and holistic well-being of every campus resident. We know that for some seniors, waiting weeks or even months for a room to become available isn’t an option. That’s why we offer our Fast Track program to get new residents moved in within 24 hours.
Want to learn more? Contact us to schedule a tour of our community.
