The middle ground between living alone and full-time care

Often, families find themselves realizing that deciding on the place of residence for their elderly family member requires making a choice not only between living at home and living in a nursing home, but also recognizing that there are options available between these two extremes, and knowing more about the specifics of assisted living in Kelowna will give an idea of whether the middle way is appropriate for the family.

The key aspect of this particular type of care is providing support for those residents who can take care of themselves but need assistance with some routine tasks. A person would be able to organize his/her life schedule independently, freely enter and leave the building, have a private suite, and receive assistance with taking medication, bathing, getting dressed, or preparing meals. The main thing about this type of service is that the resident controls his/her life himself/herself rather than being directed by the institution where he/she stays.

The basics of such a service include housing and hospitality services. Usually, residents have their own living space (usually it is a private suite with a bathroom and sometimes a kitchenette), and common dining areas and recreation rooms. Food service, housekeeping, laundry, and building maintenance are all typically provided, thus freeing residents from the responsibility of household maintenance that can be the first true test of independence for ageing individuals trying to live alone.

It is personal care assistance that defines the concept of "assisted. Assistance with daily activities is offered, and, more importantly, it is very flexible according to the individual’s needs, and that means that he/she will be able to remain in the same place despite the amount of help needed.

The socialization should not be underestimated either. It is an important issue concerning the health of the elderly person who lives alone, especially in case his/her partner dies or is unable to drive anymore. Social interaction should not be underestimated. Social isolation is a health problem for an older adult who lives alone, especially when the partner dies or cannot drive anymore. Social interaction that takes place in a senior living community with communal meals and regular activities eliminates the problem in a way that visiting family members cannot.

It is useful to know what is not included in such a model, usually. The assisted living option is not for people who require twenty-four-hour nursing care and some complicated treatment and the residents should be able to organize themselves being ready to act in case of emergency. If the situation gets out of the mentioned scope, then long-term care is a much better choice.

In British Columbia, there are several criteria for assisted living accommodations and registration of facilities to guarantee proper services for the residents. The families that consider moving someone into the facility have a right to ask about it in order to make sure they have chosen the best facility.

For the families who try to find a place for elderly relatives, visiting the facilities personally is much more useful than reading brochures. Touring more than once at different times of day can help to understand the place much better. Thus, choosing assisted living in Kelowna means finding the place that fits the needs of a particular person.

Adam Levine is the author of this article. For further detail about private elderly care in Kelowna, Please visit the website: missionvillas.ca.