It’s important to understand the difference between assisted living and independent living care communities so that you and your loved one make the most informed decision possible. The most critical question that you need to answer is this: Do the changes in dad because of his age negatively impact his ability to live safely and happily on a daily basis? The answer to that question will help guide you to an assisted living or independent living community.
Activities of Daily Living
Activities of daily living, or ADLs, concern your loved one’s level of independence and the degree to which aging has impacted his or her physical, cognitive, perceptive and psychological abilities. An ADL assessment is the standard most often used by physicians and elder care experts. Ask yourself these questions about your loved one:
Can dad shop, cook and feed himself without help from someone else?
Does mom do her laundry without difficulty?
Are dad’s medication and money management skills still strong?
Is mom still dressing appropriately for different occasions and communicating well?
Does dad understand and follow directions without great difficulty?
How well is mom maintaining her personal hygiene?
An ADL assessment looks at whether mom can feed herself, use the bathroom independently, maintain good hygiene, dress and speak appropriately, cook, shop, do laundry, communicate effectively, take medicines without help, follow directions and manage her money correctly. If the answer is ‘yes’, then she would be well-suited to an independent living community. However, if there are areas of concern, then evaluate whether assisted living would be the right choice.
Independent living
An independent living community, sometimes also known as a retirement community, is a good choice for your loved one if she is generally healthy, ambulatory, independent and cognitively solid. Such communities offer seniors the chance to form new friendships and enjoy a wide range of social and cultural activities. Your dad will have access to transportation services that can take him to his doctor’s appointment or the grocery store as well as on group outings to sporting events, concerts or volunteer activities. Mom won’t have to cook meals (even though she is capable of doing so), because great dining options are offered by most independent living residences. In short, the right community helps mom maintain her dignity and independence in a safe, secure and stimulating homelike setting.
Assisted living
Your loved one needs assisted living when medical, memory or aging issues reduce his or her ability to safely and successfully perform the ADLs. Such communities provide more care than independent living, yet still allow seniors independence where possible and social activities and outings. Assisted living falls between independent living and nursing homes in the level of care provided.
Again, ask and answer the questions we raised earlier; if dad needs help with bathing, toileting, managing medication or other routine daily activities, then he would be best cared for in assisted living.
Don’t conclude that assisted living is a sad choice for mom or dad. There are lots of excellent communities that offer your loved one many benefits: regular housekeeping, healthy meals, round-the-clock staff to help with personal care needs, and a positive and stimulating physical and mental lifestyle. How did you decide which type of community was best for your loved one?
Want to ensure you make the right choice for your loved one's move to senior living?
Senior living, whether it's assisted or independent living, can be a rewarding and positive experience for the family. Learn how we've combined world-class care with the best practices in senior living.
