Key Takeaways
- Assess your parent’s physical, cognitive, and social needs to guide senior living decisions.
- Independent living provides convenience, social opportunities, and maintenance-free living.
- Assisted living offers daily support with flexibility to adapt as needs change.
- Enhanced care supports residents with special medical needs.
- Visiting communities in person helps families understand daily life and available support.
Choosing the Right Level of Care
Deciding when to explore senior living is a deeply personal choice for families. It begins with recognizing your parent’s physical, cognitive, and social needs. Then, you need to match these to a community that offers the right level of care.
The key to choosing a community is in understanding your levels of care. Senior living communities offer independent living, assisted living, and enhanced care. Each of these offers specific benefits to residents in different situations.
Understanding Your Parent’s Current Needs and Abilities
Start by having honest conversations with your parents about their daily routines and challenges. Break down their abilities into three main areas:
- Physical health
- Cognitive abilities
- Social habits
This assessment helps you identify where they need support and guides your decision-making process. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to a healthcare professional.
Physical Health Assessment
Observe how your parent manages everyday tasks such as walking, preparing meals, and personal care. Notice if they struggle with mobility, balance, or keeping up with household chores. These signs may indicate a need for help with daily activities.
Cognitive Health Considerations
Watch for changes in memory, problem-solving skills, or awareness of time and place. New difficulties with communication or frequently misplacing items may suggest additional support is needed.
Social and Emotional Well-being
Think about your parent’s current social connections and activities. Limited interaction can sometimes lead to loneliness or declining health. Communities that encourage meaningful engagement and friendships can help promote a sense of belonging and purpose.
Independent Living for Active, Self-Sufficient Seniors
Independent living is a great choice for older adults who can manage their daily needs but want to simplify their routines and enjoy more freedom. These communities provide a supportive setting built around convenience and comfort.
Independent living often includes:
- Maintenance-free apartments or cottages
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Dining options with nutritious meals
- Fitness programs and wellness activities
- Social events, clubs, and outings
- Transportation for shopping, appointments, and recreation
The freedom from home maintenance helps residents focus on hobbies, friendships, and activities they truly enjoy. Instead of worrying about repairs and upkeep, residents can spend their days on the things they love.
Assisted Living: Balancing Independence with Daily Support
Assisted living provides the perfect middle ground for seniors who need a little help in their daily lives. This lifestyle is built around giving people the exact care they need to stay independent. Care is personalized, with team members available to help every day as needed.
Assisted living typically includes:
- Assistance with dressing, grooming, and mobility
- Medication reminders and health monitoring
- Nutritious meals and snacks each day
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Opportunities for social activities and community events
- What makes assisted living appealing is its flexibility
What makes assisted living so appealing is the flexibility. Care plans adapt over time with resident’s needs to make sure everyone has the support they need to stay independent.
Enhanced Care for Special Needs
Some communities, like Valora of St. Anthony, offer enhanced care for seniors as a special level of care. This includes suites with 24-hour medical care, access to medical staff, and even specialty services like physical therapy. They’re entirely built around supporting residents with health issues like MS, Parkinson’s or diabetes. These care suites feature structured routines and specially trained caregivers available around the clock.
Enhanced care often includes:
- 24-Hour medical care with specially trained staff
- Access to medical professionals like doctors, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and more
- Medical assistance in daily living, like catheters, tube feeding, or special texture diets
This type of care goes beyond daily assistance by creating an environment where residents get the additional care and support they need.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
Compare your parent’s specific needs with what each type of community offers. This lets you narrow down your options. If possible, try visiting potential communities ahead of time to get an in-person understanding of life in the community. It also helps to ask about care planning and how support can adjust as needs change over time.
During your visit, it helps to ask:
- What types of care and support are available now, and how do they adapt if needs change?
- How are meals planned, and can residents share input or accommodate preferences?
- What kinds of activities, outings, or wellness programs are offered?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and at night?
- How long do team members typically stay with the community?
- What safety and emergency procedures are in place?
- How are costs structured, and what services are included?
Since this decision affects the whole family, involve your parent as much as possible. Listening to their preferences, concerns, and hopes creates a shared process and helps them feel comfortable about the transition.
Take the Next Step: Schedule a Community Tour
Finding the right senior living community takes time and careful consideration of your parent’s unique needs. At Valora Senior Living of St. Anthony, we understand that each family’s situation is different. We’re here to help you explore your options with compassion and understanding, because we know how important this is.
So, if you’re considering senior living for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to help. We offer several levels of care, and we’d love to have your family come visit. Schedule a tour with us today to discover how we can offer your loved one a home!
