WHAT
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITIES?
Assisted living facilities were designed to make sure
that each resident received that help and care that they needed
to maintain a fairly independent life. The medical staff
including nurses and nursing assistants, medical assistants and
even physician assistants are there to help with medications,
laundry, housekeeping, feeding, bathing and dressing. However,
with the goal to make life “easier” many facilities offer more
than help with daily living tasks… they also offer “life
activities.”
The majority of assisted living facilities offer
activities that enhance each resident’s social life. With
gatherings in the great room for games such as BINGO, Euchre
and Rummy, some facilities have live entertainment either on a
regular basis or for certain events such as the holidays. This
will really vary by facility and if this is an important aspect
to your selection process it is best that you ask. Similar to
nursing homes, assisted living facilities often have school
aged children come in to sing or put on plays. This can be very
beneficial to residents that do not have family close
by.
Most facilities offer a formal dining room, where if
residents chose, they can come and dine with other residents.
This helps residents to remain social and allows for them to
make friends. There are usually also beauty salons in assisted
living facilities where both male and female residents can go
to have their hair done by a professional hair stylist; they
can also have their nails done. Again, this will vary by
facility so this would be another point to ask about when you
are making your selection.
If a resident needs to go to the doctor, many assisted
living facilities offer bus transportation to and from the
doctor’s office. Often times they also make routine trips to
the grocery and shopping centers. These are usually posted in
the assisted living facility so that if a resident would like
to take part they know where they need to be and
when.
Probably the most precious service that an assisted
living facility offers is privacy. Each resident has their own
“apartment.” Each unit is equipped with a living room, a
bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen. If a resident is having
company they do not have to worry about a noisy roommate on the
other side of a curtain.
Assisted living facilities really do try to offer
their residents an all inclusive community where everything is
close by and all their needs are addressed.
|