An important change with retirement and increasing age is the greater reliance on others for day-to-day tasks. Remember, asking for help when needed is a brave thing to do. Sometimes, our loved ones might be a bit too busy or live too far away to be there for us. Senior living care facilities offer reliable accommodation and assistance for retired citizens. There may be varied reasons for enrolling, the most common being:
- Lack of dependable family:
For empty nesters or child-free seniors, caring for themselves after a certain age can be a bit hard. Asking for nurses and assistants over at their own residences may be unsafe and unaffordable.
- Special needs:
Seniors with dementia or a physical disability require stern vigilance and medical care. Enrolling in specialized senior living care, such as memory care, can benefit the elderly more than staying home.
Types of senior living care homes
Currently, there are more than 300 senior living facilities established across the state of Michigan. They can be categorized based on the population they cater to and the facilities they offer. These include:
- Assisted living
Seniors who require minor assistance in their routine tasks and otherwise prefer independence can enroll in the traditional assisted living setting. This facility comprises spacious private and semi-private accommodations with attached restrooms. Like other types, assisted living senior care also has an on-site healthcare team, but the resident-to-staff ratio is comparatively lesser. The main intent is to allow seniors to enjoy a safe degree of independence while socializing with people their age. Various engaging activities to keep seniors busy and agile are undertaken under supervision. Family meetups are a regular occurrence. The whole setting aims at making seniors as comfortable as possible while maintaining their health professionally.
- Memory care
In these specialized senior facilities, the staff-to-resident ratio is much higher than other types, and it houses only those seniors who suffer from varying degrees of cognitive impairment. The on-site personnel and staff are trained to look after and cater to patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The accommodations are designed to allow easy navigation for patients with memory loss. Personal assistants are assigned to every patient individually to provide undivided attention. Occupational therapists design activities that offer sensory stimulation and mental exercises for these special residents. Family visits are mostly supervised. From medications to meal times, all routine tasks are assisted.
- Enhanced senior care living
For seniors who merely want to enjoy their post-retirement life and wish to live independently, enhanced senior care living is the ideal choice. These establishments sport luxurious private suites with cinemas, salons, spas, and pools. Most enhanced living residents are in perfect health and require little assistance. Nevertheless, healthcare teams are available on-site to offer professional help whenever needed.
Features of the best senior facilities
- 24/7 security with alarm systems at all entry and exit gates
- Close to all basic amenities such as the grocery store, hospital, pharmacy, etc.
- Central heating and cooling systems
- On-site healthcare teams
- A panel of renowned partnering hospitals
- Manicured and well-maintained grounds
- Professionally planned and prepared meals
