As people enter the senior stages of life, their priorities are likely to change. Once a person is aged 65 or over, it is highly likely that they will no longer need to be in employment. The decades spent working in an office or factory will now be finished, and the need to gain a regular income will no longer be a pressing concern. By the time a person becomes elderly, the money earned during employment and the likelihood of being in receipt of a pension means that most financial considerations should be accounted for.
In later life, it may be beneficial to consider moving into an assisted living facility. In fact, modern and professionally-managed establishments can offer their residents an improved quality of life in many circumstances.
This article explores three key reasons why older people may benefit from moving to such an establishment.
Table of Contents
Social aspects
It is widely recognized that the elderly may be increasingly at risk of poor mental health, which can stem from feelings of loneliness or isolation. In fact, recent evidence suggests that up to one in three older people may experience feelings of loneliness. This may be the result of not being in close proximity to friends and relatives, which can lead to days spent on their own on a regular basis.
In addition, many older adults may lose their husband or wife to illness or old age, and this can dramatically lower the survivor’s mental health and well-being. Thankfully, assisted living facilities often have self-contained communities of elderly residents. If you are an American citizen and are looking for assisted living in Marshfield WI it is important to check that the premises have a reasonable number of other elderly residents.With an on-site community, it can be easy for elderly residents to socialize with each other on a regular basis. This can be hugely beneficial in helping to minimize any feelings of social isolation.
Safety
In some circumstances, the move to an assisted living facility may become a necessity to keep an older person safe and secure. For example, in later life, it is quite common for a person’s mobility levels to decline. If this reduction in mobility is severe, it can lead to an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls when they do move around. While falling over in childhood and the early decades of adulthood is often something that does no severe harm, it can be different for older people. Their bones may be less dense, and this can lead to an increased likelihood of sustaining fractures from falls. It can be far safer for the older person to be in managed accommodation with professional staff on site to help with their mobility needs.
For dementia patients
It is estimated that there are at least 5 million people in America who have dementia. Many of these people will be aged 65 or over, as dementia is a chronic condition that is far more likely to affectolder people. In the advanced stages of dementia, a person may have difficulty remembering important things, such as where they put their housekeys or if they switched the cooker off after preparing a meal. Put simply, when an older person is at risk of harm due to the advancing effects of dementia, they may be far safer in a managed environment with medical and care staff on the premises. In addition, some assisted living homes offer memory care facilities which may include the use of music therapy to benefit dementia patients.
