READY FOR ASSISTED LIVING
Signs that a parent or loved one might need assisted living
• Refrigerator is empty or filled with spoiled food. Could signal that shopping and cooking are difficult.
• Frequent bruises. There may be a problem with falling, or mobility and balance.
• Wearing the same clothes over and over and neglecting personal hygiene. Doing laundry and bathing may be physically challenging.
• The house and yard are not as tidy as they have been in the past. This could be another sign of physical challenges.
• Forgetting things, such as doctor’s appointments and when to take medications, could signal memory loss.
• Parent seems depressed. This is common among seniors who are isolated and alone.
• Strange or inappropriate behavior, such as dressing inappropriately for the weather. Could be a sign of confusion.
Source: www.helpguide.org, a non-profit resource to help people resolve health challenges.
BY THE NUMBERS
Population in assisted living communities is:
70% female.
54% age 85 and older.
42% with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.
37% needing assistance with three or more activities of daily living.
The median stay in assisted living is 22 months.
Source: Assisted Living Federation of America. www.alfa.org
As baby boomers start to explore assisted living options, they’ll notice right away this is not the sterile environment where their grandmas once lived.
Mediterranean-style meals at the bistro. Reflexology massages. Indoor pools. Wi-Fi access.
Communities for seniors that offer a range of assistance for daily living are stepping up their game in preparation for the flood of boomers expected to pour in over the coming decades.
This generation is used to affecting change, and they aren’t as passive and accommodating as their parents were.
“Baby boomers will not be shy about asking for services, and expectations will be high,” predicts Becky Webster, outgoing president and chief executive officer of Lenbrook Continuing Care Retirement Community in Buckhead.
“This generation is looking for the wow factor,” agrees Genia Ryan, president and CEO of the Georgia Senior Living Association. “They want it to be just as nice as their home is now.”
Or, nicer. You can get top-of-the-line resort living with an endless array of activities, if you’re willing to pay for it.
“It’s all maintenance free. They’re coming in and not having to worry about a thing,” says Michelle Minor, GSLA board chair and regional director of operations for Sunrise Senior Living.
Boomers will expect to continue their high-tech lifestyles, industry experts say. This is a generation already used to their iPads and iPhones and will want everything tied to technology, says Webster.
Even today’s older seniors are much more comfortable with technology. A decade ago, it was rare to see an assisted living resident with a cellphone, but that is common and expected today, said Minor. She said many have an office set up in their rooms, and they’ll take their laptops or iPads to the on-site bistro to Skype with grandkids.
Ryan said communities are retrofitting now to meet the demand for Wi-Fi. Services, activities and appointments will become increasingly tied to personal high-tech gadgets. Even medical care and nutrition will be managed through the use of technology, she said.
Boomers also want choice. Gone are the days of one-size-fits all programming and dining. Today’s seniors want fitness routines, meal plans and activities to meet their individual needs and desires.
Communities are providing on-site personal trainers and specialized exercise equipment. Menus are planned to give residents the healthiest options for their individual dietary needs. All of this will be increasingly tied to disease prevention, Minor said.
There are Mediterranean-style diets to keep dementia at bay, indoor pools for low-impact fitness and even on-site massage reflexology.
“We’ve seen an increase in programs and services based on resident’s needs and wants,” Ryan said.
Some facilities, such as Lenbrook, offer such an array of cultural and enrichment opportunities that staff have to help residents sort through it all. “They’ll plan a schedule for their retirement years so they can enrich their lives and really have fun,” Webster said.
More married couples are also choosing to make the move together, even when both don’t need extra help with daily living.
Most all facilities now offer some type of memory care for dementia and Alzheimer’s. Some larger communities offer a continuum of care, from complete independence to 24-hour skilled nursing on the same campus.
“It’s a relief to a couple when they move in together and we’re able to provide an extra set of hands, because the one spouse was used to being the sole caretaker. You can really see the relationship start to flourish again,” Minor said.
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