7 Benefits of Assisted Living: Friendship, Food, Peace of Mind, and More

Consider these seven benefits of assisted living communities to understand how a move to assisted living could help your aging relative enjoy happiness and health.

After retirement, seniors may be overwhelmed by free time. These extra hours can be used to pursue passions or pick up new hobbies. One of the top benefits of assisted living is a number of activities that appeal to all walks of life. Consider these pursuits:

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One of the key assisted living benefits is help with activities of daily living (ADLs). This can mean anything from occasional assistance getting dressed to daily help bathing.

If an adult is independent when they move in but needs more care as they age, that assistance is available on-site and can be quickly arranged. Health-related benefits of assisted living communities include:

Mental stimulation may lower the risk of dementia and long-term cognitive decline. Opportunities for lifelong learning are among the many benefits of assisted living facilities. From lending libraries and language lessons to woodworking shops, there are plenty of opportunities for seniors to stay engaged. Communities offer:

Keeping seniors healthy and safe stands out as one of the main assisted living benefits that spurs caregivers to seek a new home for their loved one. Safety-related advantages of assisted living facilities include:

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Seniors living alone may be more vulnerable to security risks. Some increased security features assisted living communities provide include:

Elderly adults have unique nutrition needs, which can be quite a challenge to meet for seniors living at home. The task of preparing healthy, balanced meals may be the responsibility of family members, meal delivery services, or seniors themselves. Here’s what residents can typically expect in assisted living communities:

• All-inclusive dining. Residents can enjoy three meals a day plus snacks as a benefit of assisted living. These meals are generally served in a restaurant-style dining room or may be delivered to individual apartments when necessary.
• Healthy, balanced meals. Assisted living communities often have on-site dieticians and chefs who craft meals that support both body and brain health and incorporate important vitamins for seniors.
• Knowledge about special diets. Special diets are necessary for seniors with a variety of medical conditions. Assisted living chefs are familiar with low-sodium diets, diabetic needs, and diets for people with high cholesterol. Some communities may also offer vegetarian, halal, or kosher options.

A lack of exercise can lead to physical and mental decline. Keeping seniors active can benefit muscle and bone health and reduce the likelihood of falls. Physical activity keeps aging adults healthy longer, improves cognitive function, and is a great social outlet. Some physical benefits of assisted living include:

• On-site, convenient classes. Organizing transportation to fitness classes or physical therapy can be difficult. One of the advantages of assisted living facilities is that everything is located within the community, which makes attendance easy.
• Activities for every skill level and ability. Assisted living activity coordinators know that different seniors have different levels of physical ability. A dance class may include more complicated steps for residents who are mobile, as well as a chair component geared toward those with lower ranges of motion.
• Safe, supervised exercises. Coordinators know how to keep seniors safe and provide appropriate supervision during classes.

Assisted living is a great choice for many seniors looking for a relaxing, engaged retirement. However, it may not be the best care type for your loved one, depending on their individual care needs and interests.

Pro: Assisted living communities offer activities and classes adapted for seniors with almost all physical skill levels.

Con: Assisted living communities may not be able to support people with moderate to severe dementia. Memory care communities will have activities tailored to seniors with cognitive decline.

Pro: Assisted living residents have meals and snacks readily available in restaurant-style dining rooms.

Con: If your loved one loves to cook or is set on having a full kitchen, most assisted living communities only offer in-room mini fridges and microwaves for safety reasons.

Pro: Assisted living communities support seniors’ independence as much as possible by offering low-threshold doors, grab bars, and shower benches to reduce falls, as well as wheelchair-accessible hallways and amenity spaces.

Con: If your loved one is unable to eat independently or to transfer independently from their bed to their wheelchair, they may not qualify for assisted living admission. A personal home health aide or nursing home may be a better fit.

Pro: Most assisted living communities can help with medication management by reminding residents when to take their medicine throughout the day or by picking up prescriptions from a local pharmacy.

Con: Most assisted living aides and nurses aren’t legally allowed to help with more medical procedures, like insulin injection, wound care, or dialysis hookup. If your loved one needs assistance with these conditions but would like to stay in an assisted living community, they may have to hire an additional home health aide.

Pro: Assisted living communities offer assistance with ADLs like dressing and bathing.

Con: Some assisted living communities require residents to need help with a certain number of ADLs for admission. If your loved one is still able to fulfill all daily tasks, an independent living community may be a better fit.

If you think your family member could benefit from assisted living, reach out to one of A Place for Mom’s free Senior Living Advisors. They can help you understand the different care types and determine which type of community near you is the best fit for your loved one. Chat about your relative’s favorite hobbies and interests as well as their health needs for a personalized consultation.

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