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Social Activities
An assisted living home is kind of like a cruise ship … you can be as busy as you like or you can enjoy solitude when it suits you. It's a place where those of a similar age can meet, live and experience all the perks of a great social life again. >From trivia night, bowling and movie night to everyday games and activities, living with other seniors can end up being a really great time. Assisted living provides a constant source of friendship. Even those who claim to be loners benefit from the mere presence of other people.

Less Housework
The biggest benefit of moving to an assisted living environment is eliminating the housework. Cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry and all of the other tasks that go along with maintaining a home are difficult for seniors. The actual maintenance of their  home may cease due to their disability, lack of energy, failing eyesight or ill health. Assisted homes have staff to do all of these things for you. The only thing left for you to do is enjoy your time.

In-House Medical Care
All assisted living communities should have a nurse who oversees the healthcare needs of the residents. A partnership between the nurse, the resident and the  physician forms the crucial triangle of care that will be of enormous benefit to all involved. The nurse can supervise medication, coordinate doctors visits, follow up on care and outpatient services for residents. As we get older, doctors appointments become more frequent and possibly even more important. Unfortunately, it also becomes more difficult to arrange transportation to these appointments). Many assisted living residences offer in-house medical care so you never have to leave because of an appointment.

Safety
For some, the greatest benefit is safety. If the older adult is frail, visually impaired or unsteady on their feet, living with others can serve as a safety net. There will be people around to help you walk, be another set of eyes, or even just help you up from a chair. If you have an accident, a health emergency or a fall, you will not be alone for long. Often there are emergency response systems in each apartment, or a lifeline or pendant to wear to call for help.

Friends
As we begin to reach our later years our friends may begin to pass away. If we are unable to drive, it may be harder to see the ones we still have remaining. If we have lost a spouse, we may have lost our best friend. Isolation can be debilitating for a senior with depression, health issues or memory loss.

Nutrition
As we age it becomes harder to shop for groceries and prepare meals. If our family member lives alone, the idea of cooking for one becomes challenging. Most assisted living communities offer at least one, if not all three meals daily, many with a variety of mealtimes and menu choices. Being well nourished and hydrated will improve health. Social activity at meals aids digestion and well being. Special dietary considerations regarding diabetes and heart disease are likely accommodated. Mealtimes often become the most important event of the day.

Transportation
Driving, while often seen as a sign of independence by the elderly, can present a danger to most olderadults and to other people on the road. At an assisted living community, there is transportation to doctors appointments, shopping, recreation and even sometimes visiting friends. Senior often feel trapped in their  homes or isolated from the outside. Transportation also frees up family members who have been driving their parents everywhere for essential needs. Many residents find they may even be able to get out more often with the use of this easily accessible transportation.

Family Roles Restored
A very powerful, yet real benefit of assisted living is the restoration of family roles. That is, a spouse who has been acting as a care giver or nurse to her husband, can get back to being a wife. A daughter who has perhaps abandoned the needs of her own children to care for her failing parents will be able to resume the role of mother and her role as daughter once again. Many families are divided with stressful scheduling and shifting of plans in order to provide care for their aging parents. A priceless value of assisted living communities is that they allow us to advocate for our parents while letting the trained staff do the professional work it takes to improve their lives.

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