Moving your older loved one to a retirement community can be a difficult decision to make but most often than not, it is indeed the right choice. Many factors need to be considered but the main question that most families think of is whether their loved one is safe in a retirement community. Here is what you need to know about safety in assisted living that helps create a secure environment for your aging loved one.
Quality of Care
Every retirement community focuses on taking care of your loved one’s personal and medical needs. For assisted living programs, only registered nurses and trained nursing assistants are employed to help tend to the needs of residents. Depending on the level of care required by your loved one, they will have the opportunity to opt out or add in any elective care services to ensure they receive the specialized care they need. Older adults with medical needs that require 24-hour professional care can look forward to having access to the attention they need throughout the day and night. There will also be assistance available to help them complete daily living activities that can include grooming, feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting, and overall mobility.
Socialization Opportunities
Studies have shown that older adults need to remain socially active in order to maintain good cognitive function. Feelings of loneliness or isolation may lead to more serious conditions such as depression or anxiety which may, in turn, affect their cognitive abilities which can harm their physical health in the long run. At a retirement community, residents can enjoy a daily lineup of community activities that they are free to explore with their fellow neighbors. The many community activities and events can stimulate their mind and keep their body active so as to achieve great physical and mental health to prevent any age-related diseases. The daily social interaction they achieve out of these community activities can be enjoyed within a supervised environment so help is available whenever it is needed while still letting them be as independent as possible.
Conducive Environment
Retirement communities are designed in such a way that risks to residents are greatly reduced. Floors of the common and living spaces are layered with an anti-slip coating including all bathrooms throughout the neighborhood. For carpets, they are always secured firmly to the ground to prevent the risk of tripping which may cause serious injuries. Bathrooms also come equipped with safety grab bars that residents can hold on to for ease of mobility. Every corner of the retirement community is also installed with an emergency response system that residents can use to call for help in the event of an emergency. There is also 24-hour surveillance to help team members detect any unforeseen circumstances and provide assistance whenever necessary. Residents’ apartment homes and suites as well as common areas are also equipped with carbon monoxide alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. The team members are also well-versed in every aspect of emergency response to render immediate assistance in an unfortunate situation.
