According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 46%, or nearly half, of U.S. adults 75 or older report having a disability. Almost one in four adults 65 to 74 also reported having at least one disability. Many experience problems with walking, climbing stairs, independent living, hearing, vision, and cognition.
If you have an older loved one with a disability, it may be time for them to transition to assisted living for disabled seniors. In an assisted living community, they’ll get highly tailored personal care and support. Despite their conditions, they can thrive and flourish in welcoming, caring, and inclusive environments.
To help our readers make a more educated decision, the Redbud Place Assisted Living staff in McKinney, TX, curated this guide exploring disabled senior assisted living communities. Read on to discover what they are and the benefits they can bring to your older family member.
What Is an Assisted Living Community?
An assisted living community provides senior care options, including comfortable housing and supportive personal care services, to older adults who struggle with activities of daily living (ADLs). Many ADLs are similar to the major life activities covered by the federal civil rights law, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), such as:
- Mobility, including standing, walking, and moving around
- Eating
- Cognitive functions, such as thinking, concentrating, and communicating
Under the ADA, a disability is “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a person’s ability to perform one or more major life activities.” People with disabilities may also have a record or history of having such physical or mental impairments. Since ADLs are necessary to meet one’s basic living needs, the inability to perform them independently is a disability.
Assisted living communities also help seniors with disabilities who have difficulty performing these ADLs:
- Personal hygiene, such as bathing and grooming
- Dressing and selecting appropriate clothes
- Medication management
Benefits of Assisted Living for Disabled Seniors
As the U.S. CDC explains, people with disabilities are more likely to report poorer overall health. They also have a higher risk of developing preventable health problems, including but not limited to:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Injury
- Uncontrolled weight
- Mental health problems
The risks of those health issues, also called secondary conditions, may be higher in older adults with disability and living alone. The good news is that a reputable assisted living community makes caring for disabled seniors easier, not only for those with a disability but also for their families.
Let’s examine how exactly high-quality assisted senior living services benefit older adults with disabilities.
Personalized and Compassionate Care
A highly rated assisted living community like Redbud Place has a team of care experts delivering tailored senior care and supportive services to all residents, including those with disabilities. Our staff can meet each resident’s specific and individual needs through personalized care plans.
Whether your older loved one needs an extra helping hand to shower, bathe, or manage medications, they can count on our friendly, compassionate care experts.
24/7 Availability of Personal Care Staff
Your older loved one may not need round-the-clock support, but it still pays to have someone nearby 24/7. Knowing that your family member with a disability can get the help they need, whatever the time of the day it is, can give you and them more peace of mind.
At Redbud Place Assisted Living in McKinney, TX, our compassionate personal care staff are available 24/7.
Apartment Homes Designed to Accommodate Disabilities
Older adults are already at a higher risk of safety concerns, such as slips, trips, and falls, but even more so for those with disabilities. For this reason, reputable assisted living communities design their residents’ apartment homes with accessibility and safety in mind.
For example, at Redbud Place, residents have access to the following apartment and community amenities and services:
- Carefully laid out and designed floor plans
- Carpeting to provide comfort and help soften and cushion falls
- Adequately-illuminated apartment entryways
- Weekly housekeeping services to keep things tidy and minimize risks of trip hazards like clutter
- Weekly laundry service to help ease the strain of such chores
- Maintenance to keep apartments safe and habitable
Rest assured that all apartments in our disability-accommodating community have smoke detectors and sprinkler systems for extra safety and peace of mind.
Nutritious and Tasty Meals
Abbott Nutrition Health Institute (ANHI) says that an estimated 25% of older adults are at risk of malnutrition or have malnutrition.
Older adults are more vulnerable to malnutrition than their younger counterparts because changes to one’s appetite and dietary needs come with age. For example, seniors may experience a decline in their ability to smell and taste, which impacts their appetite.
Having a disability can make achieving proper nutrition even harder. For instance, diabetes may lead to undernutrition or overnutrition. Mobility impairment can make it challenging to prepare meals and feed oneself.
Assisted living communities for seniors with disabilities can help by providing nourishing and delicious meals to residents. Residents also enjoy these meals in a welcoming dining environment with their fellow residents.
So, in an assisted living community like Redbud Place, every meal doesn’t just nourish the body. It also nourishes the mind by providing opportunities for socialization.
Inclusive Social and Physical Activities
Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they can no longer have fun. On the contrary, having fun is integral to maintaining a better quality of life.
At Redbud Place, we make it a point to ensure our daily activities and events are inclusive. Here are just some examples of the social, recreational, and physical activities and programs we have:
- Games like mahjong and bingo
- Exercise classes
- Pet therapy
- Ice cream socials
- Bible studies
We also schedule regular outings and excursions to local landmarks and restaurants.
Tour Our Disability-Accommodating Community Today
From 24/7 availability of personalized care and supportive services to nourishing meals and inclusive activities, assisted living for disabled seniors provides all these benefits (and more!). So, if you have an older loved one with a disability, it’s best to talk to them about transitioning to assisted living.
Better yet, consider touring our beautiful, warm, and welcoming community, Redbud Place in McKinney, TX, with your loved one.
Call us today to schedule your tour. We’ll be happy to show you what makes our pet-welcoming, disability-accommodating community an ideal choice for your older loved one.
