When it comes to family, all members should look out for one another, but sometimes that is easier said than done. With all the challenges of modern living, including juggling home life with work or education, it can be hard to look after the well-being of the entire family, especially its most senior members. They might require a particular kind of care as they get older that an adult child might not be able to provide, owing either to time or money constraints or both. A senior community may be the solution, allowing the retiree to live in comfort with ready access to all of the facilities and services they require and providing peace of mind to family members that their loved ones are happy in comfortable and secure surroundings.
Choosing the right senior community for an older member of the family is as important as choosing the right nursery for children. A parent would never think of leaving their child in a nursery they do not have confidence in and this should be the same in respect of senior communities.
Before an older member of the family relocates to a senior community, their child or children can help them choose the most appropriate community by sitting down to discuss what their needs are and how best these needs might be met. Arranging visits to various communities is easily done and on such visits adult children can get the peace of mind they need by asking staff and residents, as well as the families of residents, any questions they might have. Questions to ask might center on the types of activities in a community, the amenities available, or how secure the community is – security being an issue that is important to many older people. The type of community set up is also something to bear in mind because different seniors will have different needs.
Active adult communities
These cater for seniors who want to maintain a relatively active lifestyle but without having to worry about housekeeping and similar issues. It should be remembered that these communities tend not to provide amenities such as meal services or structured activities and are best suited to someone who can still maintain a certain level of independent living. There are also Independent Living facilities for those who have the capacity to live independent of help in both physical and social terms.
Assisted living
These communities are for seniors who require assistance completing the type of daily tasks that others take for granted in order to maintain a certain sense of independence for as long as possible. One step up from these communities are skilled nursing facilities, offering 24-hour medical care for those with chronic illnesses or who have a disability.
A family-friendly senior community is one that provides a safe, secure and comprehensive lifestyle for seniors and peace of mind for family members, knowing their loved ones are being cared for while they themselves go about their daily routine free from the stress of having to worry about an elderly relative. A smoothly running family unit is a happy family unit.
