Pennsylvania is home to nearly 3.5 million seniors, making the need for senior living communities clear.
If you've got a loved one exhibiting signs of aging, it could be time to start looking for a retirement community. These communities are there to provide our older population with a comfortable, serene environment to enjoy their golden years.
It's normal to have a lot of questions about this process. There's nothing easy about the transition into a retirement community, but it becomes more enticing when you start to understand some of the senior living benefits.
Today, we'll attempt to outline some of the biggest advantages of retirement living. Keep reading, and you'll know what to expect and how to help your loved one find the perfect community for their needs.
Before you can start understanding the benefits of senior living, you need to know what kind of care your loved one needs. There are a few different types of senior living and which one you choose will determine the level of care you receive.
The most basic form of senior living is a retirement home. These communities are perfect for healthy seniors who are looking to simplify their lives and enjoy more socialization.
A retirement community functions more like an apartment complex. They'll have an apartment to call their own, but the community will have various amenities and planned activities for residents to enjoy daily.
Assisted living is the choice when your loved one is beginning to show signs of age-related health problems. In an assisted living community, staff are available 24/7 to help residents with their individual needs, whether it be taking medication, bathing, or getting dressed.
There's still a great emphasis put on the health and wellness of residents. An assisted living community's daily activities are geared toward socialization, physical fitness, and cognitive health, among other things. Each resident will have a unique care plan based on their specific health needs.
If your loved one is among the 7 million Americans dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia, they'll need a memory care community. Memory care offers all of the same services as assisted living but with specialized care to assist with the evolving challenges of cognitive decline.
Staff in a memory care community are highly trained. They're experienced and compassionate, ensuring your loved one always feels safe and comfortable in the community. Most of the programming in memory care is aimed at helping residents navigate their cognitive issues.
Now that you know what types of care are on offer, you can take the right approach with your loved one. Once they've transitioned into the proper care community, they'll start to experience the true benefits. Here are some of the biggest senior community perks:
The transition into any senior living community is a challenge. Your loved one may feel like a fish out of water after leaving their former life behind. Once they settle in, however, they'll see how much simpler life can be in a retirement community.
Retirement communities allow residents to enjoy a life of leisure. They don't have to deal with running a household - cleaning, cooking, doing chores - they can focus on having fun with people their age. In a short time, they'll feel rejuvenated with so much less responsibility on their plate.
A major emphasis is placed on socialization in senior living communities, which we'll discuss the importance of soon. At the same time, however, all residents can enjoy their independence.
When they move into the community, they'll choose between a one-bedroom apartment and a suite. These apartments are equipped with everything residents need to live independently, including a kitchenette and a cozy living room area.
One of the biggest retirement living advantages gives your loved one a chance to improve their physical health. As we age, exercise becomes more and more important for staving off age-related mobility problems and other health issues.
Seniors should get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity - sadly, most don't. In a retirement community, the daily activity calendar urges residents to be as active as possible.
Throughout the day, there might be a yoga class, walking club, or light leisure sports to take part in. Some of these activities are staff-run, while at other times, professional trainers come in to help guide classes.
Another benefit of the daily activity calendar is that many of the activities are also geared toward socialization. Social isolation is a major issue in American society, with 1 in 3 Americans between 50 and 80 reporting feelings of loneliness.
Retirement communities foster lasting friendships between residents. Because there are so many planned activities each day, your loved one will have a chance to mingle with the residents. Even the most staunch introvert will be able to come out of their shell.
The other side of senior health has to do with nutrition. Sadly, most older Americans fail to get the vitamins and nutrients they need. Failing to do so can lead to serious health complications, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and even some cancers.
It becomes very difficult to stay motivated to cook for seniors living at home. This is what leads to poor nutrition. One of the biggest advantages of retirement communities is that residents have access to an in-house dining area.
The restaurant serves up a rotating menu of delicious and nutritious meals for residents to enjoy throughout the day. If they do feel like cooking, they can always go out and get groceries to cook in their apartment's kitchenette.
These are some of the many advantages of retirement living your loved one will get to experience. It can be a difficult decision to leave their old life behind. When they've transitioned into senior care, however, they'll wonder why they didn't do it sooner.
Finding the right community for your loved one requires due diligence. If you live in Latrobe, however, the top retirement community is right under your nose.
At Barnes Place Personal Care, we offer all of the unique benefits mentioned here and more. To see our community for yourself, contact us today to book a tour.