Making the decision to move into residential care can be hugely advantageous for older people. It provides the perfect blend of independent living and specialist support, ensuring they stay mentally and physically healthy for as long as possible. Here are six of the biggest benefits your loved one can expect to enjoy after making the move.
- Social interaction
Many older people live alone these days, and this can have a surprisingly damaging impact on both their mental and physical wellbeing. Choosing residential care means being surrounded by other people of a similar age and in a similar stage of life, making it much easier to make new friends. This in turn helps to lower the risk of a number of harmful conditions, including depression, anxiety, stroke, and heart attacks.
- Fantastic facilities
If you choose a high-quality assisted living facility, your elderly relative will have access to all sorts of luxurious facilities during their time there. These could include anything from restaurants, cafes, and social lounges to movie theaters, beauty salons, gardens, and libraries. This is obviously far more beneficial than the limited amenities available in one’s own home, and contributes greatly to older individuals’ quality of life.
- Engaging activities
The best residential care homes run a diverse and busy schedule of events and entertainment for residents to take part in. For example, the respite care home offers creative activities such as pottery, baking, painting, and day trips to nearby places of interest, such as shopping malls and theaters, plus they host visiting entertainers. They also provide specialist exercise classes for seniors, games nights, and much more. These types of activities help to keep residents’ minds and bodies active and engaged, boosting their mental and physical health.
- A safe living environment
One of the most pressing issues for older individuals is safety. Living alone can bring all kinds of risks, from tripping down the stairs to falling victim to a scammer on the phone. While there are steps you can take to make your relative’s home safer, moving to residential care is the most effective way of removing the majority of these concerns. The buildings are specifically designed with elderly people in mind, and there is always staff on hand to make sure residents are looked after.
- Help with daily tasks
As you age, daily chores can become more of a challenge. Whether it’s doing the laundry, cooking dinner, cleaning the bathroom, or washing your hair, even simple activities can be tricky. In residential care, these are all taken care of by the staff. That means you and your relative can feel confident that they won’t run into difficulties or suffer problems with personal hygiene, nutrition, or the cleanliness of their living environment.
- Access to specialist medical care
One of the main reasons people choose to move their elderly relatives into residential care is that they have medical needs that require specialist assistance. Having medically trained staff on hand around the clock means no more worrying about whether or not your loved one has taken their medication or they’re getting the treatment they require. This is particularly important for those who are struggling with a more serious condition, such as age-related cognitive decline.
