Maintaining Independence In Assisted Living and Memory Care
The goal of retirement should be to enjoy it for as long as possible. Maximizing a senior’s independent lifestyle is possible, especially when they receive assistance in essential areas that get harder as we age.
Houston senior care communities like The Farrington at Tanglewood offer assisted living and memory care. We provide full-time support that keeps residents active, engaged, and independent.
A transition from assisted living to a memory care facility can often be challenging. Sometimes it is a traumatic experience for family members and their loved one exhibiting signs of dementia. An assisted living community with a higher level of care can make the move to memory care easier.
Let’s explore the types of care available in Houston, TX to keep older adults independent.
What is elderly care?
Elderly care or eldercare refers to senior living situations of all kinds:
- An assisted living and memory care community
- In-home care service
- Nursing homes and hospice care
Any type of care that fulfills the needs of seniors can be considered eldercare. The costs and services of these options can vary quite a bit.
The average cost of elderly care in Houston ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000 per month:
- Adult day care facility: $1,099
- Home senior care: $4,576
- Assisted living: $4,245
- Nursing home: $7,756
Skilled nursing centers are generally short-term options for seniors needing rehabilitation following an injury or procedure. They can also be utilized by older adults suffering from chronic conditions who cannot live independently.
If you’re curious about maximizing independence, let’s explore how a move to assisted living and memory care can be beneficial.
How does assisted living extend independence?
Assisted living gives seniors the confidence to enjoy their day however they see fit. By removing daily hassles and chores, residents experience a higher quality of life.
Caring team members provide activities of daily living (ADLs) assistance in essential areas of people’s lives. There are two categories of ADLs:
Basic: Transfer assistance, bathing, grooming, feeding, personal hygiene
Instrumental: Medication management, preparing food, transportation, housekeeping, and laundry
At communities like The Farrington at Tanglewood in Houston, TX, basic ADLs are determined by personalized care plans. Residents only receive assistance with the tasks they require.
Instrumental ADLs are services all residents receive. They’re the tasks that remove hassles from seniors’ lives.
Services like medication management mean no more worrying about when to take prescriptions.
Our culinary team prepares three meals and snacks every day. That means you’ll always have access to nutritionally delicious food. Our dedicated team members are here to serve you.
Residents can live longer and stronger lives by eliminating routine tasks common to injuries in older adults. Friendly team members are always around to change a lightbulb or vacuum a hard-to-reach area.
Scheduled transportation allows seniors to run errands, enjoy lunch with friends, and attend doctor’s appointments as needed.
Reducing tasks in seniors’ lives can provide an extra layer of comfort and extend their independence.
What about activity level?
We’re glad you asked! The Farrington at Tanglewood is an active assisted living and memory care community. We offer plenty of ways to stay busy physically and socially.
Doctors recommend 150 minutes of exercise per week for everyone, older adults included. Here are a few ways our seniors hit their weekly goals:
- Walking club
- Tai chi
- Virtual biking
Research from Harvard Medical School suggests that more social seniors have higher activity levels. Meeting up with friends means getting out of the chair and going somewhere. Residents can participate in as many of our activities as they want.
An active social life is a gateway to healthier and longer independent living. In addition to increasing joy, socially involved seniors experience:
- Reduced risk of dementia
- A reduction in mental health problems like anxiety and depression
- Less stress
- Lower blood pressure
The Farrington at Tanglewood offers a complete social activities calendar to get people mingling and having fun. Some of our activities include:
- Garden club
- Dominos and poker
- Tea parties
- Cooking demonstrations with Chef Joe
How does memory care for seniors in Houston extend independence?
Having assisted living and memory care under the same roof allows seniors to age in place. Loved ones needing Alzheimer’s or dementia care will be in a familiar environment to receive assistance specific to their needs.
Memory care involves many of the same services and amenities as assisted living. The main difference is a secure environment, specialized team members, and the Connections memory care program.
Connections is a data-based program Pegasus Senior Living Health and Wellness Director Dr. Sandra Petersen created. Her idea of using neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt) in dementia care stemmed from treatments that helped her overcome memory and mobility loss following a stroke.
People with dementia experience independent living at their own pace in memory care. The secure and spacious neighborhood gives residents freedom. They can leave their apartment to join in fun games, chat with friends, and eat brain-healthy meals.
When To Move From Assisted Living To Memory Care
The transition is much easier if a loved one is already in assisted living with a memory care unit. If wandering or sundowning occurs, families can gain peace of mind knowing their loved one lives in a secure environment.
The Connections Program slows down memory loss by using purposeful activities to create new neural connections around damaged brain sections. Moving your loved one into this program can be beneficial as soon as dementia appears.
If someone experiencing memory loss is withdrawing from social situations, Connections activities can help reignite their activity level.
Our memory care team members receive specialized training to handle the dynamic needs of seniors experiencing personality changes due to dementia.
Find Assisted Living and Memory Care to Maximize Independence in Houston
Elderly care should be easy to find and discuss. Contact The Farrington at Tanglewood to discuss assisted living or memory care options for you or a loved one. We’re here to answer questions and offer tours of how our services can extend independence.