How Assisted Living Promotes Senior Independence

34 // March 2020 How Assisted Living Promotes Senior Independence by Jason Gibson

Jason Gibson is the Interim Executive Director at Legacy Village of Cleveland in Cleveland, Tennessee. About The Author Assisted living communities provide just the right balance between support and independence. M aintaining independence can become more challenging with age. While seniors frequently associate moving to an assisted living community with a loss of freedom, the opposite is actually true. Assisted living residents have their own private apartment, with caregivers nearby to provide a helping hand as needed.

Assisted living communities create an individualized care plan for each resident. It acts as a guide for delivering just the right amount of care and support to enable an older adult to remain both safe and independent.

For some seniors, having a helping hand to stay on track with medications can prevent a mistake that results in a trip to the emergency room. Others find they can take advantage of an assisted living community’s transportation services to see the doctor on a regular basis.

A well-balanced diet helps to nourish the body. It is essential for maintaining muscle mass, which is vital for avoiding a debilitating fall. That’s another way assisted living promotes senior independence. From opportunities to stay active and engaged to wellbalanced meals, assisted living also offers myriad benefits to older adults:

• Care that changes with needs: While a senior might move to an assisted living community when they are still relatively independent, the community will offer additional care solutions as an elder’s needs change. This lowers stress associated with future care and provides peace of mind to older adults and their loved ones. • Events and activities: From art classes to movie nights, assisted living communities give residents a variety of ways to meet new friends and pursue engaging activities. Both are essential for preventing some of the health conditions associated with isolation and loneliness, such as diabetes and depression. • Maintenance-free living: Seniors who have a house to maintain might continue to tackle repairs and household chores that may put them at risk for a fall. Tasks as seemingly simple as climbing a ladder to change a light bulb become more dangerous as you grow older. In an assisted living community, the burdens of homeownership are left behind. Household chores, maintenance, and repairs are taken care of for you. • Stay-well programs: A quality assisted living

community, such as Legacy Village of Cleveland, places great emphasis on health and wellness. It offer programs designed to help residents live their best quality of life. You’ll find stretching classes, chair yoga, raised beds for gardening, and walking competitions. • Other necessities and conveniences: Legacy Village of Cleveland also offers a host of other amenities. For example, on-site beauty and barber shops give residents easy access to haircuts, manicures, and other services. Our anytime dining program allows you to eat a fresh cooked meal straight from our kitchen. Tour Legacy Village of Cleveland Today. If you’d like to schedule a tour, or learn more about the services and amenities offered at Legacy Village of Cleveland, call us at (423) 472-4700.

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