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There comes a time when still-active seniors aren’t completely safe living alone but are still far from ready for a nursing home. An assisted living facility is an ideal environment for seniors who maintain a high degree of independence but may have medical conditions that need monitoring or require wellness checks.
In an assisted living facility, residents enjoy their own living space with assistance for meals and house cleaning but also take advantage of organized activities and outings rather than navigating these events on their own. Staying healthy and active well into the senior years is the best way to go into the golden era of the elderly. The following health tips for senior citizens in assisted living facilities are a roadmap for enjoying reasonably good health for as long as possible.
During the younger adult years, chasing children, caring for a home and lawn, and managing a career and family keep people busy and active. In assisted living homes, there are no more lawns to mow, shrubs to trim, meals to cook, or carpets to vacuum. It’s easy to become accustomed to long days in a recliner or rocking chair. However, becoming sedentary leads to a hastened physical and cognitive decline. A long-term medical study found that a sedentary lifestyle in the senior years leads to metabolic changes including high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, obesity, insulin resistance, osteoporosis, and elevated cancer risk as well as higher instances of dementia. Assisted living facilities have organized activities to encourage an active lifestyle in a safe, fun group setting. Taking full advantage of fitness programs designed for seniors, educational outings, and social activities helps prevent a sedentary lifestyle.
Although enjoying organized activities in assisted living is critical for remaining fit and active, it’s also important to create a dependable daily routine. Studies show that many seniors experience depression when they leave the workforce and daily activities that once formed a structure for their lives. To avoid feeling aimless, seniors in assisted living should craft a daily routine to provide that essential structure. For instance, beginning each day with a simple walk followed by breakfast, watching a favorite morning news program, enjoying a scheduled group activity, an afternoon nap, dinner, and a favorite evening program or night activity before bed is a good daily schedule. A predictable daily structure prevents days that feel purposeless. Purposelessness leads to depression.
Some seniors fear becoming a burden to their younger family members and decline invitations to family gatherings because it requires someone to come and get them—and sometimes their walkers or other assistive devices—and then someone to drive them back. Instead of turning down invitations, seniors in assisted living should put aside their anxieties and accept invitations to visit family members in their homes and remain a central part of the families they created. Loved ones will be thankful later that they maintained close ties and spent time with their cherished family member, and seniors avoid depression and loneliness by remaining actively involved with their families. Assisted living facilities also provide plentiful opportunities for residents to invite their loved ones to visit for private get-togethers and to participate with their senior family members at social and holiday events within the facility.
An assisted living environment makes it easy for seniors to develop new friendships with their close neighbors and other seniors in the facility through group activities, fun outings, and other available pastimes in the center, such as art therapy, crafts, music groups, movie nights, book clubs, and bingo. It’s never too late to find a close companion and form strong friendships that bring purpose to a senior’s life during the golden years.
If you have concerns about the care your loved one is receiving in assisted living, our dedicated Arizona elder abuse attorney can assist you. We understand the unique challenges faced by seniors and their families, and we’re here to provide guidance and support. Whether you need help advocating for better care, understanding your rights, or addressing any signs of neglect or abuse, we are committed to ensuring your loved one receives the quality care they deserve. Contact us today for a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your loved one’s health and well-being.
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