We all want to provide our loved ones with a healthy, happy, safe, and fulfilling environment. However, as our loved ones age, it may become difficult to do so alone. Sometimes, achieving this standard of care means considering transitioning our loved one into a senior living community.
Your loved one may benefit from assisted living if they’re beginning to require assistance with activities of daily living, are experiencing social isolation, are having difficulty maintaining their home, or are experiencing declining health.
Assisted living aims to support residents by meeting their needs at their level of care. Our community at The Legacy at Santa Fe offers a blend of independence and a personalized approach to care tailored to each individual’s specific needs.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities are designed for older adults who wish to live independently but need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). This support may include help with bathing, grooming, dressing, medication administration, and meal preparation.
Additionally, community care in assisted living provides an environment where residents can engage in various social activities, hobbies, and weekly outings, helping to maintain their quality of life.
The core benefits of assisted living can include:
- Support with activities of daily living while promoting independence.
- Reducing the risk of social isolation by encouraging community engagement and connections.
- Relief from the burden of home maintenance and chores.
- Peace of mind knowing that support is available round the clock, catering to health needs and emergencies.
Signs to Watch For
Assistance With Daily Living
If your loved one struggles with personal care activities or household tasks, it’s a clear indicator that they might benefit from the supportive environment of an assisted living community. Assistance with tasks associated with daily living may include:
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Grooming
Changes in your loved one’s hygiene may indicate a decreasing capacity to perform essential self-care tasks. Assisted living supports residents in performing these tasks by meeting your loved ones at the level of care they may require.
In addition to support with tasks associated with daily living, some residents may require assistance with “advanced tasks” that our facility can help oversee. These may include:
- Grocery shopping
- Transportation to appointments or activities
- Managing medication
- Weekly housekeeping
- Meal preparation and clean-up
No 2 residents are the same. Some individuals may require little to no assistance with tasks associated with daily living but require support with advanced tasks. No matter the concern, our team is here to provide the appropriate level of care and support to our residents.
Experiencing Social Isolation
Loneliness can severely impact an older adult’s mental and physical health. Regular socializing, along with physical and mental activity, contributes to healthy aging.
Assisted living communities aim to reduce the risk of social isolation by offering residents the opportunity to engage in a vibrant social atmosphere. Various activities are designed to foster connections and friendships among residents.
We offer residents scheduled outings and events to explore the beautiful community of Santa Fe. We also provide transport to help our community members visit their families and loved ones!
Difficulty Maintaining Their Home
The challenges of home maintenance can become overwhelming for many older adults. Cleaning, organizing, and daily chores are important for maintaining a healthy home environment but may become difficult to maintain daily.
Even if your loved one enjoys doing chores, the stress of home maintenance like repairs, landscaping, and clearing the driveway is hard work and may add unnecessary stress to their body.
Assisted living provides residents with weekly housekeeping and home maintenance to support residents who require extra assistance with maintaining their homes.
Transitioning to an assisted living community allows residents to downsize, eliminating the stress of upkeep and allowing individuals to enjoy their space without worrying about chores or home maintenance.
Declining Health
Frequent illness, noticeable weight loss due to poor nutrition, mobility issues, or recent falls are signs that your loved one’s health needs might surpass what can be managed at home. Declining health suggests that your loved one may require occasional assistance with tasks associated with daily living and advanced tasks.
Some older adults may lack the energy or motivation to prepare a nutritious meal multiple times daily. Poor nutrition will negatively impact their overall health.
Assisted living offers residents delicious and nutritious chef-prepared meals for specific diets and health concerns. Some of our residents may prefer to prepare some of their meals themselves. We can assist with transport and grocery shopping!
Our staff is trained to monitor and address any changes to our residents’ health status. We provide ongoing support and will adjust our approach to care to meet our residents where they are.
Caregiver Burnout
Caring for a loved one is rewarding, but it can also be mentally and physically exhausting, leading to caregiver burnout. When caregivers feel overwhelmed, this can negatively affect the level of care they can provide for their loved ones.
Assisted living provides your loved one with professional care and personalized daily living support to help provide a better quality of life for both parties.
In some cases, a healthcare professional may suggest that your loved one may benefit from the ongoing support associated with an assisted living community.
Schedule a Visit
Assisted living is about prioritizing the health, safety, care, and happiness of your loved one in a community-focused environment. Our personalized approach to care aims to enhance your loved one’s quality of life.
Whether you’re at the beginning stages of considering assisted living or actively searching for a community, our team at The Legacy at Santa Fe is here to help! Schedule a visit with us to learn more about the benefits of assisted living.