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What Is Assisted Living?

What is assisted living? When you’re searching for the right fit among senior living options, you’ll need to know what assisted living is to determine if it’s the right choice for you or your loved one. Exploring its benefits and the signs that it may be time to consider a move to an assisted living community can also be helpful.

Defining Assisted Living

Assisted living communities are a type of senior living solution. As the National Council for Aging explains, these communities are designed for older adults who want to maintain much of their independence while benefiting from some assistance with the activities of daily living. Assisted living communities strike a balance. They offer more support than living at home or in an independent living senior community and provide less supervision than memory care facilities. 

Discovering Services Offered at Assisted Living Communities

Residing in an assisted living community can make a senior’s life much easier and provide a safe, relaxed, and comforting environment. At The Piper, you’ll enjoy a variety of services and amenities, including all the following:

  • Housekeeping, building maintenance, and groundskeeping
  • Utilities, cable, and internet
  • Meals and snacks
  • Transportation for appointments
  • Medication management and coordination of healthcare appointments
  • Activities and events
  • Staff on call 24/7

Exploring the Benefits of Assisted Living Communities

What is assisted living known for? This type of senior living community delivers benefits that both seniors and their families can appreciate.

A move to assisted living offers seniors amazing freedom. Without the need to worry about household maintenance tasks like shoveling snow, mowing lawns, or daily cleaning, residents have more time to focus on what they love. Regular activities and other residents provide plenty of opportunities for engagement. Meanwhile, private apartments offer chances for solitude when it’s desired. In addition, community staff are ready to provide assistance with activities of daily living. If a senior needs help with managing medication, bathing, dressing, or other tasks, it’s always available.

Family and friends also find much to appreciate about assisted living. Knowing that their loved one is in a secure environment with staff on call 24/7 provides reassurance and peace of mind. Since the assisted living team will fulfill caregiving needs, loved ones can relax and return to their roles as family and friends. Without the need to focus on what needs doing, they can simply enjoy spending time together.

Identifying Signs It Might Be Time to Consider Assisted Living

Knowing the answer to the question, “What is assisted living?” is a good start. It’s also important to ask: When is it time for assisted living? As Consumer Affairs explains, keeping an eye out for the following signs can help:

  • Struggling with activities of daily living. If cooking, cleaning, laundry, or yard work become difficult, it may be a sign that additional support is needed.
  • Decreasing hygiene. Changes in hygiene can indicate challenges with dressing or bathing or fear of slips in the bathroom. Assisted living can provide a safe environment to support these activities.
  • Grappling with medications. Medications can be complex, and mistakes can have serious consequences. Assisted living offers consistent help with medication routines.
  • Increasing isolation. When a senior’s social calendar grows empty, it may signal they no longer feel comfortable driving, have mobility issues, are depressed, or lack a local support network. This deserves investigation.
  • Falls and mobility concerns. Falls and the fear of falling can limit seniors. Mobility issues can make it difficult to maneuver and increase the fear of falls. Assisted living communities are designed to be safe and comfortable for people with a wide range of mobility issues, and they offer the comfort of help nearby.
  • Hearing concerns from others. If friends, neighbors, or others are reaching out with concerns, it can signal that a senior needs an environment with greater support.

Assisted living is a fantastic solution for seniors who want the perfect balance of freedom and security. It offers older adults the opportunity to spend time doing the things they enjoy while someone else handles the bulk of the major chores and provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing help is available if needed. Plus, it offers a community and activities to help residents stay active and engaged. At The Piper, we take pride in creating a community that feels like home.

Are you seeking an assisted livingmemory support, or physician-directed nursing community in Kansas City? Check out The Piper. Our team of experienced and compassionate professionals ensures that “residents feel secure” and comfortable immediately. At our warm and welcoming community, which is truly a “home within a home,” we foster social interaction, engagement, and the right amount of care. Our residents always come first. To learn more about our services or schedule a tour, please call us at 913-361-5136 or contact us online.